What has changed: the new EU Entry/Exit System

The main change is the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which became fully operational in April 2026 at most external borders of the Schengen Area. This covers popular destinations such as Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, among others.

Instead of a simple passport stamp, most non‑EU travellers now have to be registered in a digital system the first time they enter after EES goes live. That initial registration usually involves:

• Scanning your passport
• Taking a facial image
• Taking fingerprints

Once this is done, future trips should be quicker, as the system only needs to verify your existing record.

Who is affected?

The travellers most affected are:

• British passport holders visiting Schengen countries
• Other non‑EU/Schengen nationals coming for short‑stay visits
• Anyone entering via busy external borders such as major airports, ferry ports, Eurotunnel or certain land crossings

EU and Schengen‑area nationals have different procedures, so they are not going through full EES checks in the same way.

Why queues and delays are happening.

In theory, EES should make borders smarter and more secure. In practice, the rollout has been challenging, especially at peak times. Key reasons include:

• Longer first‑time checks
  Capturing fingerprints and a face scan takes longer than simply stamping a passport. When several large flights arrive at once, this quickly creates queues.
• Peak demand with new systems
  The system went live shortly before a very busy summer. Some airports and ports are still adapting staffing, equipment and layouts, which has led to bottlenecks and knock‑on delays.
• Different approaches in different countries
  Some countries are using full biometric checks on all eligible travellers. Others are using temporary flexibilities, slowing or pausing biometric capture when queues become unmanageable. This means experiences vary significantly by destination and even time of day.

For travellers, the bottom line is that passport control in some European destinations is taking longer than it did a couple of summers ago, especially on that first trip under EES.

Why Greece is different for British travellers right now.

One important exception this summer is Greece.

For the time being, Greece has chosen to suspend the biometric part of EES for British passport holders at its border crossings. In practical terms:

• You still go through standard passport control.
• You are not currently being fingerprinted or face‑scanned on arrival in Greece, unlike in many other Schengen countries.

This is a deliberate move to keep queues down at key airports, particularly on the islands, where the British holiday market is hugely important. Resorts in places like Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Zakynthos and the Ionian rely heavily on UK visitors, and there were real concerns about very long waits if full biometrics were enforced on every British arrival at the height of summer.

It is important to stress that this is a temporary operational decision for the 2026 peak season. The wider EU position is that EES should eventually be applied consistently, so Greece’s approach may change, and it could do so at relatively short notice.

This is why you might hear very different stories from friends: for example, a three‑hour queue arriving in Spain, versus a much faster experience at an airport in Greece.

How this could affect your journey.

Depending on where you are travelling, you might notice:

• Longer queues at passport control on arrival in some Schengen countries
• Tighter margins for onward connections such as trains, ferries, transfers or cruises
• More strain on families with younger children or older travellers during long waits

Border queues of this nature are usually considered part of normal travel, so most travel insurance policies do not currently treat EES‑related delays in the same way as, for example, a technical fault that delays your flight. If in doubt, it is always worth checking your policy wording.

Simple ways to reduce stress.

There is a lot we can do in advance to make things easier.

1. Allow extra time
For flights into Schengen countries, especially at weekends and during school holidays:

• Arrive at your UK departure airport in good time.
• Avoid very tight onward plans immediately after landing, such as non‑flexible trains or time‑critical activities.

2. Plan for a slower first trip
Your first journey into Schengen under EES is likely to be the slowest, as this is when your details are captured. Later trips should be quicker once you are in the system.

3. Be “border ready”

• Keep your passport open at the photo page.
• Remove hats, sunglasses and face coverings before reaching the desk.
• Have the address of your first night’s accommodation and your length of stay to hand.

These small things help the queue move more quickly for everyone.

4. Think about timing

• Where possible, consider mid‑week arrivals or early‑morning/late‑evening flights, which can be quieter than traditional Saturday peak times.
• Shoulder‑season travel can also mean fewer queues as well as quieter resorts.

5. Choose sensible transfers and connections

• Where budget allows, private or flexible transfers give you more leeway if passport control is slow.
• If you are connecting to ferries, trains or cruises the same day, build in realistic buffer time for border checks.

How I can help as your Travel Counsellor

While I cannot change how quickly the new system beds in, I can help you plan around it so that it has as little impact on your holiday as possible. That includes:

• Advising on destinations where queues have been better or worse recently
• Helping you choose flight times and routings that reduce the risk of congestion
• Building sensible timings into your itinerary for transfers and onward travel
• Checking insurance details with you so you know what is and is not covered
• Being your single point of contact before and during your trip if you are worried about queues or timings

Biometric checks represent a significant change in how we travel into much of Europe, and it will take time for everything to run as smoothly as intended. Some airports will feel busier and slower this summer, while others, like many Greek airports for British visitors, may feel more like “business as usual”.

With a little extra preparation and realistic expectations, your holiday can still get off to a relaxed and enjoyable start. If you would like me to review your upcoming travel plans in light of these changes, or are thinking about booking a new trip, just get in touch and I will be very happy to help.