Greece has moved to shield British holidaymakers from the European Union’s newly introduced biometric border system, exempting UK passport holders from fingerprinting and facial photograph requirements that came into full effect across EU entry points on 10 April.
The decision, announced by Eleni Skarveli, Director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, is designed to “ensure a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece” and significantly reduce waiting times at some of Europe’s busiest tourist destinations. Given that thousands of British travellers pass through Greek island airports — including Corfu, Crete and Rhodes — on a daily basis during the summer months, the exemption has been broadly welcomed by the travel industry.
What the EU’s New Entry and Exit System Actually Means for Travellers
The Entry and Exit System, known as EES, is a digital framework that replaces the traditional physical passport stamp at EU border points. Under the system, travellers holding passports from non-EU countries — including the United Kingdom following Brexit — are required to register their biometric data, comprising fingerprints and a facial photograph, when crossing into EU territory for the first time.
This information, along with entry and exit records, is then stored digitally for future visits. Subsequent crossings are intended to require only a verification of the pre-registered biometric data, a process that should, in theory, accelerate border processing over time. Airports and border points are expected to be equipped with self-service kiosks to handle initial registration.
The Delays That Prompted Greece to Act
Despite its long-term efficiency ambitions, the EES has already generated significant disruption since its phased introduction in several European countries late last year, with travellers reporting queues of up to two hours at passport control. The concern now, as the peak summer season approaches and passenger volumes surge, is that those waits could worsen considerably.
Airline groups have warned that delays could double to as much as four hours as holiday traffic intensifies — a prospect that raised immediate alarm among tour operators and travel agents. Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at Abta, the travel agent and tour operator association, acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing travellers. “What we have said to customers is that, because of the checks, you might need to prepare for delays with extra water and snacks,” he said.
Beyond the queue times themselves, the industry has flagged additional vulnerabilities in the system’s rollout. Concerns remain over potential IT failures — a reminder of the disruption caused by the CrowdStrike global outage — as well as the possibility of strikes and staff shortages at airports during the busiest travel periods of the year.
Could Other Mediterranean Countries Follow Suit?
Greece’s decision has prompted speculation that other popular Mediterranean destinations may consider similar exemptions to prevent widespread chaos at their own border points. With British tourists representing a significant share of summer arrivals across southern Europe, the commercial incentive to streamline entry is considerable.
For now, however, Greece stands alone in making this concession, and travellers heading to other EU countries should continue to prepare for potential delays as EES beds in across the continent.
What UK Travellers Heading to Europe Need to Know
For those not travelling to Greece, the practical advice from the travel industry is straightforward: build extra time into airport arrivals, carry provisions for potential waits, and stay informed about the specific border arrangements at their destination. While the EES is designed to make future visits faster once biometric data is registered, the initial registration process is the principal source of delay — and with millions of British travellers yet to go through it for the first time, the pressure on EU border infrastructure this summer is likely to be substantial.
