EES Border Checks Bring Delays at Some EU Airports

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) has produced different experiences so far, as some travellers report long queues and uncertainty about where to go at border control in several major airports. Travellers described confusion at border control points in locations including Munich and Pisa, where passengers were uncertain whether to join lines for biometric kiosks or traditional passport checks as the digital system continues gradual implementation.

Many travellers described longer queues where machines did not work properly or where too few staff were available to process passengers. In certain cases, biometric registration was temporarily paused and border officers returned to manual passport stamping to reduce congestion. Some passengers reported having fingerprints and facial images taken multiple times during the same trip, while others passed through quickly, reflecting differences in how airports currently apply the new process.

Feedback also pointed to inconsistencies between airports and travel directions, with some journeys involving full biometric checks and others relying mainly on traditional controls. Travellers highlighted issues such as machines failing to read passports or difficulties recognising fingerprints. Some contributors suggested that requiring repeat kiosk visits for already registered passengers creates unnecessary queues and slows border procedures during busy travel periods.

Airports Where Travellers Reported EES Delays

• Munich Airport
• Pisa Airport
• Athens Airport
• Funchal Airport
• Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
• Turin Airport

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is intended to create one shared digital record of border crossings across the Schengen area. When procedures become more consistent, crossing borders between countries such as Greece, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands may require fewer repeated checks. More uniform procedures at airports may help connections run more smoothly, especially on routes linking large hub airports with busy holiday regions.

Early feedback shows that the introduction of digital border procedures can influence how long passport control takes, particularly during busy travel periods or at airports still adjusting their processes. If airports follow similar steps, people travelling between several European countries may face fewer surprises at passport control and spend less time working out which queue to join.