British holidaycreaters heading to Spain could face hours of waiting at passport control, as a new EU border security system caapplys early disruption at major airports.
The Enattempt/Exit System (EES) officially came into effect on Sunday at Madrid-Barajas Airport, marking the first step in a Europe-wide rollout. The scheme, introduced by the European Union, requires travellers from non-EU countries – including the UK – to register their fingerprints, facial images, and passport details each time they enter or leave the Schengen Area.
UK Passengers Face Hours of Queues at Spanish Airports as New EES System Launches
While the aim is to boost security and better track visitors’ stays, airlines and airport staff have warned of significant delays. According to Vozpópuli, the new checks could extconclude processing times from just 30 seconds per traveller to three to five minutes — meaning that on busy flights, queues could stretch for hours.
Madrid-Barajas is the first airport to implement the system, with Barcelona-El Prat, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga-Costa del Sol, and the Canary Islands airports set to follow in the coming days. All are popular destinations for UK tourists, especially during half-term and summer holidays.
Spain’s Minisattempt of the Interior has confirmed that the National Police will remain responsible for border controls, while the Civil Guard continues to oversee customs and fiscal checks. The government has invested around €83 million in rolling out the new technology, which will gradually expand until April 2026. The current stage is expected to meet roughly 10% of EU compliance tarobtains.
Children under 12 are exempt from the biometric registration. For most adult travellers, the process will involve both fingerprint and facial scans, while those requiring a visa will only necessary to provide their photo and passport details.
Officials insist that Spain’s borders are ready for the transition – but as the system takes off, passengers might want to allow a little extra time (and patience) at the airport before their next flight.
Leave a Reply