The new Entry/Exit System (EES), fully operational since April, has plunged British tourists into summer travel chaos, with extensive queues and missed flights reported at EU borders. Despite its aim of streamlining crossings and enhancing security by tracking individuals entering the Schengen Area – a zone encompassing 25 EU member states, alongside Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland – the system's practical implementation has been marred by difficulties.
UK travellers must register biometric data upon entry, with facial image capture and fingerprint scanning replacing traditional passport stamping. While designed to make subsequent entries quicker, initial registration and re-checks are proving problematic. Self-service screens typically handle this process, but at UK ports like Dover, Eurotunnel LeShuttle at Folkestone, or Eurostar at St Pancras International, EES checks are completed before leaving British soil.
Incidents of passengers missing flights from Milan and Athens due to three-hour border control delays have been reported. In response, leading travel industry bodies – including ACI Europe, Airlines 4 Europe, and the International Air Transport Association – addressed an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging for the system's suspension throughout the summer holiday season to prevent further 'disaster'. French police temporarily suspended EES checks at Dover in May to alleviate severe delays.
UK tourists planning a trip to the Schengen Area should be aware of these potential delays. While no new visa requirements apply for short stays, biometric registration is mandatory. Passengers are advised to factor in significantly more time for border control, particularly during peak travel times such as early mornings, evenings, and weekends. Travel insurance remains essential, but specific clauses regarding border control issues should be checked.