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Travelers heading to Greece should brace themselves for significant delays as the country has started to enforce full EU biometric border checks. This new measure affects the United Kingdom and several other nations, including Germany, Portugal, Finland, Belgium, Italy, and Austria, leading to record-breaking queues and widespread flight disruptions across Europe. The move highlights the challenges of Europe’s interconnected travel networks as slower processing times at borders and airports threaten to create chaos for tourists.
As summer 2026 unfolds, Greece has implemented the EU Entry-Exit System (EES), which requires all non-EU travelers to undergo biometric checks, including fingerprinting and facial recognition. Previously, there were assurances of fast-tracked entry for British tourists, but the Greek Foreign Ministry has made it clear that no nationality is exempt from these new checks. This has resulted in concern from travelers, airlines, and tour operators alike, who are bracing for lengthy queues and possible flight delays.
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Commencing on April 10, 2026, the EU Entry-Exit System signifies a significant transformation in border control practices. All non-EU travelers must now provide:
These biometric details are stored digitally and are valid for three years, intended to streamline security checks. However, the initial rollout has already revealed operational bottlenecks at prominent European airports, leading to longer wait times during peak travel periods.
Initially, it appeared that British passport holders might be exempt from EES registration, with claims that arrivals would be processed within a minute and involve no additional paperwork. However, this has now been clarified, with officials stating that while temporary suspensions of checks could happen during peak congestion, they would not apply to specific nationalities.
As of summer 2026, a significant number of non-EU countries are affected by the EES biometric registration when entering Greece or any other EU member state that has adopted this system:
This is just a fraction of over 120 nationalities facing the new biometric travel restrictions.
The implementation has resulted in immediate challenges at airports across Greece. Athens International Airport, the busiest in the country, is now reporting average queue times of nearly 2.5 hours during the summer peak. Other airports, such as Corfu, are already facing delays, leading to the temporary suspension of EES checks early this month due to excessive wait times. Popular destinations like Zante, Mykonos, and Santorini are also experiencing significant backlogs, with waits of over 90 minutes reported.
Travelers are urged to avoid arrivals between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., the primary peak period for flights, as Greek authorities apply all EU legislation measures to manage congestion without guaranteeing exemptions for any nationalities.
Greece’s difficulties are shared by other EU nations. Major airports in Germany, including Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin, are encountering substantial delays, particularly for flights arriving from North America and Asia. Similar situations are reported in Portugal, Finland, and Belgium, where queues can exceed six hours, and airlines face disrupted operations due to bottlenecks.
Other European hotspots such as Spain, France, and the Netherlands are also seeing irregular delays as the EES becomes standard. Airlines and tour operators are keeping a close eye on these developments as ongoing disruptions could alter booking trends as summer progresses.
To mitigate the risk of delays, non-EU travelers, including those from the UK, are advised to:
Regardless of preparation, some delays may still occur, as summer travel can be unpredictable.
Officials affirm that the EES system is crucial for ensuring EU border security. Though temporary suspensions might happen, they will not favor specific nationalities, confirming that every non-EU traveler will face the same procedures. As the summer of 2026 unfolds, it is clear that operational pressures will remain high, and travelers are encouraged to plan accordingly to navigate this new travel landscape effectively.
Source: The post UK Joins Germany, Portugal, Finland, Belgium, Italy, Austria and More Countries as Greece Imposes Full EU Biometric Border Checks Triggering Record-Breaking Queues, Flight Disruptions, Tourist Chaos, and Travel Turmoil Across Europe first appeared on www.travelandtourworld.com.
