Here’s who doesn’t need to scan their fingerprints to enter the Schengen area
Millions of Brits are expected to head to Spain this summer(Image: fhm via Getty Images)
Under new regulations, those travelling on a UK passport are permitted to visit the Schengen area for no more than 90 days within any 180-day period.
On top of this, upon entering the zone, which includes Spain, most British travellers will be required to scan their passport, have their photo taken, and provide four fingerprint scans under the new Entry/Exit System (EES). Once registered for travel via the EES, your digital record remains valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever occurs first within that three-year window.
The Schengen area comprises the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
That said, not every traveller departing from the UK will be required to scan their fingerprints upon arrival in the Schengen zone.
The Government has confirmed that all children under 12 will not be fingerprinted. However, under the new EU regulations, all travellers, including babies, will be photographed and have digital records created.
British holidaymakers may be exempt from the EES if they are travelling on a non-UK passport. For instance, those holding an Irish passport will not be required to use the EES scheme.
According to recent estimates, more than a third of a million UK residents hold both UK and Irish passports – a figure that has risen sharply in the wake of Brexit.