EES was introduced in October 2025 and should be fully implemented by April 10. It is a biometric system that replaces passport stamping and uses fingerprints and facial recognition to record entries and exits from the EU.
Drastically longer wait times
Due to the mandatory registration of all passengers who are not EU citizens, processing time at border controls has increased by up to 70 percent.
At some airports, the situation has already gotten out of control. Waiting times of up to three hours were reported in Geneva, while Lisbon airport was forced to temporarily suspend the system after queues reached five hours, leading to missed flights. Even in less busy periods, passengers report waits of around an hour, writes the BBC.
Summer brings additional pressure
Experts warn that the situation could become even more difficult during the summer tourist season, when a significant increase in the number of passengers is expected.
It is recommended that passengers plan to arrive at the airport at least four hours earlier, especially if they are traveling through major European hubs or have layovers.
Technical and organizational problems
An additional problem is the fact that even passengers who are already registered in the system are not exempted from waiting, because they all have to go through the same controls.
Technical failures at the biometric kiosks, as well as the lack of border staff, further slow down the process. In some cases, authorities were forced to temporarily restore manual controls to reduce congestion.
Who is affected by the system
EES applies exclusively to citizens of non-EU countries entering the Schengen area. Non-Schengen countries, such as Ireland and most of the Balkan countries, are not covered by this system.
Once collected, biometric data is stored for three years.
Next step: ETIAS
The EES is a prelude to the new ETIAS system, which is due to be introduced at the end of 2026 and will require prior travel authorization for citizens of countries that do not require a visa.
Tips for travelers
Until the system stabilizes, travelers are advised to plan their trips carefully, follow airline and airport information and, if possible, avoid the busiest periods during the summer.
(Vijesti.ba)
