Spain Presses Ahead with EES while Nine other EU Countries Delay Full Border Checks
British visitors should continue to expect fingerprint and facial-recognition checks at Spanish airports despite rules being relaxed elsewhere in Europe Spain is continuing to enforce the European Union’s new biometric border controls despite nine other European countries reportedly being granted additional time to resolve technical problems and reduce passenger disruption. France, Belgium, the…
British tourists should anticipate fingerprint and facial recognition procedures at Spanish airports, despite other European nations delaying full implementation of the new biometric border system. The European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) has been adopted by Spain, while France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Italy and Switzerland have not yet fully implemented it at all external border crossings.
The EES records entry and departure details for most non-EU nationals visiting the 29-nation Schengen area, aiming to identify individuals staying beyond their permitted stay. British travelers arriving in Spain should expect to have their passports scanned, facial images taken and fingerprints provided during their first registration.
Subsequent journeys may involve a quicker identity check against stored biometric data. However, delays may still occur during peak travel times or when registration booths are insufficient. Spanish citizens with valid residence permits are typically exempt from EES registration, provided they present their passport with a TIE card.
Non-EU nationals with qualifying long-stay visas or residence permits issued by EES-operating countries are also exempt. Spanish airports have faced challenges during the EES rollout, with long queues and missed connections reported at Málaga, Palma, Tenerife and Lanzarote. Passengers are advised to arrive early, especially during weekends, school holidays and other busy periods.
Technical issues, such as failures in uploading biometric data and retrieving records, have also contributed to delays. The nine countries requesting additional time to implement the EES argue that they need to retain the option to suspend biometric processing to maintain passenger flow. France has yet to introduce the full procedure at the Port of Dover.
Airlines, including Ryanair, have called for the extension of the EES implementation deadline until at least April 2027, citing technical and organizational issues. Despite the disruption, EU officials state that the EES has generated around 200 million travel records and prevented approximately 70,000 people from entering the Schengen area without valid visas or overstaying their permitted stay.
A mobile application called Travel to Europe is being introduced to allow passengers to submit some passport and facial-image information before reaching the border, but its availability is currently limited.
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