Greece has confirmed that its new biometric screening system for non-European Union citizens at airports is fully operational, but officials acknowledge that busy airports may temporarily suspend scanners when necessary this summer, potentially allowing some travelers to bypass the checks.
EU Entry-Exit System Rollout
The EU Entry-Exit System (EES), which began operating at Greek airports and other entry points on April 10, replaces passport stamps with biometric data collection through photographs and digital fingerprints. The system is part of a Europe-wide rollout aimed at enhancing border security.
Greek authorities have rejected reports of a formal summer exemption for British travelers, but the Foreign Ministry stated on Thursday that it had received no further clarification on whether specific nationalities are temporarily exempt. The ministry was responding to a query from The Associated Press.
Earlier Suggestions and Clarifications
Earlier, Greek officials visiting the UK had suggested that the biometric requirement would be waived for British travelers during the summer, a key period for Greece's tourism industry. Current UK Foreign Office travel guidance advises that Greek authorities have indicated they will not collect biometric data from UK travelers as part of EES, but adds that travelers should follow advice on the ground.
However, European and Greek authorities later clarified that any suspension of the system is permitted only during periods of high passenger traffic at specific entry points and does not apply to any particular country or nationality. In practice, many travelers may still pass through without biometric checks, as EU rules allow temporary suspensions during the early implementation stages.
Impact on Tourism
Last week, Greek police described the digital entry system as being in full operation but said they would take all necessary measures to ensure smooth visitor flow, making full use of provisions in EU legislation. Private tour operators fear that additional airport checks could discourage travel from the UK, especially late bookings, and widen the disparity with EU citizens who can move within the bloc without passport checks.
Nearly 38 million people visited Greece last year, spending 23 billion euros ($25 billion) and boosting the country's 204 billion-euro economy. The largest number of visitors came from Germany, at nearly 6 million, followed by Britain at 4.9 million.
