Holidaymakers warn of long queues over the EU’s new border system.
The latest rollout of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires UK citizens to provide fingerprints and a photo when leaving or entering the Schengen area, has triggered warnings of extended waits at airports across Europe during this year’s summer peak.
EES replaces the manual stamping of passports and records who enters and exits the 29‑country Schengen zone. At major destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal and Italy, passengers must use automated kiosks for biometric registration, which can take a considerable time, leading some airlines to advise travellers to arrive three hours before their flight back to the UK.
Queues have been reported as long as six hours at some airports. The high‐profile incidents include passengers missing flights because the biometric checks delayed them beyond gate closure, and a mixed response from airlines—while Ryanair denies any flight holds, other carriers will wait where possible.
The European Commission has permitted temporary suspension of the system in “exceptional circumstances” to reduce excessive waiting times until September. Portugal is deploying additional border officers for July, and China‑ and Greece‑based flights are exempt from biometric checks for the Summer period.
Similar problems appear at ferries and trains: British passengers boarding at Dover, the Eurotunnel Folkestone terminal and Eurostar’s London St Pancras are subject to the same checks. Although automated kiosks have been installed at these ports, border staff are still performing checks on a part‑time basis, leading to long vehicle queues during school holidays.
The EU is also preparing the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a visa‑waiver scheme linked to the passport list. Scheduled to launch at the end of 2026, ETIAS will allow non‑EU countries that do not need a visa—including UK citizens—to apply online for a three‑year authorisation at €20 (£17.47) per person.
What to do
Passengers are advised to check their airlines’ guidance on early arrival times and to stay alert for any temporary suspensions of biometric checks. Mobile apps are also under trial in Sweden and Portugal for pre‑border registration, though adoption remains limited.
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