EU's new Entry/Exit System causes initial delays at some airports but offers fast-track for repeat UK visitors, Frontex says
The Entry Exit System requires fingerprint and photo registration for non-EU travellers. Some member states are struggling with implementation at 1,700 border points.
The EU's Entry Exit System, introduced in October 2025 and ramped up on April 10, 2026, requires people from third-party countries such as the UK to have their fingerprints registered and photograph taken to enter the Schengen Area. The digital record is kept for three years. For most British travellers the process is done at foreign airports.
Uku Sarekanno, deputy executive director of EU border agency Frontex, told a summit of travel industry leaders organised by the Association of British Travel Agents in Westminster that some member states are struggling to adopt the system. He said the most challenging part is the first enrolment where fingerprints and facial images are taken.
He added that if a person visits the EU again within three years they do not have to repeat the process and can use a faster track.
Sarekanno said some countries are managing the system well with dedicated resources while others are still adjusting. " He also said the adjustment is taking time and effort. Airports in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy have been among the worst affected.
The International Air Transport Association warned border queues could reach six hours this summer. More than 100 easyJet passengers missed a flight from Milan Linate to Manchester in April because of delays at passport desks caused by EES. " Around 1,700 border crossing points require EES.
EU rules allow the checks to be temporarily halted to avoid queues at peak periods, but that is not always happening. com survey indicated that 59 per cent of UK holidaymakers travelling to Europe this year expect delays linked to EES. Almost half of respondents said they fear missing flights because of the border checks.
Abta's director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge said new systems take time to bed in but the stabilisation timeframe should be much shorter than one to two years. He said Abta is calling on the European Commission to extend contingency measures while issues remain, including beyond the current summer season.
He added that while the group supports the objective of EES in enhancing border security, policymakers should prioritise protecting the EU's reputation as a tourism destination.
