by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 2:20 PM ET, Fri February 6, 2026
Travellers heading to Europe should be prepared for long lines as the new Entry/Exit System (EES) continues to be phased in. The system is designed to track arrivals and departures of non-EU or Schengen Area residents. It replaces the ink and stamp passport system.
The EES applies to short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, a rule that remains unchanged for Canadians and other visa-exempt travellers. EU citizens, residents, and holders of long-stay visas are exempt.
EES rolled out on Oct. 2026, and is supposed to be fully operational by April 10, 2026. With some airports experiencing lengthy delays, officials are letting travellers know of contingency plans.
The BBC reports lines of three to four hours at peak times in busy airports, as travellers process through the scanning machines, where passport data, fingerprints and a photo is taken.
Olivier Jankovec, director general of Airports Council International Europe, which represents more than 600 airports, told the BBC the passenger processing time at border control had increased by "four to five times" under EES. He stated that waits were typically around two hours now.
Issues leading to the delays include not enough border staff, and some machines not working, he said. He worries that the situation will worsen when large numbers of people travel over Easter and in the summer.
Delays plagued the system over the winter holidays, too. At the time, Jankovec said “Significant discomfort is already being inflicted upon travelers” and predicted things were going to get worse as airports worked towards fully implementing the system.
To cope with crowds and long waits, until September 2026, participating countries are able to “partially suspend” the electronic collection temporarily if the system becomes overwhelmed, and go back to stamping passports for a short period of time.
The UK Travel Association ABTA issued a statement saying border authorities were under-using their ability to reduce checks when necessary.
ABTA said that as well as applying the contingency measures, destinations and border authorities need to do more to plan for peak travel periods.
Travellers should be prepared for a lengthy wait at any rate, with some recommending you bring snacks and something for your kids to do to help occupy the time.
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