EU Fingerprint border checks

[Slow.Patrol]

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/oct/07/eur...

Bit on the news recently about fingerprint and biometric border checks when enter the EU border.

Thing is, I've had this done when entering some other countries such as the US and even Cambodia.

Does anyone know if this happens at the UK border for foreign nationals. Are their fingerprints taken?

[E63eeeeee...]

Yes

[768]

Sometimes (I think normally in advance, for visa applications).

[Terminator X]

Why are they doing it? Passport not good enough?

TX.

[Slow.Patrol]

Terminator X said:

Why are they doing it? Passport not good enough?

TX.

Immigration controls I guess. The fingerprints add an additional level of verification.

To be fair, it has been a thing in the US for a number of years.

Obviously being a British citizen, I wasn't sure if we had the same checks for foreign people entering the UK.

[RSTurboPaul]

Do they add the height chart behind the mugshot later so we look like the criminals-in-waiting they think we all are?

[bigglesA110]

RSTurboPaul said:

Do they add the height chart behind the mugshot later so we look like the criminals-in-waiting they think we all are?

There seem to be plenty on the NP&E forums that absolutely do believe that should be the approach to people coming into the country....

[E63eeeeee...]

Terminator X said:

Why are they doing it? Passport not good enough?

TX.

Links the person to any other identity they've used to travel to the UK previously (legitimate or otherwise), links the person to their visa and immigration record even if the passport goes missing. Also allows checks for criminal records etc.

[E63eeeeee...]

Slow.Patrol said:

Terminator X said:

Why are they doing it? Passport not good enough?

TX.

Immigration controls I guess. The fingerprints add an additional level of verification.

To be fair, it has been a thing in the US for a number of years.

Obviously being a British citizen, I wasn't sure if we had the same checks for foreign people entering the UK.

We've been doing it routinely for about 20 years. Started with asylum seekers, then expanded to visa applications.

[I am alright Jack]

Slow.Patrol said:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/oct/07/eur...

Bit on the news recently about fingerprint and biometric border checks when enter the EU border.

Thing is, I've had this done when entering some other countries such as the US and even Cambodia.

Does anyone know if this happens at the UK border for foreign nationals. Are their fingerprints taken?

No it doesn't.

[NRS]

I am alright Jack said:

Slow.Patrol said:

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/oct/07/eur...

Bit on the news recently about fingerprint and biometric border checks when enter the EU border.

Thing is, I've had this done when entering some other countries such as the US and even Cambodia.

Does anyone know if this happens at the UK border for foreign nationals. Are their fingerprints taken?

No it doesn't.

Wrong.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7...

Edited by NRS on Saturday 11th October 20:39

[s1962a]

This is akin to a digital ID card right? Fingerprints, biometrics and all.

[Countdown]

From what I read in the Independent apparently it stops people overstaying

[E63eeeeee...]

Countdown said:

From what I read in the Independent apparently it stops people overstaying

Pretty much. At the moment the only way they can identify if you do more than your 90 days in 180 in the EU is by manually adding up the date stamps in your passport. Once they have this digital record they'll be able to automatically identify people doing that, theoretically track you down and kick you out, but more likely flag you to be refused readmission next time you come back.

[Pachydermus]

E63eeeeee... said:

Countdown said:

From what I read in the Independent apparently it stops people overstaying

Pretty much. At the moment the only way they can identify if you do more than your 90 days in 180 in the EU is by manually adding up the date stamps in your passport. Once they have this digital record they'll be able to automatically identify people doing that, theoretically track you down and kick you out, but more likely flag you to be refused readmission next time you come back.

Unless you're travelling on multiple passports I find that hard to believe. All they need to save is passport_number + entry/exit dates and then run a report to flag any that are over 90 days but I guess that doesn't award billions to their pals for implementing this system.

[E63eeeeee...]

Pachydermus said:

E63eeeeee... said:

Countdown said:

From what I read in the Independent apparently it stops people overstaying

Pretty much. At the moment the only way they can identify if you do more than your 90 days in 180 in the EU is by manually adding up the date stamps in your passport. Once they have this digital record they'll be able to automatically identify people doing that, theoretically track you down and kick you out, but more likely flag you to be refused readmission next time you come back.

Unless you're travelling on multiple passports I find that hard to believe. All they need to save is passport_number + entry/exit dates and then run a report to flag any that are over 90 days but I guess that doesn't award billions to their pals for implementing this system.

The UK made the same transition 15-20 years ago and started collecting fingerprints for immigrants because people do travel on different passports, change their names, have different transliterations of names on different passports, and passports get replaced, passport numbers aren't unique etc. Passport-centric systems like you're suggesting don't work for all those reasons. Being person-centric and locking an individual into a single record with a biometric resolves all those problems and allows it all to be automated.

[cirian75]

E63eeeeee... said:

Countdown said:

From what I read in the Independent apparently it stops people overstaying

Pretty much. At the moment the only way they can identify if you do more than your 90 days in 180 in the EU is by manually adding up the date stamps in your passport. Once they have this digital record they'll be able to automatically identify people doing that, theoretically track you down and kick you out, but more likely flag you to be refused readmission next time you come back.

Cue quite a few miffed larger louts not being able to do their Benidorm pilgrimage.

Should have voted to stay in the EU lads.

[BikeBikeBIke]

Pachydermus said:

E63eeeeee... said:

Countdown said:

From what I read in the Independent apparently it stops people overstaying

Pretty much. At the moment the only way they can identify if you do more than your 90 days in 180 in the EU is by manually adding up the date stamps in your passport. Once they have this digital record they'll be able to automatically identify people doing that, theoretically track you down and kick you out, but more likely flag you to be refused readmission next time you come back.

Unless you're travelling on multiple passports I find that hard to believe. All they need to save is passport_number + entry/exit dates and then run a report to flag any that are over 90 days but I guess that doesn't award billions to their pals for implementing this system.

Nope, he's right, I researched this a year or so ago and the passport stamp date is their only record. I'm sure that will change at some point.

[WyrleyD]

Came through St Malo yesterday morning on the Portsmouth overnight ferry. We were second car off and went through the normal process of getting the passport stamped, I asked the gendarme about EES and he said that every 10th car will go through a different barrier area where the EES process is taking place.

[Terminator X]

WyrleyD said:

Came through St Malo yesterday morning on the Portsmouth overnight ferry. We were second car off and went through the normal process of getting the passport stamped, I asked the gendarme about EES and he said that every 10th car will go through a different barrier area where the EES process is taking place.

What happens if you say no? Will they let you travel on just the passport or are you asked to leave / sent home?

TX.