The EU’s long-awaited Entry-Exit System (EES) has finally been launched after a multitude of delays.
The six-month phased introduction of the digital border control system started on Sunday (12 October), with each of the 29 participating European countries deciding on how quickly they will implement the system. For full details, read BTN Europe’s in-depth analysis of the EES launch.
There were initial media reports of queues of “up to 90 minutes” at Prague Airport on Sunday following the introduction of EES. Prague is the largest international hub to fully implement the new biometric requirements.
The UK government warned its passport holders to “expect checks” at EU airports as EES is rolled out but added that the phased introduction should “allow for a gradual implementation that minimises disruption, particularly at peak periods”.
Alex Norris, the UK’s minister for border security and asylum, said: “We recognise that EES checks will be a significant change for British travellers, which is why we have worked closely with our European partners to ensure the rollout goes as smoothly as possible.
“The UK and EU have a shared objective of securing our borders and these modernisation measures will help us protect our citizens and prevent illegal migration.”
Travel association ABTA said that UK visitors to the EU should “pay careful attention to any information provided by their travel company and transport provider, about when they should arrive at airports or ports”.
“Looking at the short term, given the scale of the operation, there may be some delays, particularly at peak travel times,” added Mark Tanzer, ABTA’s CEO.
“But countries will be stepping up their processes gradually and have the option to stand down the system to avoid significant and lengthy waiting times. We ask that countries remain vigilant and use this contingency measure where needed.”
Jo Antoons, partner at the global immigration services provider Fragomen, said that the rollout of EES will be “uneven” with countries “prioritising particular airports, ports and land crossings rather than moving in unison”.
“This patchwork rollout underscores that the launch of EES is a process rather than a single moment,” added Antoons.
“For travellers, the practical takeaway is that they may encounter the new system at certain airports or ports from day one, while others will continue the traditional border checks until their infrastructure and staff are ready.
“The end of the transition phase is expected on 10 April 2026, but it remains to be seen whether all external border crossing points of the Schengen Area will be able at that time to register all travellers through the automatic gates, including biometric data collection.”