Two changes are coming into force that will affect travel to and from the European Union (EU) by non-EU citizens, including Britons, Americans, Australians and Canadians.

Here is what is changing:

1— EES - Entry/Exit System

It will not affect visas or travel formalities, nor will it affect travellers' rights, but it will change the way the EU's external borders and the Schengen area are managed.

It is essentially a security upgrade that will replace the current system, which relies on border guards to identify visitors, with a computerised entry and exit system that would record other information, such as immigration status.

When will it come into force?

The launch date has been delayed several times, with the latest timetable foreseeing implementation "between the third and fourth quarter of 2024", after the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

According to British media, the implementation date is Sunday 6 October 2024, although this has not been confirmed by the European Commission. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, the start date is "between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025".

Where does it apply?

It applies to the external borders of the EU and the Schengen area, so it does not apply if you are travelling between France and Germany, for example, but it does apply if you are entering an EU or Schengen area country from a non-EU country, such as crossing from the UK to France via the Channel Tunnel or flying into Germany from the US.

When non-EU visitors first enter the Schengen/EU area, the system registers their name, biometric data and the date and place of their arrival and departure. Facial scans and fingerprints are collected and stored for three years after the initial enrolment.

In fact, many airports already have biometric passport scanners, but they only check that your passport is genuine and that the photo matches your face.

The EES system will also check how long you can stay in the EU, depending on your right of residence or 90-day permit, and whether your passport has ever been reported for immigration offences, such as overstaying a visa.

Who will be affected?

It applies to non-EU citizens entering the EU as tourists and not as residents. The machine will scan your passport and tell you how long you can stay (depending on the 90-day limit or the visa you have in your passport).

We asked the European Commission how the system would work for residents and they replied:

"The entry/exit system will not apply to third-country nationals who have a residence document or a residence permit. Their personal data will not be stored in the entry/exit system. It will be sufficient for the holders of such documents to present them to the border guards in order to prove their status".

The Commission insisted that third-country nationals residing in an EU country should not use the electronic gates or automatic scanners, but should wait next to a human guard (if available) and present both their passport and their residence permit.

However, there is no indication that permanent residents will lose their right of residence if they enter the EU through the automated gates, as their residence status is guaranteed if they can prove it with their permit. They may face the inconvenience of a few more questions the next time they travel.

What changes?

Apart from a more hi-tech (and probably long queuing) border crossing, it is likely to have two main effects.

For non-EU citizens living in an EU country, it could mean an end to a somewhat inconsistent passport stamping process, which has been a particular problem for UK citizens since Brexit, with highly inconsistent official practices by border officials frustrating many EU residents and leaving them with incorrect stamps in their passports.

The 90-day rule will now apply more strictly to EU tourists. It does not change the rules themselves, but ensures that anyone trying to overstay or "game" the system is immediately identified.

The European Commission's other stated aim is to improve security by making it easier to detect security problems at borders.

Will non-EU travellers be delayed?

Several EU countries have expressed concern that the UK-France border could become a bottleneck due to the large number of travellers and the limited processing capacity of ports such as Dover, while low-cost airline Ryanair has also expressed reservations about the implementation.

One of the reasons for delaying the implementation date is to iron out potential problems.

2— ETIAS - European Travel Information and Authorisation System

The ETIAS travel authorisation is mandatory for nationals of visa waiver countries travelling to one of the 30 listed European countries. It is attached to the traveller's passport. The document is valid for a maximum of 3 years or until the passport expires. Whichever comes first. However, obtaining a new passport requires a new ETIAS travel authorisation.

This does not apply to residents, so they do not need to go through the online process before travelling. Instead, they will present their passport and residence permit at the border, as they do now.

Who will be affected?

It does not apply to permanent residents of an EU country or to those entering the EU with a visa (including Schengen visas). It applies to non-EU nationals who have previously travelled for 90 days without a visa.

It therefore affects tourists, second home owners and those visiting family or working on a short-term basis in countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

When does it come into force?

Like the EES, it has been delayed several times and is currently scheduled to enter into force in "the first two quarters of 2025".

This is about to change; people will still be able to spend up to 90 days in a 180-day period, but the process will no longer be entirely free of red tape.

Instead, travellers will have to complete an online application before leaving the country.

Once approved, the permit will be valid for three years, so frequent travellers will no longer have to fill out a new application each time they travel, but will have to renew it every three years.

For anyone who has recently visited the United States, the process is remarkably similar to the ESTA visa required for short-term visits.

How much does it cost?

Each application costs €7, but is free for people under 18 and over 70.

The entire application process is online. According to the European Commission, applications should be completed in a matter of minutes, but travellers should apply at least 72 hours in advance to avoid delays.

What changes?

Technically this is a visa waiver, not a visa, but in practice it means the end of paperless travel to the EU for many groups.

For EU tourists and visitors, this is a significant change, as pre-travel activities will now include obtaining a visa online for all members of the group, in addition to hotel/flight arrangements, etc.

The process itself seems fairly straightforward, and each visa is valid for 3 years, so frequent travellers will not need to do this every time, but as it is a new procedure, it is likely to lead to awkward situations at the border.