Palma de Mallorca Airport has announced the introduction of dedicated lanes for British travellers to help manage queues caused by the new European Entry/Exit System (EES). The system, which requires non-EU citizens to register biometric data including fingerprints and photographs, began implementation on April 10.
The airport, Spain's third busiest with over 33.3 million passengers annually, experienced long queues over the Easter weekend due to a combination of the new system and airport strikes. A spokesperson confirmed that British travellers will be directed to specific kiosks for biometric registration, with additional Guardia Civil staff on hand to manage the process.
The EES aims to track overstays and eventually replace manual passport stamps. Since implementation, over 4,000 travellers have been caught overstaying the 90-day visa-free limit within a rolling 180-day period. Brits visiting Portugal or Sweden can use the official Travel to Europe app to pre-register biometric data and generate a QR code to expedite arrival.
Later this year, the ETIAS visa-waiver scheme is set to launch, requiring Brits to apply online for a €20 (approximately £17.42) authorisation valid for three years. The system is expected to be operational by late 2026.
