EES border checks delayed at airports across nine European countries

Nine European countries have requested additional time to fully implement the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) at some airports and border crossings, amid concerns over delays during busy travel periods.

France, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Malta, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium have asked Brussels for more time to complete the rollout of biometric checks for non-EU travellers. The EES requires travellers to register their fingerprints and facial images when entering or leaving the Schengen area.

The system was due to become fully operational at all border points on 6 September 2026, following several previous delays.

Implementation varies across the nine countries, with major airports including Frankfurt in Germany and Schiphol in the Netherlands already processing biometric data, while some smaller regional airports have yet to fully introduce the checks.

Although countries where fingerprint and facial recognition technology is not yet operational are technically in breach of EES requirements, Brussels is not expected to take action against them.

The EES has so far registered around 200 million travellers and prevented approximately 70,000 people from entering the Schengen area, including those who had overstayed their permitted period or were travelling with forged documents.

The Travel to Europe pre-authorisation app is also expected to launch in seven countries shortly. The app will allow travellers to register their facial image and passport details before travelling, with the aim of speeding up processing and reducing delays at border control points.