Two new sets of European Union border control mechanisms will come into effect, the introduction for the new entry exit system has now been confirmed for the 10th November, and the Visa waiver programme in early 2025.
The new Entry Exit system will mean the digital registration of fingerprints and passports for non-EU nationals, and the Etias system will mean having to apply for a Visa Waiver in advance before entering the EU.
They are likely to mean increased delays in crossing borders, including the Gibraltar Frontier.
The new measures are the EU’s plan for counter-terrorism, security and the migrant crisis.
They have been in the works for some time, but there are now dates attached to the measures.
On the 10th of November, the EU will introduce its Entry / Exit System.
Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson says there will be strict digital border controls at every road into Europe.
People entering the EU will have to register fingerprints, a photo and passport details, which will need to be validated every time they cross the border.
This will mean longer processing times, and possibly queues.
In the first half of 2025 – possibly May – The Etias online Visa Waiver will come online.
This is similar to the US Esta system, where travellers must apply online in advance. The permit will be valid for three years at a time. It’ll be operational on an optional basis for a few months.
In the latter half of the year, possibly November, this system will be mandatory, although there will be a grace period. By the first half of 2026, All British passport holders must have an Etias.
The fee for an Etias will be seven euros. The permits will be processed quickly, but they could take up to four days. The only official portal for an Etias will be the EU website.
As with the US Esta, some websites may emerge claiming to be agents for processing forms. These are scams, which will likely charge you over and about the 7 euro fee.
How will all this affect Gibraltar?
This is what we know so far:
Commissioner Johansson has been very clear that all roads into Europe will be subject to the new systems.
Considerable investment has been made by the EU into new infrastructure on the Spanish side of the border for digital processing of travel documents – so they are ready to go.
Since Gibraltar left the European Union Spain has unilaterally granted travel exemptions, known as bridging measures, to Gibraltarians at the frontier, until such time as a treaty is signed.
Spain could technically withdraw these bridging measures at any time, but in any case, as this is a Europe wide measure, it may supersede Spain's administration of the frontier.
The Gibraltar Government always maintained all measures introduced by Spain at the frontier will be met with reciprocal measures from the Gibraltar side.
It has also spent the last eight years planning for a no deal scenario.
In answers to questions from GBC, a spokesperson for Number Six says in the event of a no treaty, it would be free to apply equivalent measures, and that it would be possible to apply manual reciprocal checks with a minimum of infrastructure while a full electronic programme is rolled out.
Developments in the next few months – especilly if there is a deal - could shed more light on how travel across the border will look like in the future.