EES Border Checks 2026: Portugal and Italy Will Not Waive Digital Entry Rules for UK Travellers

Millions of British tourists travelling to Portugal and Italy this summer face longer airport queues after both countries refused to suspend the EU's new digital border-checks system.

The Entry/Exit System, known as the EES, is a new EU-wide digital border programme that replaces the traditional passport stamp. For British travellers — now treated as non-EU nationals following Brexit — every entry and exit through the Schengen Area must now be recorded digitally, through fingerprint scans and a facial photograph taken at the border.

The system became fully mandatory across Schengen Area countries in April 2026 and applies to both arrivals and departures. Your biometric data is stored once registered, meaning the first visit takes the longest. Future trips should be quicker — but with a large number of travellers going through the process for the first time this summer, delays are widely expected.​​​​​​​

Earlier this year, reports suggested both countries might follow Greece, which suspended EES biometric checks for British visitors ahead of the busy summer season. That has not happened.

The European Commission confirmed that Portugal and Italy will continue enforcing the full EES process. While the system does allow countries to temporarily ease checks during peak periods, neither country has formally chosen to do so for British travellers.

There are reports that some Portuguese airports have been informally relaxing checks when queues become excessive — but no official suspension has been announced, and travellers should not rely on that being the case at their airport.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from the travel industry. Airlines and travel organisations have publicly argued that a complex new system introduced at the height of the travel season is putting passengers under unnecessary pressure, resulting in lengthy queues and, in some cases, missed flights.​​​​​​​

There are straightforward steps you can take to make the process as smooth as possible.

Allow extra time at the airport. Arrive earlier than you normally would and factor in additional waiting time on the way home, too, as EES checks apply on departure as well.

Follow the correct signs. UK passport holders must use the "Non-EU / All Passports" lane and should not join the EU/EEA queue.

Have your documents ready. Border officers may ask about your reason for visiting, accommodation details, travel insurance, and proof of sufficient funds.

Refusing biometric checks will result in denied entry. Participation is not optional under the new rules.

Travelling with children? Under-12s are exempt from fingerprint scanning but will still need a facial photograph taken at the border.

The EES is not going away. The European Commission has made clear this is a permanent modernisation of EU border security, not a temporary pilot. Any country choosing to pause checks is making a short-term operational decision — not signalling a reversal of the system.

Later in 2026, a further change is expected with ETIAS — a pre-travel online authorisation British travellers will need before entering Schengen countries. Separate from the EES, it will add yet another step for UK holidaymakers heading to Europe.

For anyone with a trip booked to Portugal or Italy this summer, the message is simple: go prepared, allow extra time, and check the latest requirements before you travel.​​​​​​​

As EU border rules continue to evolve, being prepared has never been more important for British holidaymakers. At Crystal Travel, we're here to ensure your European holiday — whether to Portugal, Italy, or beyond — runs as smoothly as possible. From the latest EES updates to flight bookings, our team of travel experts is just a call away.