British travellers heading to Germany and France face new entry requirements as temporary border controls are implemented.
The latest update comes as both European countries enforce passport stamping procedures, according to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
"There are temporary border controls in place to travel into Germany," the FCDO explained. "Check the entry requirements for Germany."
"A temporary reintroduction of border controls is currently in place at Germany’s land borders."
Britons travelling to France and Germany have been warned about the changes
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The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community informed the European Commission in September that it has ordered the temporary reintroduction of border control at Germany’s land borders with France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark for six months, starting September 16, 2024.
Travellers are advised to check the entry requirements for Germany before their journey, as the new controls represent a significant change in border management and may impact travel times for those entering Germany by land.
The temporary border controls are part of a comprehensive package of stationary and mobile border policing measures.
The complete package of stationary and mobile border policing measures, including the possibility of refusing entry at the border, will be applied at all of Germany’s land borders as allowed by EU and national law.
The German authorities have stated that these measures aim to "limit irregular migrations further and to protect Germany's internal security".
When border controls were introduced in September, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser said: "We are taking concrete action to reinforce our internal security, and we are taking a hard line against irregular migration.
"We are continuing to pursue this course. Until the new Common European Asylum System and other measures ensure strong protection for the EU’s external borders, we must also do more to control our national borders.
"These border control measures include effective refusals of entry at the border – more than 30,000 people have been denied entry at the land borders with Poland, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic just since October 2023.
"That is why we will expand our temporary border control to include all of Germany’s land borders, as I ordered today."
In addition to Germany's border controls, travellers to Schengen countries will face new entry procedures. While the system was originally set to roll out in November 2024, the implementation has been postponed indefinitely.
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Temporary border policing measures will be applied at all of Germany’s land borders
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The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will replace passport stamping with a digital system for non-EU nationals, affecting 29 European countries.
UK holidaymakers will need to provide biometric data, including fingerprints and photos when entering the Schengen area.
For those departing from Dover, Eurotunnel, Folkestone, or St Pancras International, these biometrics will be collected before leaving the UK.
The FCDO warned: "You may experience longer queues at the border when the new system starts."