Spanish airports are implementing measures to alleviate border control disruptions for British travelers after the introduction of a new digital system. The European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) was fully activated in airports on April 10, 2026, resulting in significant travel disturbances for Brits passing through the new digital border process. Reports from holidaymakers indicate long queues, up to four-hour waits, and numerous missed flights due to substantial delays.
The chaos stemming from the EES, which mandates all British travelers entering the Schengen area to register their biometric information and create a digital record, has been especially disruptive during peak travel seasons. Spanish airports like Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, and Palma experienced capacity issues at checkpoints during the Easter half-term, despite the system functioning correctly.
To ease the burden on British travelers navigating the new digital border system, particularly during upcoming peak travel periods, Spanish airports will implement changes. AENA, the Spanish airport authority, has instructed staff to facilitate the process and reduce wait times. Families with young children and passengers with reduced mobility may be directed to a different border control point with the traditional passport-stamping process if the wait time for the digital system exceeds 25 minutes. Flight arrivals could also be staggered in coordination with AENA’s ground team.
These adjustments, deemed as measures to alleviate disruptions rather than a complete suspension, aim to enhance the experience for Brits entering popular Spanish destinations. While biometric details remain necessary for first-time Schengen area arrivals, Greece has opted out of the EU requirement for British travelers to provide fingerprints and facial scans at border controls due to travel disruption concerns.
The exemption for British passport holders in Greece from biometric registration at border crossings was announced following the implementation of the EES. Although the duration of this exemption is unclear, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) updated travel guidance for Greece accordingly. The FCDO highlighted that biometric data collection for UK travelers will not occur in Greece as part of the EES.
The EES, which became operational in European airports on April 10, 2026, necessitates British travelers entering the Schengen area to register their biometric information and create a digital record. This registration is mandatory for initial entry into the Schengen area and remains valid for three years after the first registration. Schengen area countries comprise 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, and Switzerland.