Lorraine Williamson
Travellers flying to and from Spain are being warned to allow extra time after Europe’s new digital border system triggered long airport queues, missed flights, and growing pressure on Brussels to introduce more flexibility.
The EU’s Entry/Exit System, known as EES, became fully operational on 10 April 2026. It replaces passport stamping for non-EU nationals on short stays with digital records, including passport data, facial images and fingerprints. British travellers are among those affected.
Queues of up to three hours reported
Airport and airline groups say the first days of full implementation have already caused significant disruption. Business Travel News Europe reported warnings of waits of up to three hours and passengers missing flights after being held up at border control.
The Guardian also reported that airports across Europe have seen long queues since the system went fully live, with delays affecting travellers at Schengen border points, including Spain. The Airports Council International Europe has urged the EU to allow more flexibility where queues become unmanageable.
Why British travellers are affected
Since Brexit, British visitors to Spain are treated as third-country nationals for short stays in the Schengen area. That means they now fall under EES checks when entering and leaving Spain, unless they are exempt, such as certain legal residents with valid documents.
The system records when non-EU travellers enter and exit, helping authorities monitor the 90-day rule in 180 days. It is designed to improve border security and replace manual passport stamps.
What happens at the border
For first-time registration, travellers may need to provide a facial image, fingerprints and passport details. Children under 12 are generally exempt from fingerprinting, although facial checks may still apply. Once registered, later crossings should be faster, but the early rollout has created bottlenecks at busy airports.
The European Commission says the system is intended to make border checks more modern and secure. Airport groups argue that, in practice, the first days have added pressure at peak travel times.
What this means for Spain travel
For Spain, the timing is difficult. The full rollout comes just as spring travel builds towards the busy Easter and early-summer period. Airports serving British travellers, including those in the Balearics, Canaries and mainland tourist regions, are likely to face close attention if queues continue.
The safest advice for passengers is to arrive earlier than usual, check airline guidance before travelling and avoid tight onward connections where possible.
What travellers should do now
Anyone travelling from the UK to Spain should check the latest official UK and EU guidance before departure. Travellers should also make sure their passport is valid, understand the 90-day Schengen rule, and allow extra time for border checks, particularly if it is their first trip since EES became fully operational.
The disruption may ease once more travellers are registered in the system. For now, though, the first days of EES have shown that Europe’s new border checks are not simply an administrative change. They are already affecting real journeys.