https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Austria in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Non-EU travellers heading to Austria and other Schengen countries will soon face biometric border controls as the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into force on October 12th. But can travellers opt out? https://www.thelocal.at/20251003/travel-in-austria-can-i-opt-out-of-giving-biometrics-under-eus-new-border-checks Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:07:28 +0200 travel-in-austria-can-i-opt-out-of-giving-biometrics-under-eus-new-border-checks Despite claims that the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) border checks would be "fully operational" by April 10th, many airports have reported disruption and some Channel ports don't even have the technology for full rollout yet. https://www.thelocal.at/20260411/full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:56:38 +0200 full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption European airports and airlines organisations issued on Monday the latest warning about the next implementation phase of the EU's new biometric border system, “as the transition phase comes to an end right in the travel peak of the Easter holidays.” https://www.thelocal.at/20260330/european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:31:07 +0200 european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms The British government has alerted UK tourists travelling to the Schengen area around Easter about the full implementation of EU’s new Entry/Exit border system (EES), urging travellers to allow additional time for journeys. https://www.thelocal.at/20260327/uk-warns-of-easter-travel-delays-to-due-to-new-eu-border-checks Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:40:25 +0100 uk-warns-of-easter-travel-delays-to-due-to-new-eu-border-checks One of the stated aims of the EU's new EES system of biometric passport checks is to catch people who 'over-stay' the 90-day limit, and 4,000 of those have been caught in the first months of its implementation, according to an EU official. https://www.thelocal.at/20260224/eus-ees-biometric-passport-checks-catch-4000-over-stayers-in-first-4-months Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:34:18 +0100 eus-ees-biometric-passport-checks-catch-4000-over-stayers-in-first-4-months Airlines across Europe have called on EU chiefs to review the ongoing roll-out for the EES biometric border checks amid fears the system will lead to border chaos this summer. https://www.thelocal.at/20260211/4-hour-queues-europes-airlines-and-airports-fear-summer-travel-chaos Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:32:29 +0100 4-hour-queues-europes-airlines-and-airports-fear-summer-travel-chaos Member States will have the green light to partially suspend Europe's Entry/Exit System (EES), the new EU digital border system, over the summer to avoid any travel chaos at ports and airports during peak season. https://www.thelocal.at/20260131/eu-delays-full-rollout-of-ees-border-system-over-travel-chaos-concerns Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:00:03 +0100 eu-delays-full-rollout-of-ees-border-system-over-travel-chaos-concerns The association of European airports called on Thursday for an urgent review of the new EU border system, amid “mounting operational issues” that could affect the holiday season. https://www.thelocal.at/20251218/mayhem-and-chaos-europes-airports-demand-urgent-review-of-new-border-system Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:06:28 +0100 mayhem-and-chaos-europes-airports-demand-urgent-review-of-new-border-system From Sunday, non-EU travellers entering Europe's Schengen open-borders zone will gradually be photographed and fingerprinted at border crossings, as the European Union rolls out its much-delayed automated border checks. https://www.thelocal.at/20251012/europe-rolls-out-automated-border-checks Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:27:13 +0200 europe-rolls-out-automated-border-checks The EU's new Entry & Exit System (EES) of enhanced passport controls will be launched on October 12th, albeit in a phased in approach, but how will it impact non-EU residents legally living in EU/Schengen countries? https://www.thelocal.at/20240427/reader-question-what-will-ees-mean-for-foreigners-living-in-europe Sat, 27 Apr 2024 07:59:09 +0200 reader-question-what-will-ees-mean-for-foreigners-living-in-europe Austria will start introducing the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) at airports from October 12th, with Vienna confirmed as the first location to rollout the checks for non-EU travellers. https://www.thelocal.at/20250828/exclusive-austria-reveals-timeline-for-rollout-of-ees-passport-checks Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:51:42 +0200 exclusive-austria-reveals-timeline-for-rollout-of-ees-passport-checks Car passengers travelling from the UK to France and onwards to other European countries will not be immediately subject to the EES biometric border checks that are set to be launched on October 12th. https://www.thelocal.at/20250904/dover-and-eurotunnel-reveal-start-dates-for-new-ees-passport-checks Thu, 04 Sep 2025 17:52:30 +0200 dover-and-eurotunnel-reveal-start-dates-for-new-ees-passport-checks One of the stated aims of the EU's new Entry & Exit System is to catch over-stayers, especially those who have over-stayed their 90-day allowance. Here's a look at what changes for those who currently travel visa-free to Europe. https://www.thelocal.at/20250730/how-do-the-eus-new-ees-passport-checks-affect-the-90-day-rule Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:18:59 +0200 how-do-the-eus-new-ees-passport-checks-affect-the-90-day-rule The European Union confirmed on Wednesday that a delayed new border-check system for non-EU nationals, which will do away with passport stamps, will finally launch in October. https://www.thelocal.at/20250730/eu-confirms-launch-date-for-new-border-system-to-help-identify-overstayers Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:51:17 +0200 eu-confirms-launch-date-for-new-border-system-to-help-identify-overstayers The European Commission has laid out the start date for the long-delayed biometric passport checks known as the Entry & Exit System. https://www.thelocal.at/20250722/eu-reveals-latest-start-date-for-ees-biometric-passport-checks Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:29:13 +0200 eu-reveals-latest-start-date-for-ees-biometric-passport-checks The European Parliament gave final approval on Tuesday to a phased rollout of a new border check system for non-EU nationals which will do away with passport stamps. https://www.thelocal.at/20250708/ees-update-phased-launch-of-europes-new-border-system-approved-by-meps Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:36:13 +0200 ees-update-phased-launch-of-europes-new-border-system-approved-by-meps The EU's much-delayed EES system of biometric passport checks could begin in October this year, after an agreement was reached on Wednesday between member states. https://www.thelocal.at/20250305/eu-aims-for-october-start-date-for-ees-passport-checks Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:25:56 +0100 eu-aims-for-october-start-date-for-ees-passport-checks After repeated delays there is still no confirmed start date for the EU's biometric passport checks system known as EES - but the boss of the UK ferry port of Dover has revealed that he is expecting a start date of November 2025. https://www.thelocal.at/20250205/uk-port-of-dover-expects-ees-to-be-rolled-out-in-november-2025 Wed, 05 Feb 2025 15:39:41 +0100 uk-port-of-dover-expects-ees-to-be-rolled-out-in-november-2025 After repeated delays two big changes to EU travel rules could come into force in 2025 - so if you have a trip planned, here's what you need to know in advance. https://www.thelocal.at/20240819/how-to-prepare-for-travel-under-europes-new-ees-and-etias-rules Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:18:52 +0200 how-to-prepare-for-travel-under-europes-new-ees-and-etias-rules The European Commission has outlined how it intends to introduce Europe's new biometric border system in a phased approach, after its rollout was delayed for the third time in November. https://www.thelocal.at/20241206/latest-eu-agrees-to-phase-in-ees-biometric-passport-checks-over-6-months Fri, 06 Dec 2024 10:55:15 +0100 latest-eu-agrees-to-phase-in-ees-biometric-passport-checks-over-6-months