New Schengen biometric checks slow travelers
Non‑EU nationals entering the Schengen area are now facing the EU Entry/Exit System, which expands biometric data collection and passport‑validity checks at borders (travelandtourworld.com). Reports show some travelers are already missing flights because of confusion and longer processing times linked to the rollout (travelpirates.com).
Non-European Union travelers entering the Schengen area now face fingerprint and face scans at the border, and the new checks are already causing longer waits. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu) The European Union’s Entry/Exit System became fully operational on April 10, 2026, after a phased rollout that began on October 12, 2025, across 29 European countries using the system. It replaces passport stamps with digital records of entries, exits and refusals of entry. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu) For each short-stay crossing, border authorities now record a traveler’s name, travel-document details, fingerprints, facial image, and the date and place of entry or exit. The system applies to non-European Union nationals visiting for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, whether they need a visa or not. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu) (diplomatie.gouv.fr) European Union officials say the database is meant to spot overstays, identity fraud and people using forged documents. The Commission said that during the phased rollout, more than 45 million border crossings were logged, more than 24,000 people were refused entry, and more than 600 people identified as security risks were blocked. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu) The immediate problem is speed. Euronews reported on April 10 that travelers should expect significant delays in the first months of full operation as airports and border posts work through the new procedures. (euronews.com) Airports Council International Europe, Airlines for Europe and the International Air Transport Association said on February 11 that waits had already reached up to two hours during the partial rollout. They warned that summer queues could hit four hours or more without more staff, better technology and wider use of the Frontex pre-registration app. (iata.org) The system does not cover everyone crossing into Europe. European Union and Schengen citizens are exempt, as are holders of long-stay visas or residence permits, while Ireland and Cyprus are not using the system and still rely on manual passport checks. (euronews.com) (diplomatie.gouv.fr) European Union travel officials say the long-term goal is a faster border with self-service kiosks and automated gates once a traveler’s data is already in the system. For now, the first trip under the new rules is likely to be the slowest one. (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu) (travel-europe.europa.eu)
