From Sunday 6 September 2026, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) emergency flexibility measures expire, meaning airports and border posts can no longer temporarily suspend biometric data collection (fingerprints and facial scans) to ease congestion.
Industry bodies warn this could bring back the long queues seen earlier in the summer, and are urging the European Commission to extend the “safety valve” beyond September.
What’s changing on September 6?
Over the summer, member states were allowed to temporarily halt the collection of travellers’ biometric data at specific border crossings when passenger volumes caused excessive waiting times.
From 6 September, that derogation is due to expire, so border authorities will have less scope to ease biometric requirements simply because passport control areas are overwhelmed.
The biometric system became fully operational across participating European borders on 10 April 2026, after a phased rollout from October 2025.
With the summer pause ending, every non‑EU national (including UK passport holders) must be biometrically registered or checked at external Schengen borders, with no queue‑length exemption.
Pauses applied to named crossing points for limited periods (often up to six hours at a time), not entire countries or nationalities. After 6 September, those targeted suspensions are no longer automatically permitted.
Why experts are worried about delays
Industry groups say removing the flexibility before the system is fully stabilised risks renewed “border chaos”.
Standard passport checks that previously took around 20–25 seconds now require about 90 seconds under EES, according to IATA.
Data from the Financial Times and Qsensor shows average waits at major hubs have surged; for example, Frankfurt saw average waits reach 120 minutes in July, up from 60 minutes the previous year, while Amsterdam’s maximum waits rose from 80 to 120 minutes.
ABTA and IATA are pushing the European Commission to allow partial suspension of biometric collection beyond September, ideally until the end of the winter season, until reliable systems, adequate staffing and fully deployed self‑service kiosks are in place.
At a 1 September briefing, a European Commission spokesperson said the EES had “broadly worked well” over the summer and that the EU was in “close and constructive contact” with the few member states needing adjustments, stressing a “strong joint will to make the system work everywhere”.
What this means for travellers from the UK
If you’re flying to or from the Schengen Area (29 countries, including non‑EU Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein; Ireland and Cyprus are outside EES), plan for slower border processing from 6 September.
- First entry vs repeat visits: On your first entry since the system went live, fingerprints and a facial image are captured along with your passport data and entry details; later entries within the retention period are faster checks against your existing record.
- Children under 12: Exempt from fingerprinting under the EES Regulation, though they are still subject to other checks.
- Pre‑registration app: The EU’s “Travel to Europe” app allows some travellers to pre‑register passport information, upload a photo and answer kiosk questions up to 72 hours before arrival, but it is currently only available for arrivals into Sweden and Portugal.
Practical tips to reduce the risk of missed flights
Industry experts recommend building significantly more time into journeys involving European border controls after 6 September.
Arrive earlier, but realistically: Getting to the airport early helps, but bag‑drop desks may not be open four hours before departure, and once you’re in a passport‑control queue you can’t skip ahead even if your flight is boarding.
Avoid minimum connection times: Don’t plan around the minimum connection time over the next few weeks; a connection that looks reasonable on paper can become tight if you lose an hour or more at the border.
Monitor your airport: Some hubs (for example Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris, Milan) have reported the longest waits; check your airport’s latest guidance before you travel.
