Implications of European Union Entry and Exit System
This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.
2025.09.30
4.13 Connétable K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour of the Minister for External Relations regarding the European Union Entry and Exit System (OQ.212/2025):
Will the Minister advise the potential implications for Islanders of the European Union Entry and Exit System, which is due to begin a rolling implementation across European countries from 10th October 2025?
Deputy M.E. Millar of St. John, St. Lawrence and Trinity (Assistant Minister for External
Relations - rapporteur):
Sir, I am answering in Deputy Gorst 's absence. The Bailiff :
I assumed that must be the case, yes.
Deputy M.E. Millar :
I thank the Constable for his question. When British national travellers use the new system for the first time they will be required to register in the European Union Entry and Exit System, or E.E.S. This will require facial images and fingerprints to be supplied at the border. E.U. (European Union) entry points are expected to phase in gradually the registration process over some 6 months to avoid lengthy delays. E.E.S. registration will be valid for 3 years. Information for the public is published on Government of Jersey and U.K. Government websites. Ultimately implementation of the E.E.S. is a matter for the European Union and its member states and is subject to ongoing E.U. legislative processes.
- The Connétable of St. Saviour :
This will also apparently include children under 12, who will not be required to have their fingerprints scanned but will still need their faces scanned. My question is: will Jersey be providing E.E.S. terminals at the harbour and airport in the not too distant future?
Deputy M.E. Millar :
I do not know the answer to that question. I had assumed that the terminals would be at the point of entry in the E.U. and not in Jersey. I am sorry, I do not know the answer to that.
- Deputy R.S. Kovacs of St. Saviour :
Given the introduction next month of the European Union Entry and Exit System for non-E.U. nationals, the upcoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System for non-E.U. travellers, the existing U.K. Electronic Travel Authorisation and the introduction of the Jersey E.T.A. scheme, what steps will the Minister take to ensure Jersey residents of all nationalities receive clear, accessible and practical guidance on which authorisations or registrations will be required for their travel to prevent confusion between the systems?
Deputy M.E. Millar :
As I say, information will be published on the Government of Jersey website and it will also be available on U.K. Government websites.
- Deputy R.S. Kovacs :
Given the confusion of all these systems coming all at once, would it be published on social media and engage with the public to be aware of it?
Deputy M.E. Millar :
I am sure there will be a full communications plan in due course to the extent it affects Jersey residents. There will be people in Jersey who have E.U. passports for whom it is really not an issue, but if we are talking about British and Jersey travellers, we will have information for those people. I assume it is not going to be too much different from using the electronic entry gates at Heathrow or Gatwick, for example, when you come in from international destinations, and I am sure I am not the only one who has been fingerprinted going into other jurisdictions, so I think lots of people will be familiar with that by now.
- The Connétable of St. Saviour :
How we lament travelling over to Carteret for a day trip on a friend's boat for lunch, needing nothing more than a friendly wave from the harbour master. Big Brother has arrived, I am afraid; George Orwell was right.
The Bailiff :
Is that a question?
The Connétable of St. Saviour :
Yes, Sir. We will also in the not too distant future, a year's time, need an E.T.I.A.S. (European Travel Information and Authorisations System) which is also a visa requirement. Is the Minister aware of this and again will facilities be put in place, the question being has the Minister been informed when Jersey will be required to start the E.T.I.A.S.?
Deputy M.E. Millar :
I am afraid I have no information about any visa scheme. The question was just about the E.E.S. and that is all the background I have at this stage.