Full Breakdown
EU Enforces Full Entry/Exit System, Raising Queue Concerns
9/7/2026, 8:30:41 PM
Core Event: Full Enforcement of Biometric Border Checks
From 6 September 2023 the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) entered full enforcement at all ports of entry. The “safety-valve” that allowed member states to suspend biometric checks when queues became unmanageable expired, meaning non-EU citizens—including British travellers—must now undergo fingerprinting and facial scanning on every entry and exit. The biometric verification takes roughly 90 seconds per passenger, compared with about 25 seconds under the previous manual routine.
Background & Context
EES was introduced in October 2025 and rolled out across the 29-country Schengen area, reaching full operational status in April 2026. A 150-day flexibility period let authorities revert to manual checks during peak traffic; the period ended on 6 September. The system was designed to record entries and exits, improve security, and streamline border management, but its rollout has been hampered by staffing shortages, software glitches, and non-functional self-service kiosks in several locations.
Data & Statistics
- IATA estimates the biometric check requires about 90 seconds, versus 25 seconds for the former manual process.
- EU internal-affairs spokesman Markus Lammert cited 150 million recorded entries/exits and 45 000 refusals since EES began.
- Queues of up to three hours have been reported at airports such as Krakow, Lisbon, Milan and Rome.
- Airports Council International observed wait times of up to five hours during July’s peak travel.
- Over 100 easyJet passengers missed a Milan Linate-to-Manchester flight in April because of passport-desk delays.
- The Port of Dover recorded a “critical incident” with 4.5-hour waits while processing roughly 8 500 outbound tourist vehicles.
Official Statements & Responses
- Thomas Reynaert, senior vice-president of external affairs at IATA, said the EU should extend the flexibility until the end of winter to resolve staffing and software issues.
- Markus Lammert, spokesperson for internal affairs at the European Commission, described EES as “effective” and a “well-working system,” noting ongoing contact with the few member states that still need operational adjustments.
- A Eurostar spokesperson explained that enrolments will continue to be completed manually by border officers.
- Neal McMahon, chief operating officer of Ryanair, called the rollout a “shambles” and urged the Commission to extend the derogation at least until April 2027.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While most sources state that all non-EU travellers are now subject to biometric checks, several reports indicate uneven implementation. The Guardian notes that French and Greek border officials appear to be exempting UK passengers to avoid queues, and that self-service kiosks at the Eurotunnel, Port of Dover and Eurostar terminals remain offline. No comprehensive data have been released on which airports exercised the flexibility during the summer, leaving the scale of exemptions unclear.
What’s Next
Airlines and industry bodies continue to press the European Commission to reinstate the discretionary suspension of EES controls until at least the end of the 2026 winter season. The Commission has indicated readiness to provide additional staff and technical assistance to the few member states still adjusting their border operations, but has not announced a concrete timeline for any policy reversal.
