British holidaymakers heading to the popular hotspot of Tenerife are being warned of potential disruptions at the airport due to the introduction of a significant new border control system.
What is the New EU Entry/Exit System?
The European Union Entry/Exit System (EES) has begun its rollout at Tenerife South airport, a destination that welcomes approximately three million British visitors each year. This new framework mandates that non-EU citizens, which now includes UK travellers post-Brexit, register biometric data such as facial photographs and fingerprints at the border.
The system, which was launched across participating nations at the start of October, aims to create a digital record for each passenger linked to their passport. The primary objective is to modernise and ultimately streamline the border crossing process throughout the Schengen area.
Phased Implementation and Potential for Delays
Despite the long-term goal of efficiency, authorities are cautioning that the initial stages could lead to longer wait times. Brits are being urged to arrive at the airport earlier than usual to account for extra processing as both staff and passengers adapt to the new procedures.
The Spanish Interior Ministry has confirmed that the EES will be implemented gradually and is not expected to be fully operational until April 10, 2026. For the first six months of the scheme, traditional manual passport stamping will continue to run in parallel with the new EES registration across the Schengen zone.
To support this technological upgrade, Spain has allocated 83 million euros to enhance border checkpoints at all of its airports. Border control will remain under the management of the National Police, with the Guardia Civil overseeing customs operations.
Which Countries Are Affected?
The EES is being introduced across the Schengen area, which includes holiday favourites for Britons such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and France. The full list of participating countries is extensive:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
For now, most travellers will not immediately encounter the fully digitised process, as only a small number are expected to use it during the initial rollout phase.
