Travel Alert: What the EES rollout means for your next trip to Europe

If Europe is on your travel list this year, there’s one new thing worth adding to your pre-trip checklist; and it’s not a visa.

The EU’s Entry/Exit system, EES, went fully live on April 10, 2026. It’s a significant upgrade to how the Schengen Area tracks border crossings: instead of a passport stamp, travelers now get a digital record created, which includes facial scans and fingerprints. For frequent travelers to Europe, this will eventually mean faster, more consistent crossings. But like any system of this scale, the early rollout phase comes with some variability in how smoothly things run on the ground.

What’s causing the longer queues right now?

The scenes at Milan Linate recently, where over 100 passengers faced hours-long waits and some flights departed before everyone had cleared border control, captured a lot of attention. It’s a useful illustration of the early-stage dynamics at play, even if it was a more extreme example than most travelers will encounter.

The main factor is first-time registration. Every non-EU traveler entering the Schengen zone for the first time under EES needs to have their biometrics captured; four fingerprints and a facial image. It’s a one-time process, but it does take longer than a traditional passport stamp, and when high volumes of travelers arrive at the same time, processing times at some airports can extend significantly.

There’s also what’s sometimes called the “crew clock” factor. Airlines operate under strict safety regulations around crew duty hours, which means that if a border queue runs long enough, a flight may need to depart even if some passengers haven’t yet cleared immigration. It’s not a policy choice, it’s a legal requirement.

These are the kinds of early-stage variables that tend to smooth out as airports refine their processes, staff up where needed, and travelers become more familiar with what to expect. Hopefully, processing times will stabilize well before the peak summer travel season, but in the meantime, it’s worth going in prepared.

What’s changed that travelers should be aware of

A few things are worth keeping in mind before your next trip to Europe:

• Your first entry will take a little longer: The biometric registration only happens once, but that first time does add meaningful time to the border crossing process. Build that in rather than assuming your usual timing will hold.
• Fast-track security lanes are a different queue: Paid fast-pass options help with airport security, but they don’t typically cover passport control. Once you’re through security, go straight to immigration. Duty-free and food can wait until you’re landside.
• Check the status of your travel protection: Some airlines may classify EES-related delays as circumstances outside their control, which can affect standard delay compensation eligibility. It’s worth reviewing your travel insurance policy before you fly.

Practical steps to help your journey go smoothly

The practical advice here is straightforward, and mostly comes down to giving yourself a bit more breathing room than usual:

• Add an extra hour to your airport arrival time: If your airline suggests three hours, aim for four during this period. It sounds like a lot, but having that buffer means a longer-than-expected queue is an inconvenience rather than a crisis.
• Check if your destination country has a pre-registration option: Some countries are introducing apps or online tools that let you submit passport details and a photo ahead of arrival, which can speed things up at the kiosk. Check the official government website of your destination around 48 hours before you travel.
• Go straight to immigration once you’re through security: No detours. Once you’re safely through the border, you can go back for coffee, browse the shops, and catch your breath.

If a missed flight looks likely while you’re in the queue:

• Photograph the queue with an airport clock visible if you can
• Ask an airport official whether a priority lane exists for imminent departures
• Keep every receipt for food, water, or emergency accommodation for any potential insurance claim

Make sure your travel insurance covers missed departures. Look specifically for cover that includes administrative or border delays. Not all standard policies do, so it’s worth checking the small print before you go.

Quick answers to the questions we’re hearing most

Does EES apply to me? If you hold a non-EU passport, including UK, US, Canadian, and Australian - yes, it applies every time you enter the Schengen Area.

Do I need to do anything before I travel? No action is required in advance, but checking whether your destination country offers a pre-registration option is worth the five minutes.

What if I miss my flight because of a queue? Document everything, contact your airline immediately, and check your travel insurance policy. Compensation eligibility will depend on how your airline classifies the delay. Having evidence matters.

Victor Gimenez, Head of Customer Experience at iVisa shares: “A rollout of this scale was always going to come with an adjustment period, and what we’re seeing right now reflects that. The EES is a meaningful step forward for how European borders are managed. And as airports and travelers alike get used to the new process, the experience should become more consistent. In the meantime, our advice is simple: treat the border as the part of your journey that needs the most buffer time.”