Imagine landing in Rome after a three-hour flight from the UK, only to spend another two hours queuing at passport control with tired children and no driver waiting. That is the new reality for British tourists in Europe, as a digital border system designed to tighten security has instead become a bottleneck.
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU digital border system that requires non-EU citizens entering the Schengen area – the 29 European countries that have abolished internal borders – to register their fingerprints and have a photo taken on arrival. The information is checked again when they leave. The system, implemented on 12 October 2025, replaced the old stamp-in-passport process. It is often done using standalone automated machines called "kiosks", or with border officers for children under 12.
“The EU's Entry/Exit System requires biometric checks for UK travellers, causing delays up to three times longer at passport control.”
The idea was to make border checks more efficient and secure. But in practice, the rollout has caused hours-long queues at airports across Europe. At Rome's Fiumicino airport, Chief Aviation Officer Ivan Bassato told the BBC that the average time for Brits to get through passport control has nearly tripled – from seven to 20 minutes – and that waits of one to two hours are still happening despite improvements. Ryanair has warned passengers to "allow extra time for their journey and be prepared for extended waits at passport control". Border police at Portugal's Faro airport reported bugs in the system, though they insisted queues there would go down quickly. The European Commission says disruption is limited in most EU airports and that it will continue to support member states in implementing the system.
For UK readers, this matters directly. Every trip to the Schengen area – whether for a city break, beach holiday or business trip – now comes with the risk of significant delays at border control. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises travellers to "be prepared to wait" on their first visit, when the digital record is created. Unlike the old system where a passport stamp took seconds, the EES process can take several minutes per person, and when hundreds of passengers arrive at once, queues balloon. Children under 12 are processed by officers, which can slow things further. The kiosks themselves are expensive – Fiumicino's alone cost €12 million (£10.2 million) – yet they have not solved the congestion.
Q: Why are queues at EU airports so long now? The new Entry/Exit System (EES) requires British citizens to register biometric data – fingerprints and a photo – on arrival in the Schengen area. This process takes longer than the old passport stamp, and technical bugs have compounded the delays. At some airports, wait times have tripled from seven to 20 minutes, with peak times exceeding an hour.
Q: Do I need to do anything before I travel to prepare for EES? No, you do not need to provide any information before travelling. The biometric registration happens at the border on arrival. However, the FCDO advises being prepared to wait, especially on your first trip, as creating the digital record takes extra time.
Q: Is the EES system working properly anywhere? The European Commission says disruption is limited in most EU airports. However, airports like Rome's Fiumicino have reported ongoing issues, and Ryanair called it a "failed EES rollout". The system is still being improved, with updates that have "improved things significantly" at Fiumicino's e-gates, but Bassato says the process is still not as smooth as before EES.
What happens next? The European Commission has said it will continue to support member states in implementing EES. Airport bosses are calling for urgent fixes, and Ryanair has warned that delays will persist this summer. For now, travellers should factor in extra time at passport control, particularly at busy airports and during peak holiday periods.