Louisiana Travel Alert – European Destination to Require Fingerprinting

(KMDL-FM) Have you ever been fingerprinted? If you work in certain jobs, you most likely have. However, most of us associated the act of pressing our finger tips into an ink blotter and then onto a specially prepared card with the police. And usually when the police are fingerprinting you, you're not thinking about your next European getaway.

For decades, centuries even, fingerprinting has been the "final word" in verifying a person's identity. Or at least the modern-day and crime dramas of yesteryear would have you believe that. Your fingerprint does carry some important information about you. And now many countries are using technology associated with fingerprinting to improve your travel experience.

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I must admit that in my travels over the past three decades, we have gone from having a very brusque-looking lady who was incapable of smiling at the Russian border to a high-tech robot scanning my passport and reading my fingerprints in Singapore. The world of travel is changing, and security has to keep up with it.

Hence, there is a need for Louisiana travelers to be fingerprinted and photographed when they are attempting to enter certain foreign jurisdictions. In the very near future, all of the European Union will begin a new Entry/Exit System. The EES, as it's known by its acronym, will be enforced for all travelers who have travel itineraries in Croatia as of October 12th.

Which European Countries Will Require Fingerprints to Enter?

Croatia will be the first of the EU nations to replace the traditional passport stamp with a high-tech method for moving people in and out of the country. Upon entry, travelers will use a self-service kiosk to scan their passports electronically. They will then use a biometric reader to scan their fingerprints. That way, the prints and the passport are together, which makes for a solid form of ID.

The information is stored for three years, so if you go back, all you have to do is a simple scan, and you are good to go. It will speed up border crossings once it's fully implemented.

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You should also be aware that in 2026, the European Travel Information and Authorization System will be implemented. You pay $7.50 for the pass, and it will be required if you want to visit France, Germany, Italy, or any of the other 30 or so countries that are included in the program.

How Is Travel to Britain And the U.K. Different Now?

If you have travel plans that take you to the U.K., you'll need to be aware of customs and immigration changes made by that jurisdiction over the past year or so as well. They have implemented an ETA or Electronic Travel Authorisation (their spelling) requirement.

If you ask me, it looks like a money grab because they're collecting the same data that's on your passport and connected with any previous visas you might have been assigned. But, you have to have it if you want to experience the Sloppy Giuseppe from Pizza Express or the to-die-for fish and chips they serve at Hobson's. Both of those places are in Soho, London, UK. Go visit them. You can thank me later. 

It's always a good idea to read up on the latest changes in security and immigration procedures in any destination you have travel plans for. They often change quickly and with very little fanfare, so it's up to you to do your homework. Safe Travels.