New EU travel requirements from October

forgoodnesssake
forgoodnesssake Online Community Member Posts: 539 Empowering
edited September 2025 in Transport and travel

I’m just wondering how the new European travel system (EES) coming in in October requiring facial scans and finger prints will work for disabled children and adults who have problems with controlling hands, heads etc? Has any work been done on this in anticipation?

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-entryexit-system

Comments

  • Albus_Alumni
    Albus_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 11,423 Championing

    That's a very interesting question @forgoodnesssake I'm not aware of any changes to be honest, so would be unable to give you an answer here. I've had a look at possible exemptions, but no mention of disabilities there.

  • forgoodnesssake
    forgoodnesssake Online Community Member Posts: 539 Empowering

    I'm just imagining trying to get my adult son's athetoid fingers to co-operate…and the more he tries to assist the more intentional dyspraxia kicks in! And of course this could be in a car, in a q at Dover!

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Online Community Member Posts: 15,408 Championing

    In the US you can be exempted from their fingerprint system for this very reason

    I looked up and found this for the EU

    Screenshot 2025-09-24 at 13.42.52.png
  • Albus_Alumni
    Albus_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 11,423 Championing

    Ah excellent find there @66Mustang nice one. 😁

  • Taks
    Taks Online Community Member Posts: 1 Listener

    I travelled yesterday from Prague to the UK. I went through the assistance side of passport control and myself and my husband had to register our fingerprints on a desktop device and then turn to have our faces photographed. Our adult daughter was already getting anxious about what we might be asking her to do ( she is autistic, has a severe learning disability and demand avoidance. ) I was already thinking that I would have to spread her fingers out on the device and hold her hand down and then manipulating her for the photo! I couldn’t see it going well at all but after telling the policeman in the booth that it could be problematic, we were waved through. I’d like official clarification on what the guidelines or policy is for UK travellers with disabilities preventing compliance with these requirements.
    Any pointers appreciated!

  • Holly_Scope
    Holly_Scope Posts: 5,099 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hi @Taks I recently tried to find some information on this, however I couldn't see any regulations/legislation specific to this unfortunately.

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 8,667 Championing
    edited October 2025

    This scheme runs by the EU for non EU travellers.

    https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees

    Perhaps asking your MP would be a good place to start?

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