What to Know About the EU's New Biometric Entry and Exit System

"Estonia and Croatia will be among the first countries to implement the EES at all points of entry-including seaports and airports-starting on October 12. Others are taking a gradual, targeted approach by initially launching the biometric system at one airport, as is the case with Spain's Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) and Germany's Düsseldorf Airport (DUS). Spain, for its part, has already poured €83 million (about $97.5 million) into updating some of its systems, according to the country's interior ministry."

"The increasing push for biometric data isn't just an overseas phenomenon. In the US, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been increasingly rolling out PreCheck Touchless ID lanes, which use facial recognition technology in place of a physical ID check. The program is currently available at 15 airports with four airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines."

"Jain says travelers can expect to see biometric systems replace the need for passport stamps at more and more airports around the world. "It's a convenience to the user and a higher level of security," he says. "Humans get tired of comparing faces with passport photos, and there is an attention burden for manual inspection of passports.""

Estonia and Croatia will implement the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) at all entry points, including seaports and airports, beginning October 12. Several other countries are deploying EES gradually, initially launching biometrics at a single airport such as Spain's Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD) and Germany's Düsseldorf (DUS). Spain has invested €83 million to update systems. In the United States, TSA is rolling out PreCheck Touchless ID facial-recognition lanes at 15 airports with four airlines. CBP has expanded Enhanced Passenger Processing, replacing passport inspections with face scans for returning US citizens without Global Entry or Clear fees. Biometrics aim to increase convenience and security.

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