Greece has suspended the requirement for UK passport holders to go through biometric registration, which forms a crucial part of the EU’s new Entry-Exit System (EES).
EES was made fully operational across 29 Schengen Zone countries on 10 April after a six-month transition period. The system requires the collection of biometric data, such as facial image scans and fingerprints, from passport holders of third countries, including the UK.
But the Greek Embassy said in an update on its website on Friday (17 April) that British passport holders arriving in Greece would not have to submit biometric data for now.
“In the framework of the implementation of the Entry-Exit System, as of 10 April 2026, British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points,” said the embassy in its message.
The Greek government has given no indication of how long the EES exemption for UK passport holders would continue for.
Eleni Skarveli, who is UK director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, said that the decision was “expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports”.
“UK travellers will no longer need to undergo additional EES biometric procedures, ensuring a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece,” added Skarveli.
The full implementation of EES earlier this month has not gone smoothly, with increased waiting times of up to three hours to pass through immigration checkpoints at EU airports and reports of passengers missing flights because of these delays.
In a blog post, Samantha McKnight, senior vice president, client solutions at CIBT Visas, said that the key takeway so far for travel managers and business travellers was that EES has not been “a unform experience”.
“EES is working, just not yet consistently,” added McKnight. “The technology delivers on its promise of speed. The experience around it still needs refinement. Until implementation becomes more uniform, travellers and organisations alike should plan for variability and build flexibility into their journeys.
“In the meantime, staying informed and prepared remains the best way to simplify the journey and navigate Europe’s evolving border landscape with confidence.”