Q – We have friends who left for Paris for a week of rambling around and investigating croissants “fillings” in the better neighborhoods. They know we are leaving for Paris ourselves next month on a Scenic Seine River Cruise and they warned us that there is a new Visa system in place that can take a long time. We had heard that the Visa’s they are talking about for entry into the EU have been delayed so all we have are our passports. Please let is know the real story.
A – The “European Entry/Exit System” is currently being implemented at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
However, we are receiving mixed feedback depending on the terminal and the time of day. Some passengers pass through quickly, while others experience longer waiting times, especially during peak hours. Travelers who need to register biometric data, such as fingerprints and photographs, should allow extra time for passport control. Waiting times of around one hour or more have been reported during busy periods.
We recommend that travelers factor this information into their pickup time when departing. This is not a “New” visa that is required – it is, instead, a new way to gather more detailed information from travelers arriving in France. You don’t have to bring anything other than your Passport and another photo ID. Be prepared to fingerprints etc. It is not required of all arrivals but it soon may be required as soon as CDG is fully staffed.
