Postponing the implementation of the biometric entry and exit system at European airports and ports due to the chaos

The European Commission decided to postpone the full implementation of the new entry and exit system at the borders of the European Union and the Schengen Area until September 2026, instead of the previous date scheduled for next April, against the backdrop of growing fears of chaos in travel during the summer season, a Commission spokesman confirmed.

The system, which relies on recording biometric data for visa-exempt third-country citizens, has been gradually implemented since October 2025 in a number of European airports and ports, but the deployment process faced technical and operational difficulties that led to significant delays for passengers traveling via planes, ferries, and the Channel Tunnel.

Airports recorded long queues and delays that in some cases reached hours, causing some passengers to miss their flights.

According to a report issued by Airports Council International – Europe (ACI Europe) at the end of last year, processing times at border control points have increased by up to 70%, with waiting times reaching three hours at peak times.

Last December, the authorities at Lisbon Airport were forced to suspend the system for three months after recording “serious imbalances” in border control, amid complaints of waiting periods of up to seven hours.

European Commission spokesman Markus Lammert said during a press briefing that “implementing a system of this size and complexity represents a major challenge,” explaining that extending the flexibility period during the summer “gives member states the ability to address potential problems and avoid summer travel chaos.”

The decision gives member states a wider margin to manage the gradual transition to collecting biometric data, according to the ability of their airports and ports to deal with the system, which means for travelers that passports will continue to be manually stamped in some cases during the coming months.