Balearics Create Separate UK Border Controls

The new border controls are a direct response to the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES), which began a phased rollout in October 2025. This system replaces manual passport stamping with automated biometric registration, including fingerprinting and facial scans for non-EU visitors, a process that has already increased wait times at other European airports. Fears of significant delays and "chaos" prompted the move, with travel industry groups warning that mandatory EES registration could result in queues of up to four hours during peak times. Some airports in Spain and Portugal have already reported processing times increasing by up to 70% and waits of up to three hours since the EES rollout began. The full, mandatory implementation of the system has been delayed until at least September 2026 to avoid crippling summer travel. Spanish airport operator Aena is investing heavily to pre-empt these issues, with Palma de Mallorca airport allocated €621.6 million, Ibiza €229.7 million, and Menorca €170.7 million as part of a future investment plan. The new infrastructure aims to increase passport control space by around 29% to better handle the more complex EES checks. While headlined as "Brit-only" lanes, the new dedicated areas are technically for all "non-Schengen" passengers. This means travelers from the UK will be channeled alongside those from other non-EU countries like the United States and Canada into a single, streamlined access route for border control. The goal is to reduce potential peak summer wait times from 45 minutes to under 20. Under the new EES rules, UK travelers must have their photo and fingerprints taken on their first entry into the Schengen Area. This biometric data is then stored for three years, meaning subsequent trips should be faster. However, the initial registration process is the primary cause of the anticipated delays that the Balearic airports are now working to mitigate.