Travelling to Europe? EES border checks are changing this weekend
Industry groups warn the end of summer flexibility could lengthen queues, as passport checks now take about 90 seconds under the system, IATA said.
- On Monday, September 7th, the European Union's Entry/Exit System grace period ends, requiring full implementation of biometric border checks across Schengen borders.
- European authorities introduced EES on 12th October 2025 to record non-EU visitor entry and exit data; Member States used a safety valve throughout summer to temporarily suspend biometric collection during peak passenger volumes.
- Data shows standard passport checks now require about 90 seconds under EES compared to around 20 previously; in Amsterdam, maximum wait times rocketed from 80 to 120 minutes.
- Industry groups including IATA have urged the European Union to extend flexibility measures beyond September. Thomas Reynaert, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at IATA, called extending partial suspension "absolutely necessary" until winter.
- The European Commission stated "the advantages of the new system for the EU are evident," though officials acknowledged full implementation may take until the end of the year as Member States complete adjustments.
13 Articles
13 Articles
The Local - Fr
Could Europe's border queues get longer this month as key EES date passes?
Monday September 7th could be a key date for the full enforcement of the EU's biometric border checks with concerns raised that queues at border checks could get longer and slower this month.
The possibility of temporarily relaxing EES biometric checks expires, with the airline industry warning of new queues at European borders
The temporary facilitations granted due to congestion in the European Union's new EES border system are ending. Industry representatives have warned that waiting times at airports and border crossings may increase again after September 6th.
Industry experts are concerned that removing temporary flexibilities in the Entry/Exit System will bring back border chaos. This concerns the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES)...
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