The EU announced that from October 12 it will launch its new electronic system for access for people who do not have European identity documents. It is expected to affect some compatriots living abroad whose Bulgarian passports and ID cards have expired or have given them up, NOVA reported.
The new electronic system will replace the current one with a stamp in the passport. Instead, people arriving in the EU who do not have a Bulgarian or other European identity document will be directed to special devices for capturing biometric data such as fingerprints and photos. The aim is to have greater control over non-EU citizens entering the EU without a visa, and especially whether they leave after their 90-day stay within a 6-month period has expired.
The introduction of the system has been postponed several times because it is expected to lead to queues and tension.
"In places such as the ports of Dover and the Eurotunnel, many such points have been built where fingerprints can be taken and people can pass through. The services say that the delays expected at Dover, Folkestone, when people leave the UK to enter the EU by ferry or Eurotunnel, will be around 5 minutes. But in summer this delay will certainly be longer. As the holidays for children have now started, people are travelling more and more. I have had to wait 2-3 hours at the Eurotunnel or ferry to pass through. Now with these additional changes it will be even more in my opinion", believes Atanas Chikov, who is a migration consultant.
Therefore, the system will be introduced in stages. From October 12, biometric data will begin to be taken at the borders from people who do not have European passports, and from the autumn of next year they will be asked to apply online for a special permit to enter the EU.
"The idea for this permit was initially to be 7 euros, but taking into account inflation, now the information has come out that it will cost 20 euros. They announced that it will be valid for 3 years. And citizens who are under the age of 18 and over 70 will not pay for it. If you are a European citizen and your wife, for example, is traveling with you or a child, they will also not pay for this permit," Chikov also announced.
Therefore, the migration consultant advises compatriots living abroad who, for some reason, are left without a Bulgarian identity document to use their return now for a summer vacation in their homeland and to get one:
"Those compatriots who do not have a valid Bulgarian passport or ID card, upon their first entry into Bulgaria, should go and replace their passport or ID card. That way, they will not have to apply for this permit, wait and pay unnecessary money. Just make sure that either their passport or ID card is always valid and that way it will be easy for them to travel to Bulgaria and the EU".