Now that the UK is a “third country” as a result of Brexit, the mountain of travel documents needed to enter the EU is continuing to rise and at a cost.
Extra passport checks - requiring non-EU citizens to provide photographs and fingerprints - are expected to increase processing times almost seven-fold.
The EU’s new entry-exit system is going to be introduced in May next year.
The EU’s new system of biometric checks will apply to British passport-holders travelling to Europe’s Schengen Area via airports, ports or border checkpoints.
Travellers will be required to provide a facial image and four fingerprints. Only children under 12 will be exempt.
And, from November 2023, UK travellers will also have to apply for a visa-waiver, which will cost €7 and be valid for three years.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (Etias) will allow non-EU travellers to visit the Schengen Area without a full visa.
It was due to be introduced at the same time as the biometric checks at the border, but the European Commision has postponed it by six months.