EU EES rollout expands to 35% of borders from January 9, 2026, mandating biometric scans for non-EU travelers like those from UK/US. Launched October 2025, it tracks short-stay visitors via facial recognition and fingerprints at kiosks, ditching passport stamps. Processing surges 70%, queues hit 3 hours at peaks, sparking missed flights and ACI Europe review calls. ABTA warns of worsening chaos without contingency activation.
ABTA pushes EU authorities for measures like pausing EES or limiting checks during peaks to smooth passenger flow. Experiences vary from quick scans to massive lines; early adopters faced glitches now scaling bloc-wide. Mark Tanzer notes initial slowdowns will speed up long-term but urges proactive queue management now. Full rollout hits April 10 across Schengen; ETIAS follows Q4 2026.
Travelers should arrive 2+ hours early, head straight to passport control post-security/check-in. Follow airline advice; monitor airport updates via apps. Biometric registration lasts 3 years or new passport, easing future trips once done. Impacts visa-exempt short-stay visitors only; prepare docs, patience for smoother entry.
Key Points
- Rollout: 35% borders live; full Schengen by April 2026.
- Delays: Up to 3 hours, +70% processing time.
- Biometrics: Face/fingerprints replace stamps.
- Tips: Arrive early, use contingencies.
- Next: ETIAS Q4 2026.
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