EU EES causes passport chaos

The European Union’s Entry/Exit System is now fully live, and it has changed what happens when non-EU travelers reach passport control. (europa.eu) Since April 10, 2026, the system has replaced passport stamps with digital records across Schengen external borders. Border guards can now record a traveler’s facial image, fingerprints and passport data in a central system. (europa.eu) (gov.uk) For many British and other non-EU travelers, the biggest change comes on the first trip after rollout. They may be asked for a photo and four fingerprints, and officials say that first registration can take longer than the old stamp-and-wave process. (tui.co.uk) (gov.uk) That is why holidaymakers have been seeing warnings about longer queues at busy airports. TUI says passengers should allow extra time at the airport, especially on flight-only bookings, because border checks are handled by local authorities and may run slower during peak periods. (tui.co.uk) The app often mentioned alongside the rollout is not a digital passport lane. Travel to Europe is a pre-registration tool that lets eligible non-EU travelers upload passport details, a facial image and an entry questionnaire before they arrive. (europa.eu) (frontex.europa.eu) It is also optional, and it does not replace the border check itself. The official European Union site says travelers can submit data only within 72 hours of travel, and only if the country they are entering or leaving supports the app. (europa.eu) Right now, support is still patchy. The official app page says Sweden supports passport data, facial image and the entry questionnaire, while Portugal currently supports only the questionnaire. (europa.eu) That limited rollout helps explain why the app is not a fix for every airport queue. Frontex, the European border agency that developed it, said in 2025 that each member state still had to connect the app to its own national systems, and use would remain voluntary. (frontex.europa.eu) The broader system is much larger than the airport delays now getting attention. The European Commission said on April 10 that EES had already registered more than 52 million entries and exits, recorded over 27,000 refusals of entry and identified more than 700 people seen as security risks. (europa.eu) For travelers, the practical message is narrower than the political one. You do not need to apply or pay before travel, but if you are a non-EU visitor entering the Schengen area for a short stay, passport control may now take longer until the new system settles in. (gov.uk) (tui.co.uk)