South-Korean broadcaster SBS reported on 14 September that the European Union has again postponed strict enforcement of its new biometric border system for nine Schengen countries, including France. The story, which quickly trended on Korean business-travel forums, warns that fingerprint and facial-image collection at Paris and Frankfurt will not become fully mandatory until early 2027 at the earliest. The piece cites assurances allegedly given by EU transport commissioner-designate Apostolos Tzitzikostas to the UK and other third-country partners that carriers will not be penalised if non-EU passengers are processed without biometrics during the transition. Analysts interviewed by SBS say this is a win for Asian exporters whose executives frequently shuttle to France’s aerospace and luxury-goods clusters and cannot afford multi-hour border delays. French travel-management companies contacted by SBS confirmed that July waiting times at CDG peaked at 90 minutes for non-EU arrivals, double the 2025 average. They now expect the autumn trade-fair season—including Paris Packaging Week and the Monaco Yacht Show—to proceed with only minor disruption. Nevertheless, legal experts caution that the grace period does not alter 90/180-day stay calculations or ETIAS pre-authorisation rules, which Asian travellers will still need to observe rigorously. Firms are urged to review their mobility policies and ensure travellers maintain digital copies of entry receipts issued in lieu of passport stamps.
Source: SBS News (Korea)
