Rome/Faro, July 2026 — The European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing significant delays at passport control for non-EU travellers, including British tourists, with processing times nearly tripling at major airports despite recent improvements.
The digital border system, rolled out progressively since October, requires non-EU citizens entering the Schengen Area (now 29 countries) to register fingerprints and a facial scan upon arrival, with data checked on departure. The process often involves self-service kiosks or border officers, particularly for children.
Significant Delays Reported
At Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, one of Europe’s busiest hubs, the average time for UK nationals to clear border control has risen from around 7 minutes to 20 minutes, according to Ivan Bassato, the airport’s Chief Aviation Officer. While integration with e-gates has helped, Bassato described the current situation as “absolutely not okay,” noting occasional queues of one to two hours. He called for urgent fixes to reduce duplication and greater use of the EU’s pre-registration app.
Passengers shared frustrations with the BBC. Carl, travelling from Yorkshire with young children, waited two hours. American visitors David and Marlo missed their driver after a one-hour queue. Other travellers reported 45–60 minute waits in Barcelona and elsewhere.
Ryanair has urged passengers to “allow extra time” and prepare for extended waits at passport control due to the “failed EES rollout.”
Technical Issues and Airport Responses
In Portugal’s Faro Airport, a popular destination for UK holidaymakers, Superintendent Pedro Oliveira reported that queues once taking 10 minutes now often exceed 30 minutes. He acknowledged bugs in the system, including server issues that can affect multiple countries simultaneously, though these have become less frequent. Additional officers have been deployed, and children under 16 are processed manually.
Fiumicino Airport spent €12 million on kiosks but found them impractical for high volumes and shifted UK travellers toward e-gates where possible. Bassato stressed the need for system improvements and proactive suspension options during peak periods, a request the European Commission has not yet approved.
European Commission Response
The European Commission stated that disruptions remain limited at most airports and reaffirmed its full support to member states for smoother implementation. Countries can suspend EES under exceptional circumstances, but no broad changes for proactive pauses were agreed at a recent meeting.
The system aims to enhance security and automate border management but has faced teething problems during the busy summer travel season. Passengers are advised to check latest guidance and allocate extra time when flying to Schengen destinations.