The EU’s latest travel regulations have sparked worries as the busy travel season approaches, leading several destinations to explore ways to exempt holidaymakers from these requirements.
On April 10, 2026, the European Union fully implemented the Entry/Exit System (EES), mandating all British citizens traveling to the Schengen area to register their biometric information, like fingerprints and a photo, digitally. While effective in many nations, this system continues to disrupt travel at European airports significantly.
Instances have been reported where British travelers were asked to provide their biometric data again, even after initially submitting it upon entering the Schengen zone. Tourists have endured lengthy queues lasting up to four hours at digital border checkpoints, resulting in missed flights and ruined vacation plans.
To alleviate travel disruptions, especially during peak seasons, Greece made the decision earlier this year to exempt British travelers from the EU’s biometric registration requirements at airport border controls. The Greek Embassy confirmed this exemption in an official statement.
Rome Fiumicino Airport and Rome Ciampino Airport are now contemplating following Greece’s lead in waiving the EU regulations to prevent potential chaos during the summer travel rush.
Marco Troncone, CEO of Aeroporti di Roma, expressed serious concerns about the upcoming summer travel season, indicating a high level of worry about potential issues with the current system’s capacity to handle peak traffic volumes.
While Greece remains the sole country to have officially relaxed the EU requirements for British visitors so far, there is a possibility that European airports may temporarily ease the EES rules until September, according to an EU official.
Frontex Deputy Executive Director Uku Särekanno mentioned the potential for lifting biometric controls temporarily during the summer tourism season to address long queues and ensure a smoother travel experience for passengers.
The digital border system is now mandatory for initial entry at airport borders within the Schengen area, replacing the traditional manual passport stamping process. Once registered, the EES remains valid for three years.
Countries in the Schengen area include a wide range of European nations, while the EES is not applicable for travel to the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus, as they are not part of the Schengen zone.
The Foreign Office confirmed the EES exemption for Greece on its travel advisory page, highlighting that UK travelers are not required to provide biometric data as part of the EES in Greece.
Key airports in Greece, both on the mainland and islands, play a vital role in facilitating travel for visitors to the country.
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