EU Border Chaos. What the New Entry/Exit System Means for UK Travellers

The European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) is causing chaos at Schengen borders, with travellers facing delays of two to four hours. The biometric border controls, introduced in late 2024, are hitting UK visitors during February half-term and threatening worse disruption for summer holidays.

What Is EES

The Entry/Exit System is a biometric border control scheme covering all non-EU travellers entering the Schengen zone. It requires fingerprints and facial scans at the border, replacing manual passport stamps.

Key facts:

- Applies to UK passport holders post-Brexit

- Captures fingerprints and facial biometric data

- Valid for three years after first registration

- Covers all Schengen countries (most of the EU plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein)

- Ireland and Cyprus are exempt

The system launched in November 2024 after multiple delays. Technical teething problems and sheer volume of travellers have created bottlenecks at major entry points.

Current Disruption Levels

Reports from February half-term travellers paint a grim picture:

- **Eurostar St Pancras:** Passengers report queuing for up to three hours before boarding

- **Major EU airports:** Madrid, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Amsterdam Schiphol seeing two to four hour waits at immigration

- **Port crossings:** Eurotunnel and ferry terminals at Calais and Dunkirk experiencing significant delays

- **Cruise ports:** Mediterranean cruise terminals backing up with thousands of passengers

Airlines including British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair have issued travel warnings. Several carriers have adjusted recommended arrival times at UK airports for EU-bound flights.

Why It Is Worse Than Expected

The EU predicted smooth implementation. Reality has differed. Problems include:

**Technical failures:** Biometric scanners freezing or failing to register fingerprints, requiring manual processing.

**Staffing gaps:** Border control posts not fully staffed for the new workload.

**First-time registration:** Every UK traveller must now register biometrics on their first EES entry. This takes significantly longer than passport stamping.

**Data volume:** The system processes millions of entries monthly. Infrastructure is struggling under peak loads.

What This Means for Your Trip

If you are travelling to the EU this half-term or planning a summer holiday, expect delays.

**Immediate steps:**

- Arrive at Eurostar terminals at least 90 minutes before departure (up from 60 minutes)

- Allow three hours for check-in on EU-bound flights

- Consider hand luggage only to skip bag drop queues

- Book flights arriving mid-week rather than Friday-Sunday

**Summer 2026 warning:** Airlines are already flagging potential gridlock during peak July-August travel. The combination of EES registration queues and high passenger volumes could make 2026 the worst summer for EU border delays in recent memory.

The Brexit Context

Pre-Brexit, UK passport holders used EU fast lanes and faced minimal checks. Now they join the "all passports" queue with Americans, Australians, and everyone else outside the Schengen zone. The EES biometric step adds a new layer of friction.

The UK government has raised concerns with Brussels about disruption at juxtaposed border controls, particularly Eurostar. No resolution is expected before summer.

How to Minimise Delays

**Choose your entry point carefully:** Smaller regional airports often process EES faster than major hubs. Flying into Lyon instead of Geneva, or Bologna instead of Milan, can save hours.

**Time your arrival:** Border queues peak mid-morning and early evening. Late morning or mid-afternoon arrivals typically move faster.

**Register early in your trip:** EES registration lasts three years. If you are planning multiple EU trips, get your biometrics captured on a quieter entry to speed up future visits.

**Consider alternative destinations:** Non-Schengen European destinations like Ireland, Bulgaria, Romania, or Cyprus face no EES checks. Turkey and North African resorts remain outside the system.

The Bottom Line

EES is here to stay. The biometric border represents a permanent change in how UK travellers enter the EU. Current chaos reflects implementation teething problems, but longer processing times are now the norm.

February half-term travellers are the canaries in the coal mine. If you are planning EU travel this summer, budget extra time, expect queues, and consider whether the Schengen zone is worth the hassle for a short break.

The days of quick European getaways may be ending. For UK travellers, the continent just became significantly harder to reach.

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**Sources**

- [EU Entry/Exit System official site](https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en), European Union

- [EES implementation guidance](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-entryexit-system-ees), UK Foreign Office

- [Eurostar travel updates](https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/service-updates), Eurostar