Greece Joins Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Belgium and Others in Temporarily Pausing EU EES Biometric Checks Amid Massive Airport Chaos, Long Delays and Missed Flights Reverting to Manual Passport Stamping Across Schengen

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Greece joins Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Belgium, and others in temporarily pausing EU EES biometric checks amid massive airport chaos, long delays, and missed flights, reverting to manual passport stamping across Schengen to reduce congestion and ensure smoother traveller flow. Amid massive airport chaos, long delays, and missed flights, several Schengen countries, including Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, and Belgium, have temporarily paused the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric checks and reverted to manual passport stamping. The decision comes as the EES, designed to modernize border control by replacing traditional passport stamps with biometric data, faces significant operational setbacks. These delays have overwhelmed airport systems, causing frustration among travellers and prompting authorities to implement emergency measures to maintain smooth travel flow. This article explores the impact of these disruptions on both travellers and airport operations, shedding light on how affected countries are navigating this unprecedented challenge and what it means for the future of European border security.

Schengen EES Rollout and Delays Trigger Temporary Manual Passport Stamping

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational on April 10, 2026, replacing passport stamps with biometric recording at all Schengen external borders. However, significant processing delays and bottlenecks at major airports have prompted authorities to activate fallback measures, including temporary manual passport stamping, especially where EES kiosks face technical or capacity issues. This reflects an operational reality where border‑control efficiency and traveller flow are stressed. Since activation, EES logs digital records of non‑EU nationals’ entries and exits using facial recognition and fingerprints, with the goal of replacing the traditional passport stamp system and improving overstay detection.

• EES replaces passport stamping with biometric recording of all non‑EU short‑stay travellers.
• Full operation began across 29 countries on April 10, 2026.
• Border queues at key airports have increased processing times.
• Manual stamping is legally required if EES fails or cannot record data.
• Member states have discretion to ensure travel flow during peak pressure.

Greece Implements Operational Exemptions to Ease Airport Congestion

Greece has temporarily suspended biometric checks for UK travellers as part of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES), following significant delays and long queues at major airports like Athens International. This de facto suspension allows UK nationals to bypass biometric scans and revert to manual passport stamping to avoid overcrowding. The Greek Ministry of Tourism confirmed that this decision is temporary, lasting until peak summer months, and aims to ensure smoother entry without overwhelming the system. The flexibility measure is in line with EU rules, allowing countries to temporarily pause biometric checks when queues become unmanageable.

• De facto suspension for UK nationals.
• Manual passport stamping used during peak periods.
• Operational waiver applied at major airports.
• Temporary measure until summer 2026.
• Flexible enforcement under EU EES guidelines.

Italy Adopts Manual Passport Checks Amid EES Implementation Stress

Italy has implemented temporary manual passport processing at major international airports where EES procedures have contributed to significant delays. The aim is to reduce congestion at busy hubs such as Rome–Fiumicino and Milan–Malpensa, where border crossings for non‑EU visitors occasionally extend beyond acceptable wait times. Italian authorities emphasise that manual stamping is a fallback mechanism under the EES regime, only invoked when system availability or throughput is compromised. This helps prevent missed connections and reduces pressure on travellers and airport staff during peak periods.

• Manual stamping is used where EES causes operational slowdowns.
• Major hubs affected by higher entry queues.
• Italy’s approach aligns with EU EES contingency rules.
• Aims to prevent flight disruptions.
• Does not reverse overall EES implementation.

Spain Leverages Manual Stamping to Address Peak EES Queues

Spanish border authorities at airports like Madrid‑Barajas and Barcelona‑El Prat are reverting to manual passport stamping during peak arrival times to alleviate pressure from biometric EES checks. This operational practice is used when kiosk availability or digital throughput is insufficient to cope with high passenger volumes. Reports indicate processing times increased significantly compared to traditional stamping, prompting this flexibility approach. Spain’s use of manual stamping is consistent with fallback provisions that aim to ensure travellers aren’t caught in prolonged queues — a crucial consideration during the busy spring and summer travel seasons.

• Manual stamping used at high‑traffic times.
• Madrid and Barcelona are key sites affected.
• Aims to reduce wait times for non‑EU visitors.
• Fallback aligned with official EES guidance.
• Supports smoother travel through busy airports.

France Applies Manual Passport Check Strategy at Busy Airports

France has incorporated manual passport stamping as an operational tool at major airports during periods when biometric EES kiosks are overwhelmed. Official sources confirm that although the system is active, fallback stamping ensures travellers do not face excessive delays entering the country. Major hubs such as Paris Charles de Gaulle and Nice Côte d’Azur experience heavy international traffic where digital checkpoints struggle to process high volumes at peak times. This measure helps maintain the flow of arrivals and prevents missed connections for travellers.

• Manual stamping alleviates system‑induced delays.
• Applies at large airports with heavy international arrivals.
• Designed to protect travel flow efficiency.
• A temporary operational tactic under EES rules.
• Supports high season travel management.

Germany Uses Manual Stamping During High Demand Periods

German border authorities are applying manual passport stamping at key airports such as Frankfurt and Munich when biometric kiosks reach capacity thresholds. While the EES remains the standard entry control mechanism, official procedures allow for fallback to manual stamping to maintain throughput and avoid bottlenecks. This approach reflects broader Schengen Area practice in managing the rollout’s impact on travellers and aligns with recognised contingency protocols in the EES regulation that account for system failures or operational overloads.

• Manual stamping assists high‑demand peaks.
• Frankfurt and Munich highlighted as busy airports.
• Ensures timely border crossings.
• Fits within official EES fallback rules.
• Reduces pressure on biometric systems.

Belgium Adopts Manual Passport Stamping at Brussels Airport

Belgium has introduced manual passport stamping for travellers entering through Brussels Airport when EES processes are strained by high arrival volumes. This step is consistent with Schengen regulations that require manual stamping whenever automated systems are unable to register entry data, ensuring that date and place of entry remain recorded for overstaying and security tracking. Brussels Airport has seen extended queues as non‑EU visitors undergo biometric checks, leading authorities to use manual stamping to keep border control moving. This ensures travellers are not unduly delayed and supports operational resilience during peak arrival windows.

• Manual stamping used at Brussels Airport during delays.
• Fallback aligns with EES rulebook.
• Helps maintain border throughput.
• Non‑EU visitors primarily affected.
• Reflects contingency planning.

Broader Implications of Manual Stamping in 2026 Travel

The temporary use of manual passport stamping by multiple Schengen states reflects an emerging operational pattern in the post‑April 2026 EES landscape. While the digital Entry/Exit System offers enhanced security and automated tracking of non‑EU travellers’ entries and exits, real‑world pressures on airport border control infrastructure have exposed limitations in early implementation phases. Manual stamping provides a necessary operational fallback to preserve traveller throughput, reduce missed flights, and uphold efficient airport operations during peak demand or technical strain. It also underscores the balance the European Commission and member states must achieve between border security modernization and traveller experience in one of the world’s busiest travel regions.

• Manual stamping is a legally supported fallback.
• Helps avoid excessive wait times.
• Allows continuity of travel flow.
• Supports EES data integrity when systems are overwhelmed.
• Reflects operational adaptation during rollout.

In conclusion, Greece joins Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Belgium, and others in temporarily pausing EU EES biometric checks amid massive airport chaos, long delays, and missed flights, reverting to manual passport stamping across Schengen to alleviate the strain on overwhelmed border control systems. This temporary shift is a direct response to the unforeseen operational issues caused by the EES rollout, including lengthy queues and processing delays at key airports. While these countries work to address the technical challenges, their decision underscores the need for a balanced approach between advanced security measures and maintaining smooth travel flow. As the EU navigates these growing pains, the pause on biometric checks provides a critical stopgap to ensure that travellers can continue their journeys with minimal disruption. Ultimately, these measures highlight the importance of refining new systems to better handle the complexities of modern border control.