Greece Suspends European Entry Exit System

Greece has temporarily lifted the requirement for UK passport holders to complete biometric registration, a key component of the European Union’s new Entry-Exit System (EES).

The EES became fully operational across 29 Schengen Zone countries on 10 April, following a six-month transition period. Under this system, travellers from non-EU countries—including the UK—are required to provide biometric data, such as facial scans and fingerprints.

The Greek Embassy announced on its website on Friday (17 April) that British passport holders arriving in Greece are currently not required to provide biometric data.

“As part of the rollout of the Entry-Exit System, from 10 April 2026, UK passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border points,” the embassy stated.

However, the Greek government has not clarified how long this exemption will remain in place.

According to Eleni Skarveli, UK director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, the move is expected to significantly cut waiting times and reduce congestion at airports. She added that UK travellers will no longer need to complete additional EES biometric checks, helping to create a smoother and more efficient arrival process in Greece.

The wider rollout of the EES across Europe earlier this month has faced challenges, including delays of up to three hours at immigration checkpoints and reports of passengers missing flights as a result.

In a blog post, Samantha McKnight, senior vice president of client solutions at CIBT Visas, noted that the main takeaway so far for travel managers and business travellers is that the system has not delivered a consistent experience.

“EES is functioning, but not yet uniformly,” she explained. “While the technology has the potential to improve speed, the overall experience still needs refinement. Until implementation becomes more consistent, travellers and organisations should expect some variation and allow extra flexibility in their plans.

“For now, staying informed and prepared is the best way to navigate Europe’s changing border processes with confidence.”

What is the EES?

The new Entry/Exit System (EES) started to be operational on 12 October 2025. European countries using the EES are introducing the system gradually at their external borders. This means that data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of any of the following European countries using the system: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

For the purpose of the EES, ‘non-EU national’ means a traveller not holding the nationality of any European Union country or the nationality of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

‘Short stay’ means up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This period is calculated as a single period for all the European countries using the EES.

Which countries’ nationals must be registered in the EES? 

The system applies to you if you are a non-EU national who either:

need a short-stay visa to travel to the European countries using the EES 
or

do not need a visa to travel for a short stay in the European countries using the EES
Your entries and exits, or entry refusals will be electronically registered in the EES.

Exemptions to registration in the EES apply

The EES does not apply to: 

Nationals of the European countries using the EES, as well as Cyprus and Ireland.

Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card and are immediately related to an EU national.
Non-EU nationals who hold a residence card or a residence permit and are immediately related to a non-EU national who can travel throughout Europe like an EU citizen.

Non-EU nationals travelling to Europe as part of an intra-corporate transfer or for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au-pairing.

Holders of residence permits and long-stay visas.

Nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino and holders of a passport issued by the Vatican City State or the Holy See.

People exempt from border checks or who have been granted certain privileges with respect to border checks (such as heads of state, accredited diplomats, cross-border workers, etc.). Diplomats travelling on short stay may be exempt from EES registration under certain conditions.

The exception from registration in the EES apply to members of the armed forces travelling on NATO or Partnership for Peace business, who hold an identification and individual or collective movement order provided for by the Agreement between the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces and may apply to civilian component or dependents referred to in the NATO Status of Forces Agreement.

The exception applies to NATO International Civilians based in any of the 29 European countries using the EES and their dependents.
People not required to cross external borders solely at border crossing points and during fixed opening hours.

People holding a valid local border traffic permit.

Crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys.
People holding a valid Facilitated Rail Transit Document or valid Facilitated Transit Document, provided they travel by train and do not disembark anywhere within the territory of an EU Member State.