EU Entry/Exit System

Where did you see that the ESS will need information about your return journey? I can't see any information about that information being stored in ESS.

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/data-held-by-ees##

It’s not an EES requirement as such but EES works in conjunction with the existing border control rules, such as the Schengen Borders Code. These rules already empower border officials to ask non-EU nationals, questions about their trip, which can include requesting proof of sufficient funds, a return or onward ticket, and accommodation details. The UK Government website ‘Foreign Travel Advice’ pages also state that ‘you may need to show a return or onward ticket’. Newspapers are picking up on speculation that this will be one of the questions asked at the automated EES kiosks. I don’t know where they are hearing this, which is why I said “hopefully more guidance will be forthcoming” (e.g. exactly what questions will be asked at the kiosks).

If they do ask this question they will need to update the document that you referenced.

​@Gary Clarke 

What is the problem? It will be an automated process instead of an officer who could now ask the same questions and also refuses the entry.

The automated system will not refuse the entry. If the system asks if you have a return ticket (and we don’t yet know if it will) and you answer “no” you could be referred to a border official for a more detailed check, who could refuse entry.

That could be a problem for many Interrail travellers who like to travel flexibly and only book their accommodation and return reservations once they are within the EU. If you have to book your return ticket before you enter the UK it limits flexibility, which is one of the benefits of an Interrail pass.

There's nothing that says that the ESS kiosks will ask anything about your return trip. ESS will just help the countries to keep track of how long time a person has spent within the ESS area by registering entries and exits. There's no requirement for travellers from UK ( UK citizens) to have a return ticket when they leave the country as they don't need a Schengen visa to cross the channel. 

https://www.gov.uk/travel-to-eu-schengen-area

I haven’t seen anything that says categorically what questions will be asked at the kiosks. Several UK newspapers are reporting that you will need to show that you have a return ticket when EES is introduced. It sounds from your reply that they are wrong, so I won’t need to book a return ticket for my October Interrail trip.

I think that the newspapers want to upset people and create confusion. I would trust the information from the EES website and from gov.uk, which are reliable sources. 

​@ralderton Do you have any comment on the subject?

It's all guesswork, I suppose.

I've only been asked about return travel once in probably 15 entries to Schengen, and the agent (in Helsinki Airport of all places) was quite satisfied with my answer that I'm interrailing and don't have a fixed plan.

I can see a world in which the EES kiosks ask the question, then send everybody who fails to an agent. But I can also see that that could very quickly overwhelm the agents.

In any case, you do have a return ticket - your rail pass - even if you don't yet have a reservation. Perhaps you could truthfully answer ‘yes’?

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If it comes to it, a refundable reservation, or even a £5 Ryanair flight that you won't use would suffice. But I'm not particularly worried about it. I think there will be teething problems in general, but it'll settle down. I'm tempted to agree with you ​@AnnaB that it's whipped up to sell newspapers.

Quickly took a look at some government pages, none of them mention you need to show a return ticket.

Reminds me of all the faff about the ETA form that’s now mandatory for EU-citizens travelling to the UK. Lots of complaints and big talks about it being an insurmountable hurdle, in the end it’s just a weird extra form to fill out, windowdressing migration controls. It just has an extra cost, easily done in 10 seconds and you have it sent to you after 10 seconds after completion.

Guess it’ll be the same with EES.

Thanks everyone for your input and suggestions, which help put the newspaper reports into perspective.