Families heading off for the half-term break next weekend, whether to the slopes of the Alps or chasing winter sun in the Canary Islands, might want to brace themselves.
After hearing from readers about their recent border experiences, a clear picture is emerging of how the rollout of the EU’s new digital border controls is unfolding, and it’s not entirely smooth. Karen, writing from Geneva Airport, described scenes of confusion before passengers had even reached security. She wasn’t sure her family would make their flight, calling the situation chaotic beyond description. Peter shared a similar story from Fuerteventura, saying they only just caught their flight home, while others were less fortunate. Brexit, he noted, was frequently mentioned, and rarely in a flattering light.
What we are witnessing now is the predictable outcome of decisions made nearly a decade ago. In early 2016, the UK supported the introduction of a digital border system for the European Union, the Entry-Exit System (EES). Designed to strengthen border controls, the scheme requires non-EU nationals to provide facial biometrics and fingerprints when entering or leaving the Schengen Area, which includes most EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Following the Brexit vote, British travellers became third-country nationals, joining visitors from Australia, Canada, United States, and Venezuela in being subject to these additional checks. The impact is significant, UK citizens travelling to Europe outnumber visitors from the rest of the world combined, effectively doubling the volume of people processed under the new system.
Complicating matters further, each of the 29 Schengen countries retains sovereignty over how it implements the system. The result, inconsistent procedures, bottlenecks, and inevitably delays.
For travellers arriving in Europe, the most important advice is simple, be patient. There is little you can do to speed up the process. Yes, it’s frustrating to lose precious holiday time waiting in long queues while others, such as those holding Irish passports, head straight for the beach or the bar. But the real risk lies on the return journey, where extended passport checks could jeopardize your flight home.
If you’re flying back from the EU, plan to arrive at the airport much earlier than you normally would. Turning up four hours before departure may mean sacrificing sleep and paying over the odds for airport coffee and pastries. But that inconvenience pales in comparison to the cost and stress of missing your flight because you underestimated the new border procedures.
Looking ahead, there’s speculation that the full implementation of the Entry-Exit System, currently scheduled for completion by 9 April, may be paused or revised. One likely adjustment could involve scrapping the fingerprinting requirement, which appears to be the main source of delays.
Until then, travellers should prepare for longer processing times and adjust their plans accordingly. Patience, early arrivals, and realistic expectations may prove to be the best travel essentials this half-term.