Digital border system errors threaten EU travel for UK nationals
Bestselling author Jojo Moyes is among a growing number of UK travelers facing potential travel restrictions and significant fines due to errors within the European Union’s new digital border entry and exit system. The system, launched last year to replace passport stamps with biometric data, has experienced glitches that are incorrectly recording departure dates, leading to false overstay notifications.
Moyes was detained in France and accused of overstaying her welcome, despite having spent only 23 days in the EU over a six-month period. A failure to log her departure from Portugal earlier this year triggered the alert. “The clock had been ticking ever since,” she explained to Which?. She was warned by a border official that she shouldn’t attempt to re-enter Europe until the issue is resolved, or risk a €10,000 fine and a two-year travel ban.
Similar issues have impacted other UK citizens. Jane Nolan and her husband discovered the system incorrectly indicated they had exhausted their 90-day travel allowance, preventing them from booking a trip to France. They had manually stamped passports upon returning to the UK in June due to suspended EES operations.
Another UK holidaymaker was detained and deported from Italy after a system error suggested she had overstayed. The European Commission is now pursuing legal action against three firms involved in the system’s development due to these failures.
The problem arises when biometric data is recorded upon arrival but not departure, leading to inaccurate records. The 180-day allowance resets upon entry, and exceeding the 90-day limit can result in deportation or fines.
Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, condemned the situation as “unacceptable,” highlighting the lack of accountability for travelers facing penalties for rules they haven’t broken. Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of The Advantage Travel Partnership, emphasized that travelers shouldn’t be penalized for system failures beyond their control.
The UK Foreign Office acknowledged the concerning reports and stated they are raising the issues with the European Commission. They advise travelers to maintain records of their EU departures and to address any anomalies with border officials.
Individuals can check their remaining allowance on the EES website using their passport number. Corrections can be requested through the Travel to Europe data protection page, although Moyes has reported difficulty in resolving her own issue. The European Commission has been contacted for comment.
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“Author Jojo Moyes among UK travellers at risk of EU ban amid digital border system glitches”
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