The EU’s Entry Exit System (EES) is now being rolled out, and while it is designed to modernise border checks, it has not exactly had the smoothest start.
At some airports in Spain, some non-EU travellers, particularly from the UK, have faced queues stretching up to three hours during peak times.
What is going on?
The new system replaces traditional passport stamping for many travellers with biometric checks. That means fingerprints and facial scans the first time you use it.
In theory, it should make things quicker and more secure in the long run. In practice, the first few busy periods have shown it still needs some fine-tuning.
Not suspended, just adjusted
Unlike Greece, which has temporarily stepped back from the system, Spain is sticking with it.
However, airport operator Aena has told staff to be flexible to help ease the pressure.
That includes redirecting families and passengers with reduced mobility to traditional passport queues if waiting times for the new biometric system go over 25 minutes.
There is also some behind-the-scenes coordination going on, such as spacing out flight arrivals to avoid too many passengers hitting passport control at the same time.
The key point is that these are temporary adjustments, not a rollback. The biometric system is still mandatory for first-time users.
Why it matters now
This is all happening just as Spain heads into its busiest travel period of the year.
With summer around the corner, airports like Alicante are expecting record numbers of passengers again. Add in the new system, and it is easy to see why there are concerns about queues.
Travel organisations, including ABTA, are already calling for better planning, including more staff at peak times to keep things moving.
What travellers should expect
If you are flying in or out of Spain as a non-EU passenger, it is worth allowing extra time at the airport, particularly if you are travelling during busy periods.
Once you have completed the biometric registration, future trips should be quicker. But that first pass through the system may take a bit longer than you are used to.
Bridging the Gap’s takeaway
The system is here to stay, but it is still bedding in.
For now, expect a bit of trial and error, longer queues at times, and some last-minute adjustments to keep things moving.
If you plan ahead and give yourself a bit of extra time, it should not cause too much disruption to your journey.
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