Lorraine Williamson
It has been less than a week since the EU’s Entry-Exit System (EES) came into effect — a milestone in Europe’s plan to digitise border control. Spain, one of the continent’s busiest gateways, has taken a deliberately cautious approach. Rather than switch the system on everywhere at once, authorities are introducing it gradually, airport by airport, to test capacity and avoid chaos.
The first traveller to enter Spain under the new rules — an Australian who landed at Madrid-Barajas — symbolised the start of a new era. Yet for most passengers, the change has been subtler. At some airports, the old passport stamp remains in use, while at others, travellers now face biometric kiosks where fingerprints and facial images replace ink.
What travellers are seeing
So far, the experience depends largely on where you land. Madrid and Barcelona are leading the rollout, while other airports — including Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, and Alicante — are preparing their systems in the coming weeks. Land and sea borders, such as those with France, Gibraltar, and the major ferry ports, are not yet live.
For some passengers, especially British holidaymakers, the shift has been confusing. Reports from Barajas describe longer queues at peak times and uncertainty about where to stand or whether families can process together. At smaller airports, many travellers have seen no difference at all, with border staff still stamping passports as before.
Union representatives for Spain’s border police have urged the Interior Ministry to accelerate staff recruitment and training, warning that new technology cannot function smoothly without human support. Officials, however, insist the system is performing “within expectations”, pointing out that every modernisation brings teething issues. Once travellers are registered, they say, the process will be “considerably faster on future visits”.
Why the rollout is phased
Installing biometric infrastructure across dozens of entry points is no small task. Spain’s Ministry of the Interior confirmed that the staggered introduction allows for troubleshooting before full deployment. This avoids gridlock at major hubs and gives staff time to adapt. The European Commission has set April 2026 as the deadline for complete implementation across all Schengen borders.
Until then, many Spanish airports will continue using traditional passport stamps alongside the digital registration process. The dual system aims to ease travellers through the transition without the confusion of an overnight change.
Preparing for travel
For now, passengers arriving from outside the EU — including the UK — are advised to allow extra time when passing through Spain’s main airports. The process may vary from one terminal to another, and not all flights are yet connected to the new system. Travellers should expect to scan their passports, face a camera, and provide fingerprints when asked. Those who have already registered during previous trips will see faster processing once the same data reappears on file.
The EES links closely to ETIAS, the separate online travel authorisation due to begin next year. Together, they mark the biggest change to European border management in decades — blending security, technology, and convenience into a single database shared by all Schengen countries.
A quiet revolution
Spain’s approach — calm, phased, and pragmatic — reflects both the complexity of the task and the country’s reliance on tourism. With more than 85 million visitors a year, even a brief bottleneck can ripple through airports and resorts nationwide. By starting slowly, Spanish officials hope to ensure a smoother journey when the system becomes mandatory at every entry point next spring.
For now, the verdict is still forming. The technology works, though inconsistently; travellers are adapting, albeit with patience; and Spain’s borders are inching toward a digital future that promises, once fully refined, to move to Europe quicker, safer, and far more efficient than the paper-and-stamp days it replaces.
Sources
Information in this article was drawn from official EU and Spanish government communications and independent reporting.
Key references include:
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European Commission – Home Affairs: Entry/Exit System (EES): What Travellers Need to Know
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La Moncloa – Government of Spain: Spain begins gradual introduction of the new EU border control system