EU border checks causing chaos and confusion for UK travellers
New EU border checks introduced as part of the bloc’s long-delayed Entry/Exit System are causing significant disruption for UK travellers, with queues stretching for hours at key crossings and passengers describing scenes of disorder and frustration at some of Europe’s busiest ports.
What’s happening at the border
The Entry/Exit System — known as EES — requires non-EU nationals, including British citizens travelling after Brexit, to have their fingerprints and facial images scanned each time they cross into the Schengen Area. The rollout, which began in phases at select crossings, has caught many travellers off guard. Some passengers arriving at Calais and Brussels reported waits of between two and three and a half hours at passport control, with little signage or staff on hand to explain the new process.
Videos shared on social media showed snaking queues inside terminal buildings, with families struggling with luggage and elderly passengers standing for extended periods. One traveller flying into Amsterdam described the experience as “completely disorganised — nobody seemed to know what lane to use or where the scanners even were.”
‘Pretty shambolic’ — travellers vent frustration
That sentiment was echoed widely online and in reports from busy crossings throughout the week. A passenger returning from a short break in Paris told journalists the process “felt like nobody had actually tested this before switching it on.” Another described spending 40 minutes in a queue only to be redirected to a different booth.
It’s not just the technology. Staffing levels at several entry points appear to be struggling to keep pace with demand. And with the peak summer travel season still months away, transport and consumer groups are already warning that conditions could worsen considerably before they improve.
The system was originally scheduled to launch in 2022 before being postponed multiple times over technical and logistical concerns.
Official response measured but cautious
A spokesperson for the European Commission said the rollout was proceeding “in line with phased implementation plans” and urged travellers to allow extra time at border crossings. But critics say that guidance does little to address the underlying infrastructure gaps that are causing delays in the first place.
The UK government has advised British passport holders to check entry requirements before travelling and to expect longer processing times at EU borders until the system beds in.
What comes next
EES is expected to expand to more crossing points over the coming months, with full implementation across all Schengen entry points targeted for later in 2025. A companion system, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System — ETIAS — which will require pre-travel authorisation for UK visitors, is still pending and won’t launch until EES is fully operational.
For now, travellers are being urged to build in at least an extra 90 minutes at border crossings and to arrive with patience. Whether that’s enough remains to be seen.
