From Sunday, non-EU travellers entering Europe’s Schengen open-borders zone will be photographed and fingerprinted at border crossings, as the European Union rolls out its much delayed automated border checks.
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The aim of the new system is to eventually replace the manual stamp on passports and secure better information sharing between the bloc’s 27 states.
The border-check system will allow authorities to know when people enter and exit a country, with the goal of better detecting anyone overstaying and those refused entry.
Hotly debated for nearly a decade, the system has raised concerns among transport providers and passengers, who fear it could lead to longer queues at airports and train stations.
To limit disruptions, there will be a phased roll-out. The first phase begins on Sunday.
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Non-EU nationals arriving for short stays in EU countries – except Cyprus and Ireland – will be asked for their passport number, to provide fingerprints and have their photo taken at automated kiosks.