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New rules have come into force for Brits this week across a number of European holiday hotspots, but there’s an app that could help you swerve potentially long queues

Brits heading to the likes of France, Spain, Portugal and Greece will face new entry requirements as Europe’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) has come into force. Airports across the EU are braced for potential travel chaos as non-EU visitors, including Brits, will need to have biometric information such as facial images and fingerprints taken when they enter the EU.

Personal data from your passport will also be collected when you enter an EU border, and the system will record entry and exit dates to allow overstays to be easily flagged. EES is set to replace passport stamps in the long run.

However, getting to grips with the new technology has proven tricky at some airports, with many Brits reporting longer queues on arrival and when departing the EU. While EU passport holders have their own lanes, Brits must queue with other non-EU nationalities and go through the new system.

An official app could potentially speed up the process for Brits and other non-EU citizens, although many travellers are unaware of its existence.

The Travel to Europe app is available on Apple’s App Store or Google Play and claims it can “speed up your border check”. Holidaymakers heading to the EU first need to download the app and register. At the moment, the app is only available at selected border crossing points, including Sweden and Portugal, although the developers claim more will be added soon.

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Families flying together can add co-travellers to the app so their details are in one place. You simply need to add details of your journey such as the date and time you’ll arrive and depart, and can scan your passport using your phone. You then take a selfie and answer some questions. This can be done up to 72-hours before your flight.

The app then generates a QR code for each passenger which can be scanned at a self-service kiosk or by passport control staff. Simply follow the signs or directions from airport staff to the pre-registration queue. Of course, there’s no guarantee of entry and staff may still carry out additional checks, but for many passengers this could speed up the process for them.

Travellers have been warned to “expect chaos” in the coming months in popular holiday hotspots such as Tenerife. Reports of hours long queues and confusion caused by the new system have surfaced. And while the EES implementation date has avoided the busy Easter weekend, May half-term is just a few weeks away, which could potentially put more strain on the system.

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This handy map tool allows you to calculate the percentage of the world you’ve seen by selecting all the countries you’ve visited.

Ever wondered how much of the world you’ve really seen? Use this handy tool to find out. By selecting all the different countries you’ve ever visited, it’ll work out a percentage of the world you’ve managed to explore and how many continents you’ve covered. It’ll also tell you how your stats compare against other travellers, and will show your footprint on the globe.

A poll of 2,000 travellers revealed 43% enjoy comparing the number of destinations they’ve visited abroad with others. Reasons for mentioning their ‘country count’ include wanting to impress others with their worldliness and sense of adventure, get others to think ‘that’s more than me’ or to see them as someone ‘loaded’ with money.

Of those who mention their country count, more than four in 10 (44%) will casually raise the subject in general holiday chatter, while 38% will jump at the chance to name a nation they’ve visited the second someone else mentions it.

It also emerged 34% of travellers consider their list of countries visited ‘as a bit of a badge of honour’ and a fifth feel ‘quietly superior’ to those who have been to fewer nations.

A spokesperson from travel insurance specialist Staysure, which commissioned the research and tailors policies for people with health conditions, said: “Travelling abroad is exciting and the memories made with friends and family can last forever.

“So, it’s not surprising people love talking about where they’ve been and comparing the number of countries they’ve visited. Sharing experiences is something we all love to do and it’s great to be able to inspire others to visit somewhere new.

One in 10 attempt to sound better travelled than they really are by counting countries they visited as a child in their list. And some go as far as including an airport layover or counting a day trip as a full visit. But four in ten described other people discussing how well-travelled they are as ‘annoying’.

Find out how much of the world you’ve actually seen with this new tool

New Zealand (24%), Japan (23%) and Australia (18%) were at the top of respondents’ wish lists, along with Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland. While Canada was nearly twice as popular as a future destination than the United States (17% versus 8%).

The average traveller has been to seven countries by the time they’re 30 – this number nearly doubles to 15 by the time they reach the age of 60. However, it also emerged 56% of those polled wish they were better travelled.

On average, respondents said their travel peaked at age 34, while 44% admitted their trips abroad have generally decreased as they’ve gotten older.

Four in 10 consider it important that their list of countries visited keeps growing, with those with a set goal aiming to tick off 30 individual countries. To do this, 56% would consider a multi-destination holiday such as a cruise.

Staysure’s spokesperson added: “Our customers often share where they’ve been and where they’re planning to go next.

“It’s good to know people are dreaming big and want to keep ticking off their dream destinations. Although technically correct to do so, would you include a layover in your country list if you’d not set foot outside the airport?

“Wherever people choose to travel, having the right cover and financial protection in place helps them keep ticking countries off their list making the whole experience more enjoyable and worry-free.”

TOP 50 COUNTRIES VISITED

1. France
2. Spain
3. Italy
4. United States
5. Germany
6. Greece
7. Portugal
8. Belgium
9. Netherlands
10. Republic of Ireland
11. Turkey
12. Switzerland
13. Austria
14. Cyprus
15. Canada
16. Denmark
17. Czech Republic
18. Egypt
19. Croatia
20. Australia
21. Sweden
22. Norway
23. Poland
24. Mexico
25. Morocco
26. Thailand
27. Tunisia
28. Singapore
29. Hungary
30. United Arab Emirates
31. Iceland
32. China
33. Finland
34. New Zealand
35. South Africa
36. India
37. Malaysia
38. Japan
39. Kenya
40. Vietnam
41. Indonesia
42. Sri Lanka
43. Brazil
44. South Korea
45. Peru
46. Cambodia
47. Argentina
48. Philippines
49. Chile
50. Tanzania