Harried human beings and machines at Prague airport

Electronic-entry system may ask you about travel insurance

- SIMON CALDER

This is one of the extra hurdles the British awarded themselves by bravely deciding to take back control and leave the EU.

The entry-exit system (EES) means “third-country nationals” such as the British travelling to the European Union and wider Schengen area must be photographed and fingerprinted at the frontier. To do that, European countries are adding an extra hurdle ahead of the usual passport check.

The process of providing your biometrics is formerly known as Border Control Registration. At many frontiers it comprises a legion of tall kiosks, generally glowing red or green, towering over travellers as they tentatively approach. These machines have been gathering dust at airports around Europe for a year or more, but are now being pressed into action.

I first tussled with the EES hardware and software on the start date for the digital borders scheme, 12 October. I flew to Prague especially to test it out, since the Czech Republic had said it would be going 100 per cent live from day one. Almost all other countries are taking their time.

The process was hardly friction-free: placing your passport and your fingerprints in the correct location in the approved manner is far from intuitive. But what was more troubling was the onscreen interrogation. Travellers are asked for:

• Confirmation of accommodation?

• A return ticket?

• Means of payment?