Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Article 8 U.K. Border checks on persons

1. Cross-border movement at external borders shall be subject to checks by border guards. Checks shall be carried out in accordance with this chapter.

The checks may also cover the means of transport and objects in the possession of the persons crossing the border. The law of the Member State concerned shall apply to any searches which are carried out.

[F1 2. On entry and on exit, persons enjoying the right of free movement under Union law shall be subject to the following checks:

(a) verification of the identity and the nationality of the person and of the authenticity and validity of the travel document for crossing the border, including by consulting the relevant databases, in particular:

(1)

the SIS;

(2)

Interpol’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database;

(3)

national databases containing information on stolen, misappropriated, lost and invalidated travel documents.

For passports and travel documents containing a storage medium as referred to in Article 1(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 (1) , the authenticity of the chip data shall be checked.

(b) verification that a person enjoying the right of free movement under Union law is not considered to be a threat to the public policy, internal security, public health or international relations of any of the Member States, including by consulting the SIS and other relevant Union databases. This is without prejudice to the consultation of national and Interpol databases.

Where there are doubts as to the authenticity of the travel document or the identity of its holder, at least one of the biometric identifiers integrated into the passports and travel documents issued in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 shall be verified. Where possible, such verification shall also be carried out in relation to travel documents not covered by that Regulation.

2a. Where the checks against the databases referred to in points (a) and (b) of paragraph 2 would have a disproportionate impact on the flow of traffic, a Member State may decide to carry out those checks on a targeted basis at specified border crossing points, following an assessment of the risks related to the public policy, internal security, public health or international relations of any of the Member States.

The scope and duration of the temporary reduction to targeted checks against the databases shall not exceed what is strictly necessary and shall be defined in accordance with a risk assessment carried out by the Member State concerned. The risk assessment shall state the reasons for the temporary reduction to targeted checks against the databases, take into account, inter alia, the disproportionate impact on the flow of traffic and provide statistics on passengers and incidents related to cross-border crime. It shall be updated regularly.

Persons who, in principle, are not subject to targeted checks against the databases, shall, as a minimum, be subject to a check with a view to establishing their identity on the basis of the production or presentation of travel documents. Such a check shall consist of a rapid and straightforward verification of the validity of the travel document for crossing the border, and of the presence of signs of falsification or counterfeiting, where appropriate by using technical devices, and, in cases where there are doubts about the travel document or where there are indications that such a person could represent a threat to the public policy, internal security, public health or international relations of the Member States, the border guard shall consult the databases referred to in points (a) and (b) of paragraph 2.

The Member State concerned shall transmit its risk assessment and updates thereto to the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (‘the Agency’), established by Regulation (EU) 2016/1624 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) , without delay and shall report every six months to the Commission and to the Agency on the application of the checks against the databases carried out on a targeted basis. The Member State concerned may decide to classify the risk assessment or parts thereof.

2b. Where a Member State intends to carry out targeted checks against the databases pursuant to paragraph 2a, it shall notify the other Member States, the Agency and the Commission accordingly without delay. The Member State concerned may decide to classify the notification or parts thereof.

Where the Member States, the Agency or the Commission have concerns about the intention to carry out targeted checks against the databases, they shall notify the Member State in question of those concerns without delay. The Member State in question shall take those concerns into account.

2c. The Commission shall, by 8 April 2019 , transmit to the European Parliament and the Council an evaluation of the implementation and consequences of paragraph 2.

2d. With regard to air borders, paragraphs 2a and 2b shall apply for a maximum transitional period of six months from 7 April 2017 .

In exceptional cases, where, at a particular airport, there are specific infrastructural difficulties requiring a longer period of time for adaptations in order to allow for the carrying-out of systematic checks against the databases without having a disproportionate impact on the flow of traffic, the six-month transitional period referred to in the first subparagraph may be prolonged for that particular airport by a maximum of 18 months in accordance with the procedure specified in the third subparagraph.

For that purpose, the Member State shall, at the latest three months before the expiry of the transitional period referred to in the first subparagraph, notify the Commission, the Agency and the other Member States of the specific infrastructural difficulties in the airport concerned, the envisaged measures to remedy them and the required period of time for their implementation.

Where specific infrastructural difficulties requiring a longer period for adaptations exist, the Commission, within one month of receipt of the notification referred to in the third subparagraph and after consulting the Agency, shall authorise the Member State concerned to prolong the transitional period for the airport concerned and, where relevant, shall set the length of such prolongation.

2e. The checks against the databases referred to in points (a) and (b) of paragraph 2 may be carried out in advance on the basis of passenger data received in accordance with Council Directive 2004/82/EC (3) or in accordance with other Union or national law.

Where those checks are carried out in advance on the basis of such passenger data, the data received in advance shall be checked at the border crossing point against the data in the travel document. The identity and the nationality of the person concerned, as well as the authenticity and the validity of the travel document for crossing the border, shall also be verified.

2f. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, persons enjoying the right of free movement under Union law who cross the internal land borders of the Member States for which the verification in accordance with the applicable Schengen evaluation procedures has already been successfully completed, but for which the decision on the lifting of controls on their internal borders pursuant to the relevant provisions of the relevant Acts of Accession has not yet been taken, may be subject to the checks on exit referred to in paragraph 2 only on a non-systematic basis, based on a risk assessment.]

3. On entry and exit, third-country nationals shall be subject to thorough checks as follows:

(a) thorough checks on entry shall comprise verification of the conditions governing entry laid down in Article 6(1) and, where applicable, of documents authorising residence and the pursuit of a professional activity. This shall include a detailed examination covering the following aspects:

(i)

[F1 verification of the identity and the nationality of the third-country national and of the authenticity and validity of the travel document for crossing the border, including by consulting the relevant databases, in particular:

(1)

the SIS;

(2)

Interpol’s SLTD database;

(3)

national databases containing information on stolen, misappropriated, lost and invalidated travel documents.

For passports and travel documents containing a storage medium, the authenticity of the chip data shall be checked, subject to the availability of valid certificates;

(ii)

verification that the travel document is accompanied, where applicable, by the requisite visa or residence permit;]

(iii)

examination of the entry and exit stamps on the travel document of the third-country national concerned, in order to verify, by comparing the dates of entry and exit, that the person has not already exceeded the maximum duration of authorised stay in the territory of the Member States;

(iv)

verification regarding the point of departure and the destination of the third-country national concerned and the purpose of the intended stay, checking, if necessary, the corresponding supporting documents;

(v)

verification that the third-country national concerned has sufficient means of subsistence for the duration and purpose of the intended stay, for his or her return to the country of origin or transit to a third country into which he or she is certain to be admitted, or that he or she is in a position to acquire such means lawfully;

(vi)

[F1 verification that the third-country national concerned, his or her means of transport and the objects he or she is transporting are not likely to jeopardise the public policy, internal security, public health or international relations of any of the Member States. Such verification shall include direct consultation of the data and alerts on persons and, where necessary, objects included in the SIS and other relevant Union databases, and the action to be performed, if any, as a result of an alert. This is without prejudice to the consultation of national and Interpol databases;]

(b) if the third country national holds a visa referred to in Article 6(1)(b), the thorough checks on entry shall also comprise verification of the identity of the holder of the visa and of the authenticity of the visa, by consulting the Visa Information System (VIS) in accordance with Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008;

(c) by way of derogation, the VIS may be consulted using the number of the visa sticker in all cases and, on a random basis, the number of the visa sticker in combination with the verification of fingerprints where:

(i)

traffic of such intensity arises that the waiting time at the border crossing point becomes excessive;

(ii)

all resources have already been exhausted as regards staff, facilities and organisation; and

(iii)

on the basis of an assessment there is no risk related to internal security and illegal immigration.

However, in all cases where there is doubt as to the identity of the holder of the visa and/or the authenticity of the visa, the VIS shall be consulted systematically using the number of the visa sticker in combination with the verification of fingerprints.

This derogation may be applied only at the border crossing point concerned for as long as the conditions referred to in points (i), (ii) and (iii) are met;

(d) the decision to consult the VIS in accordance with point (c) shall be taken by the border guard in command at the border crossing point or at a higher level.

The Member State concerned shall immediately notify the other Member States and the Commission of any such decision;

(e) each Member State shall transmit once a year a report on the application of point (c) to the European Parliament and the Commission, which shall include the number of third-country nationals who were checked in the VIS using the number of the visa sticker only and the length of the waiting time referred to in point (c)(i);

(f) points (c) and (d) shall apply for a maximum period of three years, beginning three years after the VIS has started operations. The Commission shall, before the end of the second year of application of points (c) and (d), transmit to the European Parliament and to the Council an evaluation of their implementation. On the basis of that evaluation, the European Parliament or the Council may invite the Commission to propose appropriate amendments to this Regulation;

(g) thorough checks on exit shall comprise:

(i)

[F1 verification of the identity and the nationality of the third-country national and of the authenticity and validity of the travel document for crossing the border, including by consulting the relevant databases, in particular:

(1)

the SIS;

(2)

Interpol’s SLTD database;

(3)

national databases containing information on stolen, misappropriated, lost and invalidated travel documents.

For passports and travel documents containing a storage medium, the authenticity of the chip data shall be checked, subject to the availability of valid certificates;]

(ii)

[F1 verification that the third-country national concerned is not considered to be a threat to the public policy, internal security, public health or international relations of any of the Member States, including by consulting the SIS and other relevant Union databases. This is without prejudice to the consultation of national and Interpol databases;]

(h) in addition to the checks referred to in point (g) thorough checks on exit may also comprise:

(i)

verification that the person is in possession of a valid visa, if required pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 539/2001, except where he or she holds a valid residence permit; such verification may comprise consultation of the VIS in accordance with Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008;

(ii)

verification that the person did not exceed the maximum duration of authorised stay in the territory of the Member States;

(iii)

[F2 . . . . .]

(i) for the purpose of identification of any person who may not fulfil, or who may no longer fulfil, the conditions for entry, stay or residence on the territory of the Member States, the VIS may be consulted in accordance with Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 767/2008[F1 ;]

[F3 (ia) the checks against the databases referred to in point (a)(i) and (vi) and point (g) may be carried out in advance on the basis of passenger data received in accordance with Directive 2004/82/EC or with other Union or national law.

Where those checks are carried out in advance on the basis of such passenger data, the data received in advance shall be checked at the border crossing point against the data in the travel document. The identity and the nationality of the person concerned, as well as the authenticity and validity of the travel document for crossing the border, shall also be verified;

(ib) where there are doubts as to the authenticity of the travel document or the identity of the third-country national, the checks, where possible, shall include the verification of at least one of the biometric identifiers integrated into the travel documents.]

4. Where facilities exist and if requested by the third-country national, such thorough checks shall be carried out in a private area.

[F4 4a. Where on entry or exit, consultation of the relevant databases including the multiple-identity detector through the European search portal established by Article 25(1) and Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) respectively results in a yellow link or detects a red link, the border guard shall consult the common identity repository established by Article 17(1) of that Regulation or SIS or both to assess the differences in the linked identity data or travel document data. The border guard shall carry out any additional verification necessary to take a decision on the status and colour of the link.

In accordance with Article 69(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/817, this paragraph shall apply as from the start of operations of the multiple-identity detector under Article 72(4) of that Regulation.]

5. Without prejudice to the second subparagraph, third-country nationals subject to a thorough second line check shall be given written information in a language which they understand or may reasonably be presumed to understand, or in another effective way, on the purpose of, and the procedure for, such a check.

This information shall be available in all the official languages of the Union and in the language(s) of the country or countries bordering the Member State concerned and shall indicate that the third-country national may request the name or service identification number of the border guards carrying out the thorough second line check, the name of the border crossing point and the date on which the border was crossed.

6. Checks on a person enjoying the right of free movement under Union law shall be carried out in accordance with Directive 2004/38/EC.

7. Detailed rules governing the information to be registered are laid down in Annex II.

8. Where Article 5(2)(a) or (b) applies, Member States may also provide derogations from the rules set out in this Article.

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Regulation (EU) 2017/458 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the reinforcement of checks against relevant databases at external borders.

F2 Deleted by Regulation (EU) 2017/458 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the reinforcement of checks against relevant databases at external borders.

F3 Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2017/458 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the reinforcement of checks against relevant databases at external borders.

F4 Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2019/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 on establishing a framework for interoperability between EU information systems in the field of borders and visa and amending Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2016/399, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240, (EU) 2018/1726 and (EU) 2018/1861 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decisions 2004/512/EC and 2008/633/JHA.

(1)

[F1 Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 of 13 December 2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States ( OJ L 385, 29.12.2004, p. 1 ).]

(2)

[F1 Regulation (EU) 2016/1624 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2016 on the European Border and Coast Guard and amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EC) No 863/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 and Council Decision 2005/267/EC ( OJ L 251, 16.9.2016, p. 1 ).]

(3)

[F1 Council Directive 2004/82/EC of 29 April 2004 on the obligation of carriers to communicate passenger data ( OJ L 261, 6.8.2004, p. 24 ).]

(4)

[F4 Regulation (EU) 2019/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 on establishing a framework for interoperability between EU information systems in the field of borders and visa and amending Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2016/399, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240, (EU) 2018/1726 and (EU) 2018/1861 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decisions 2004/512/EC and 2008/633/JHA ( OJ L 135, 22.5.2019, p. 27 ).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Substituted by Regulation (EU) 2017/458 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 amending Regulation (EU) 2016/399 as regards the reinforcement of checks against relevant databases at external borders.

F4 Inserted by Regulation (EU) 2019/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2019 on establishing a framework for interoperability between EU information systems in the field of borders and visa and amending Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2016/399, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240, (EU) 2018/1726 and (EU) 2018/1861 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decisions 2004/512/EC and 2008/633/JHA.