The European Commission has confirmed that Italy and Portugal will continue enforcing the European Union’s new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) for British travelers, ending speculation that the two countries could follow Greece in loosening the rules during the busy summer season.
Officials told French publication The Connexion that both countries “do not intend to exempt any nationality” from the new border requirements.
The decision leaves Greece as the only country currently operating outside the standard EES framework after Greek authorities stopped collecting biometric data from British visitors at some airports in April.
Brussels rejects wider exemptions
The European Commission also denied reports that it had quietly approved broader exemptions or suspensions for the system.
“There has been no change to the EES regulation,” a Commission spokesperson said, adding that the existing rules only allow temporary flexibility during severe congestion at border checkpoints.
Under current EU rules, border authorities can temporarily suspend biometric collection for periods of up to six hours when passenger queues become unmanageable. Those interruptions must still be reported to the EU.
However, Brussels stressed that the framework “does not foresee blanket exemptions for nationals of specific third countries and for an extended period of time.”
Greece under scrutiny
Greek authorities stopped collecting biometric data from British travelers on April 18, citing pressure at smaller island airports during the tourism season.
The Commission said it is now “in contact with Greece to clarify the situation and recall the existing rules.”
While no immediate sanctions exist for countries deviating from the system, the EU expects consistent implementation across participating states to ensure the digital border program functions properly.
Travel disruption continues
The EES system officially launched on April 10, 2026 and has already triggered significant delays at airports and border crossings across Europe.
Queues at some airports have stretched for hours, with airlines including Ryanair and easyJet warning passengers to arrive significantly earlier than usual.
More than 100 easyJet passengers reportedly missed a flight from Milan Linate Airport to Manchester after being caught in long passport control lines. Ryanair also reported disruption at Milan Bergamo Airport.
Ryanair has urged governments across all 29 EES countries to suspend the system until after the summer season.
The airline said French authorities “failed to ensure adequate staffing, system readiness or kiosks are in place and working.”
Different countries, different approaches
The rollout continues to vary by country.
France has introduced the system at airports, although technical problems have reportedly limited the use of pre-registration kiosks. Spain is operating a hybrid model at some airports, switching between biometric kiosks and manual passport stamping during peak periods.
Meanwhile, the Port of Dover and some ferry terminals have yet to implement registration procedures for vehicle passengers fully.
What travelers need to know
The EES replaces manual passport stamping for non-EU travelers entering the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
The system records facial images, fingerprints and passport data digitally. Information is stored for three years and one day.
The EU says the program is designed to strengthen border security, reduce identity fraud and enforce visa-free travel limits more effectively.
The system will also support the upcoming European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), expected to launch later this year.
For British travelers heading to Italy or Portugal this summer, airlines and travel experts are advising passengers to allow extra time at airports as biometric checks remain fully in place.
