The new Entry/Exit System has been slowly being rolled out across Europe since October 2025, with 29 countries now bringing in the biometric border control process to their travel hubs.
Under the new system, non-EU nationals, including UK citizens, entering the Schengen Area are required to register biometric details, including fingerprints and photographs.
The new system was due to be fully implemented at airports across Europe by 10th April – however the EU has since offered ‘certain flexibilities’ over the summer, in order to avoid long queues, which have been reported since EES came into place.
Just last month, industry bodies, including the International Air Transport Association, ACI Europe and Airlines for Europe said the phased introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) since October was already causing ‘significant delays’.
In a joint letter to the European Commissioner for Internal Affairs, they warned that queues could stretch to four hours or more this summer if the system is fully implemented.
The biometric processes, like fingerprint registration, must be done in person and at the border on arrival, meaning it can take time and cause backlogs, instead of travellers swiftly moving through passport control.
Airports Council International Europe revealed the EES system had increased waiting times at the border by up to 70 per cent, leading to three hour queues during peak travel periods.
As the new Entry/Exit system is rolled out across 29 destinations, long queues have already been seen in areas as travel hubs getting to grips with the processes. Above: Gates crashed at Gran Canaria
Hubs in Germany, France, Iceland, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal were said to be particularly impacted,
Travellers usually give themselves a couple of hours to make their way through the airport, but Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of travel business network Advantage Travel Partnership, is urging holidaymakers to leave at least four hours spare.
She recommends those travelling on connecting routes leave long layovers between their connections to avoid missing the next flight, the BBC reports.
Julia also warns that holidaymakers who have already uploaded their data and biometrics onto the system will still need to join the non-EU passport queue with first-time travellers going through the process.
‘Since the implementation of EES first began in October last year, we’ve already seen instances of significant delays at different airports and at different times,’ she tells the news outlet, explaining how the delays have varied on the time of day and traffic levels.
The travel expert also urges travellers to keep updated via their airline and airport to see how busy the queues are and how to manage delays in your journey due to the system.
‘Make sure you’ve got some refreshments and something to keep small children occupied,’ she adds.
Julia also noted tourists should keep an eye on the launch of EU’s new ETIAS visa waiver programme – expected to launch between October and December 2026 if the EES rollout is successful.
Through this, citizens of more than 60 visa-exempt countries will need to apply for pre-travel authorisation. The waiver will be valid for three years, or until the associated passport expires.
Julia added: ‘The cost is currently set to be €20 (£17), although this has already increased from when it was first announced,” noted Lo Bue-Said.
Alternatively, author and travel expert Ash Bhardwaj simply recommends getting a European passport, if possible, to cut the queues.
‘If you’re eligible for a European passport, just get one,’ he says, adding that any delays should improve with time.
The biometric system requires fingerprints and photos from non-EU nationals, including UK citizens, entering Schengen Area countries
Plenty of people have shared their ‘nightmare’ experiences with the new system.
Jack Howes tells the Daily Mail how it was a ‘disaster’ during his recent trip through Almeria Airport.
He said: ‘There was an assistant who said, “It’s s**t but you have to keep trying.”‘
After getting rejected by the machine four times, Jack was told to go to a manual checkout instead – however there was no one working on the manual desk.
‘So in the end I just went to the gate and it let me through anyway,’ he said.
Another traveller shared their experience on X, and penned: ‘Holy c**p the new EES passport system is a nightmare.
‘Two hours at arrival at Krakow. 90 minutes on departure. Give yourself plenty of time if you’re travelling around Europe.’
Someone else revealed they were even reconsidering their plans because of the new process.
They explained: ‘Rethinking my holiday/travel plans for this year and next, having been to Prague in Jan and Krakow this month.
‘The European entry/exit system (EES) was a nightmare – both going in and out. Despite the very best efforts of the excellent staff at both airports. Hours queuing.’
Another didn’t leave enough time for their connection and the EES delays, and penned: ‘Gave myself 1hour+ time from landing (8am) to connection (9:24). Wasn’t enough! The line to the machine then to immigration is a nightmare! Wasn’t like this pre-EES. Had to pay €100+ for the new tix.’
The automated IT system was first launched in October 2025, but airports and ports initially had until April 2026 to fully implement the technology as a mandatory requirement.
However, last month, the EU made the decision to give 29 participating countries a more flexible timeline for the system’s introduction until early September.
Aviation bodies have written to Magnus Brunner, the EU commissioner for internal affairs and migration, demanding the EU take immediate action to prevent ‘excessive’ delays as a result of the rollout.
They warned: ‘Failing immediate action to provide sufficient flexibility, severe disruptions over the peak summer months are a real prospect, with queues potentially reaching four hours or more.’
They highlighted three core issues that are ‘compounding EES delays’, including ‘chronic’ understaffing at border control, ‘unresolved’ technical malfunctions and the ‘very limited uptake’ of the Frontex pre-registration app by Schengen states.
The Frontex app would allow passengers to complete a number of additional checks prior to their arrival at the border.
Jack Howes tells the Daily Mail how EES was a ‘disaster’ during his recent trip through Almeria Airport
Travellers usually give themselves a couple of hours to make their way through the airport, but Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of travel business network Advantage Travel Partnership, is urging holidaymakers to leave at least four hours spare
According to the Independent, the European Commission insists the new system is operating ‘largely without issues’.
But in a joint statement, ACI Europe, lata, and A4E said: ‘There is a complete disconnect between the perception of the EU institutions that EES is working well, and the reality, which is that non‑EU travellers are experiencing massive delays and inconvenience.
‘This must come to an end immediately. We need to be realistic about what will happen during the peak summer months, when traffic at Europe’s airports doubles.’
They further warned that the rollout of EES must be ‘flexible to react to operational realities’ and ‘safeguard the reputation of the EU as an efficient, welcoming and desirable destination’.
To keep travel chaos at a minimum over the summer, the group hopes that the European Commission will allow Schengen member states to partially or totally suspend EES until the end of October.
Lisbon airport was reinforced with soldiers trained as border guards to reduce waiting times after security flaws led to the European Entry Exit System (EES) digital border rollout being suspended earlier this year.
In Janaury, 24 members of the National Republican Guard were stationed in the arrivals area at Humberto Delgado Airport, a measure approved by the government, a news agency in Portugal reported.
Once the EES process is introduced, a new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), is expected to be brought in.
It requires tourists from visa-exempt, non-EU countries like the UK, Australia, the US and Canada, to complete an online application costing €20 (£17.50) to enter 30 different countries.
This includes providing personal details, answer security questions and paying the fee before travelling to any of the 30 destinations.
The charge will be waived for children under 18 and adults over 70, but they will still need to apply for authorisation.
Once the ETIAS is approved, holidaymakers can enter the spots repeatedly for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
The new system is expected to be introduced in late 2026, and it won’t be mandatory until 2027.
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