Europe's new biometric entry system is causing significant delays for non-EU travellers at airports across the Schengen Area, with experts warning of worsening queues as summer approaches. The Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires non-EU nationals to register fingerprints and a photograph at the border, has been rolling out since October 2025 and is set for full implementation by 10 April.
According to the Airports Council International (ACI), border processing times where EES checks are active have increased by up to 70%. Geneva saw peak waits of three hours earlier this year, while Lisbon Airport suspended the system in December after queues reached five hours or more, causing some passengers to miss flights. Travel expert Ash Bhardwaj experienced an hour-long wait in Oslo in February, describing it as atypical for the usually efficient Norwegian airport.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, noted that delays have varied by destination, time of day and passenger volumes, but warned the situation will worsen as the 10 April deadline nears and summer travel peaks. She recommends non-EU travellers add at least four hours of buffer time to their plans and choose connecting flights with extra-long layovers to avoid missed connections.
Even travellers who have already registered with EES will still join the same queue as first-timers, as biometric data remains on file for three years but does not grant priority access. The European Commission has suggested that border authorities may suspend the system for up to six hours during peak times until September to ease congestion, but travellers will not know in advance if this applies at their arrival airport.
Technical issues have also affected some EES kiosks, with Bhardwaj warning that computer failures could cause further disruption. To minimise delays, experts advise arriving early, staying updated with airlines and airports, and considering off-season travel in September when some EES rules may still be suspended.
