Overview
- The EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System is set to be fully active across 29 countries this month after a phased launch that began in October 2025.
- Airports Council International Europe reports border waits up to 70% longer, with some hubs seeing two to three hour queues as first-time registration adds minutes per traveler.
- The system replaces passport stamping for non‑EU short stays by recording a face photo, fingerprints and passport data at the first crossing and then verifying future entries.
- IATA and travel groups urge governments to add staff and allow temporary pauses of the checks at peak times to prevent severe summer disruption.
- UK travelers are being told to arrive earlier, travel with carry‑on if possible and follow EES signs, while Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary criticizes the rollout and warns smaller airports such as Seville, Alicante, Tenerife and Faro could face the worst queues without fixes.