Spain, Portugal and Greece holiday warning as new rule introduced for British tourists
British travellers could face massive delays this summer.
A new border control system will be implemented at all European airports, including Spain, Portugal and Greece airports, from April 10. The new Entry Exit System (EES) requires British travellers to provide fingerprints and photos when entering the Schengen Area.
British holidaymakers have been warned about potential queues as a result of the new biometric system, which was first introduced in October at certain airports. All 29 Schengen countries are now expected to have it fully functioning by April. Some airport organisations have demanded an "immediate review" of the Entry Exit System (EES) implementation as it "continues to cause significant delays," and warned that queues for non-EU passengers could extend to four hours during the summer months.
Read more: Beautiful UK island with rare wildlife and dreamy coastlines
Read more: Longest cruise in the world where passengers are in their cabins for 301 days
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: "EES checks are being introduced in a phased way across external borders, with full operation expected from April 10, 2026."
The Foreign Office indicated that EES might require each traveller a "few minutes extra" to process and recommended they "be prepared to wait longer than usual" at border control.
The new checks at European airports come after it was recently announced that dual British nationals could be turned away at the UK border unless they hold a British passport. The new rule could affect holidaymakers returning to the UK from their European holidays.
Ensure our latest lifestyle and travel headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings
Full list of countries with the new Entry Exit System
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
