Nine Schengen nations are authorised to temporarily reintroduce manual passport checks as technical issues with the European Entry/Exit System cause long delays and operational chaos at European borders, highlighting ongoing challenges in digitalising entry management.
Nine Schengen countries have been given permission to switch temporarily back to manual passport checks if technical problems continue to disrupt the European Entry/Exit System, as the bloc struggles to iron out a border technology meant to replace passport stamping with digital records for non-EU travellers. According to the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita, the countries covered are France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Italy and Switzerland.
The system, known as EES, records the details of third-country nationals the first time they cross into the Schengen area, including passport information, a facial image and fingerprints. That data is then stored so that later entries can be verified more quickly, with the scheme also intended to track the 90-day stay limit within any 180-day period. The same reporting notes that travellers who hold long-stay visas or residence permits are excluded from the rules.
The rollout has nevertheless been marked by long queues and operational strain at busy airports. In June, Airports Council International warned that waiting times at peak periods had reached as long as five hours, while airlines highlighted particular pressure in Spain, France, Portugal and Italy. Ryanair has said some of the worst delays were seen at airports including Tenerife South, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Malaga, Milan Bergamo, Kraków and Paris Beauvais, and Euronews reported that the new system has also caused passengers in some places to miss flights.
Border authorities in the UK are also dealing with the consequences of the new regime. EES checks apply at Dover, St Pancras and Folkestone, although the roll-out for car passengers at Dover and on LeShuttle services at Folkestone has not yet been completed because of technical difficulties. Ryanair says passengers should allow extra time for travel, while the wider EU border plan is still meant to be paired with ETIAS, a separate pre-travel authorisation system now expected no earlier than 2027 and likely to cost €20 for eligible non-EU visitors.
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
Sources by paragraph:
– Paragraph 1: [2], [6]
– Paragraph 2: [1], [6]
– Paragraph 3: [1], [3], [4]
– Paragraph 4: [1], [2], [6]
Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://turystyka.rp.pl/zanim-wyjedziesz/art45180071-problemy-z-ees-dziewiec-panstw-moze-czasowo-wrocic-do-recznych-kontroli-granicznych – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/plan-trip/prepare-for-travel/entry-exit-system – Ryanair’s official page detailing the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces passport stamping with electronic recording of entries and exits for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens entering the Schengen Area. The system, fully operational by April 2026, may cause longer queues and requires biometric registration at border controls. Passengers are advised to arrive early to accommodate potential delays.
- https://www.euronews.com/travel/2026/04/14/a-systemic-failure-how-the-new-entryexit-system-ees-brought-chaos-to-eu-border-control – An article from Euronews discussing the challenges faced by the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) introduced in April 2026. The system led to significant delays at airport border controls, with queues of up to three hours and reports of stranded passengers missing flights. The biometric border control system was officially implemented across the Schengen area on April 10, 2026, affecting 29 European countries.
- https://www.euronews.com/travel/2026/08/12/nowy-system-graniczny-ue-podwojny-czas-obslugi-ees-i-ogromne-kolejki-na-lotniskach – An article from Euronews highlighting the impact of the EU’s new biometric border control system on airport operations. The system has led to doubled processing times and significant queues at major airports, including Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Munich. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is struggling to handle the volume of non-EU passengers, causing operational challenges at these hubs.
- https://elpais.com/economia/2026/04/15/los-aeropuertos-europeos-advierten-de-que-el-nuevo-sistema-de-registro-biometrico-esta-provocando-retrasos-de-hasta-tres-horas.html – An article from El País reporting on the European airports’ warnings regarding the new biometric registration system causing significant delays. Since its implementation in October 2025, passengers have experienced waits of up to three hours at border controls in major airports across France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The system replaces manual passport stamping with digital scans of fingerprints and photographs, leading to bottlenecks due to technical failures and insufficient staffing.
- https://www.rp.pl/zanim-wyjedziesz/art45180071-problemy-z-ees-dziewiec-panstw-moze-czasowo-wrocic-do-recznych-kontroli-granicznych – An article from Rzeczpospolita discussing the challenges faced by the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES). Due to technical issues and long queues at European airports, nine Schengen countries—France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland—have been granted the option to temporarily revert to manual passport controls until the system operates correctly. The EES aims to digitally register entries and exits for non-EU citizens, replacing passport stamping.
- https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/plan-trip/prepare-for-travel/entry-exit-system – Ryanair’s official page detailing the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces passport stamping with electronic recording of entries and exits for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens entering the Schengen Area. The system, fully operational by April 2026, may cause longer queues and requires biometric registration at border controls. Passengers are advised to arrive early to accommodate potential delays.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article was published on 23 September 2026, reporting on recent developments regarding the European Entry/Exit System (EES). Similar reports have appeared in the past week, indicating that the content is current. However, the article relies on a Polish source, which may limit its reach and perspective.
Quotes check
Score: 7
Notes: The article includes direct quotes from the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita. While these quotes are attributed, they cannot be independently verified through other sources, raising concerns about their authenticity.
Source reliability
Score: 6
Notes: The primary source, Rzeczpospolita, is a reputable Polish newspaper. However, the article’s reliance on a single source and the lack of corroboration from other independent outlets reduce its overall reliability.
Plausibility check
Score: 8
Notes: The claims about nine Schengen countries temporarily returning to manual border controls due to EES technical issues are plausible and align with recent reports from other sources. However, the article’s reliance on a single source and the lack of corroboration from other independent outlets reduce its overall reliability.