Planning a Euro summer? It might not get off to the easiest start.
Last month, the European Union fully rolled out its new electronic border system, and it’s been causing hourslong lines at some airports.
Airports and airlines met with the European Commission last month to discuss their concerns ahead of the busy summer season.
Here’s what you need to know about the new border system and how it could affect your vacation.
What are the changes in entering Europe?
The EU’s new Entry/Exit System replaces manual passport stamping. It requires travelers to register their details and biometric data, including a photo and fingerprints.
Non-EU citizens without a visa can only stay in the Schengen Area for 90 days within a 180-day period, so their entry and exit records need to be verified.
Each registration takes an average of just over one minute, a spokesperson for the European Commission told Business Insider last month. However, some people have found it takes longer.
The spokesperson added that technical issues have been detected in a few countries, “as can be expected in the first days of full operation of any major new system.”
Who do the changes affect?
In short, most non-Europeans visiting Europe — although there are exceptions.
The Entry/Exit system has been rolled out to all crossing points in the Schengen Area, the free-travel zone comprising 29 countries across the continent.
This is mostly made up of EU member states, though it also includes Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
So, if you are visiting Europe for a short stay, you don’t have a visa or a passport issued by a Schengen Area country, and you haven’t yet had your details registered with the EES, you could be in for a long wait.
It’s worth remembering that some EU countries have overseas territories that some people might not realize are also part of the Schengen Area. For example, the Azores are Portuguese, and the Canary Islands are Spanish.
Plus, while Ireland is in the EU, it is not in the Schengen Area, so it does not have the EES.
The UK, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey are not part of the EU or the Schengen Area, so they also do not use the new system.
Which cities are facing the worst disruption?
Shortly after the EES was fully rolled out last month, queues were “typically averaging” 2 to 3 hours, said Olivier Jankovec, director general of Airports Council International Europe.
However, he also raised concerns that the situation would get worse during the busy summer travel period.
Long lines have been reported at popular vacation destinations and large hub airports.
Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle experienced hourslong lines during the initial rollout of the EES.
There have also been reports of long waits in Portugal, Spain, and Italy.
Plus, difficulties with the new system led Greece to exempt British travelers from the EES.
What should travelers do?
Pack your patience and be prepared for a long line.
The EES is also used when you leave the Schengen Area, so make sure you get to the airport early at the end of your trip so you don’t miss your flight home.
Some cities have handled the rollout better than others, so it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll face an hourslong queue at the start and end of your summer vacation. Even so, it’s best to ensure you arrive in plenty of time and check your airport’s website.
If you happen to be married to someone who holds an EU passport, and you’re traveling together, you can say that you’re married, allowing you to both use the EU line at the border. You will still need to register with the EES, but the wait will be shorter.
It may also be possible that you’re eligible to get an EU passport, depending on your ancestry. Ireland grants citizenship to those with a grandparent born on the island. Italy has a similar law, except the rules are a bit stricter.
