Passport control wait times ‘triple’ at EU border under new system

Lizzie McAllister | Deputy News Editor Published July 19, 2026 9:52am Updated July 19, 2026 9:54am Some passengers have reported missing their flights due to delays (Picture: Getty Images) British tourists are facing queues up to three times longer than usual at passport control when travelling to the EU, according to airport staff. The digital Entry Exit System (EES) requires non-EU citizens to register fingerprints and photos when they enter the Schengen area. This information is then checked again as they leave. Generally, this is done at automated kiosks or, in some cases – for example, for children under 12 – by border officers. The new process and machines began being rolled out in October, and UK citizens are now able to register their photos and fingerprints at passport e-gates. But border police have reported that the EES technology has suffered from bugs, causing lengthy queues. UK citizens are now able to use the system (Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images) Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Some airports have seen queues lasting multiple hours at passport control and in some cases, passengers have even reported missing their flights home. A boss at Rome’s main airport said wait times in some cases had nearly tripled. Ivan Bassato, Rome Airport’s Chief Aviation Officer, told the BBC the integration with e-gates has ‘improved things significantly’ but that the time for UK nationals to get through passport control has risen from seven to 20 minutes. But still, the complexity of the system means the time taken for UK nationals to get through the border has risen from seven minutes to 20 minutes. ‘I think that we need to fix urgently certain aspects of the system,’ he said. Yorkshireman Carl, whose family had travelled to the Italian capital on holiday, said they faced a two-hour wait to scan their passports. ‘I knew it was going to be bad, but not as bad as that,’ he told the BBC. The BBC was also told by border police at Faro airport in Portugal that queues went down quickly, but they admitted they had seen delays due to faults in the system. Faro Airport border control boss Pedro Oliveira said that ‘sometimes what used to be a 10-minute queue… takes over 30 minutes’, adding that wait times of over an hour were very rare. Meanwhile, Ryanair has warned customers to ‘allow extra time for their journey and be prepared for extended waits at passport control’ caused by ‘the failed EES rollout’. While states are able to suspend the EES in exceptional circumstances, airlines and airports have urged the EC to allow them to pause the process at busy times. The European Commission (EC) has said disruption at most EU airports is limited, adding that it was providing support to its member states as the new system is phased in. Our Top Shopping Picks Wuka launches the UK’s first period-proof swimwear for heavy flows Bridgerton fans are rushing to buy these new Netflix-inspired perfumes now £12 off The affordable summer wardrobe update you'll wear from rooftop drinks to beach holidays The £7.99 lip balm beauty fans love for glossy, hydrated lips just dropped four new shades This Keskine hydrogel mask could fix your summer skin It added: ‘This support will continue to the fullest extent possible.’ The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.