A ghost is lingering over Europe, or at least its outer boundaries—the Entry/Exit System (EES), an automatic tool designed to track foreigners coming into and departing from the Schengen Zone, potentially disrupting the vacation period for countless travelers.
The European Entry System is slowly moving away from traditional passport stamps, implementing a digital process that tracks travelers' entry and departure times within the Schengen Zone for brief visits. This new approach gathers biometric details like face scans and handprints, alongside personal information obtained from travel papers.
It has been implemented across all external boundaries of the 29 nations within the visa-free zone, which includes all European Union member states excluding Cyprus and Ireland, along with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway.
To whom does it apply?
The policy covers individuals from outside the EU/Visa-free zone who are visiting Schengen or European Union nations for brief visits.
A "brief visit" refers to a duration of up to 90 days within an 180-day timeframe, intended for leisure travel, professional visits, or familial gatherings. Non-residents are required to obtain a "short-term" visa prior to entering Europe and must not surpass the authorized length of their stay upon arrival.
Individuals traveling from specific nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, or various Latin American countries, do not need a visa; however, they must comply with the EES system.
Residents of the EU and Schengen area countries do not undergo these inspections, along with citizens of Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City, and Monaco.
Additional exemptions apply to non-citizens holding long-term visas or residency documents issued by a Schengen nation, as well as airline and railway staff traveling internationally, and military personnel.
What is the reason for establishing the EES?
The EES aims to speed up and enhance the efficiency of border controls, simultaneously strengthening security through providing border officials and national agencies with travelers' data, enabling them to identify threats linked to international crime and terrorism.
A primary objective is to hinder unauthorized immigration. The EES monitors arrivals and departures by capturing biometric information such as fingerprints and face recognition details into an electronic system, aiming to stop individuals from remaining beyond their authorized stay in a Schengen area nation or employing false identification.
According to the European Commission, over 40,000 individuals have been denied access since the implementation of the policy, with causes including outdated or fake documentation, or failing to adequately explain the purpose of their trip.
Over 1,000 individuals have additionally been recognized as presenting threats to Europe's safety.
What's the problem?
The EES started functioning completely on 10 April 2026, after a step-by-step introduction that commenced on 12 October 2025. The deployment has taken place gradually over six months, once every Schengen country submitted its "statement of preparedness" for adopting the system. Nevertheless, the process hasn't been entirely smooth.
The EES operates at land, sea, and air borders, yet its execution is causing delays and congestion primarily at airport terminals, resulting in extended lines and intricate processes.
Airports and airlines are facing operational challenges, resulting in delayed flights and lost connections, affecting not only Europe's biggest hubs but also smaller airports that cater to popular tourist areas, since certain terminals lack sufficient functionality, such as adequate staffing for customs, proper facilities, and automatic border control systems.
As a result, multiple partially empty flights remain at the gates when they close, with travelers still waiting in line for border checks. The wait times at immigration have risen sharply, occasionally extending up to five hours during busy travel seasons, affecting millions of passengers.
According to a letter submitted to the European Commission by groups representing airlines and airports, the current state has "become critically urgent."
The European Airlines Association, ACI Europe, and the International Air Transport Association called for "urgent action" and sought leniency to fully halt the EES system during July and August "if passenger numbers surpass the capabilities of border control infrastructure."
Over the next two months, with the holiday period reaching its height, European airports are projected to manage around 40 million additional travelers compared to the numbers seen in May and June.
Uku Särekanno, an assistant head of the European Union border authority Frontex, said that conditions will become stable within one or two years, since obtaining fingerprints from travelers outside the EU during their initial arrival at the Schengen Zone is "likely the hardest aspect" of implementation.
What actions is the Commission taking?
As per the regulations, countries within the Schengen area have some limited temporary permission to stop collecting biometric information when their immigration officials face challenges managing the number of travelers.
Nevertheless, no additional exceptions are permitted.
Greece considered Halting the gathering of biometric information from UK travelers because of strain on its tiny island airports throughout the festive period, although the European Commission stated that pausing the system is allowed solely during times of heavy traveler flow at particular border crossings and does not extend to any nationality group.
In response to feedback from the aviation industry, a representative of the European Commission stated that every possible action is underway to minimize effects on passengers across the EU, asserting that in the majority of EU airports, the consequences remain minimal.
"The Commission has been strongly assisting member countries and the air transport sector in adopting the new system, and we will maintain and enhance our assistance when necessary," the representative stated.
The Commission has requested an "emergency session" with government officials and aviation sector representatives, scheduled for the near future.
