The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric flexibility period ended on 6 September 2026. Border authorities across the Schengen Area - including all Greek entry points - can no longer bypass fingerprint and facial recognition collection during periods of congestion. Every non-EU national arriving in Greece must now complete full biometric registration every time they enter.
What EES Means for Travellers
EES requires all non-EU, non-EEA nationals - including UK, US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders - to register fingerprints and a facial scan at the border on their first entry into the Schengen Area. The data is stored and verified on subsequent entries.
Since the system launched, Schengen border authorities could exercise discretion and skip the biometric step during severe queue build-up. That flexibility ended at midnight on 6 September 2026. There are no exceptions and no bypass.
The practical effect is significant. Processing time per traveller has risen from roughly 20–25 seconds to approximately 90 seconds - nearly four times longer. IATA reports that average wait times at major hubs have doubled since the change came into force.
Airports Affected in Greece
The change applies everywhere non-EU passengers land or arrive by sea, including:
- Athens International Airport (ATH) - Greece’s busiest entry point
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) - main gateway for northern Greece
- Heraklion Airport (HER) - Crete
- Rhodes Airport (RHO)
- Corfu Airport (CFU)
- Mykonos, Santorini, Kos, Zakynthos, and all other island airports
Ferry routes from non-Schengen ports are also subject to full EES processing.
UK Travellers: Greece Ends the Summer Exemption
UK nationals face an additional change. Greece had been operating an informal summer exemption for British travellers at certain border posts to manage peak-season congestion. That exemption has now ended alongside the general flexibility period. UK visitors entering Greece are subject to full biometric registration with no exceptions, regardless of when or where they arrive.
What to Do
Allow significantly more time at passport control. If you are flying into Athens or another Greek airport, we recommend arriving at least 30 minutes earlier than you normally would for an international connection, and budgeting 60–90 minutes for passport control rather than the 20–30 minutes that was typical in summer 2025.
First-time EES entrants take longer than returning travellers - if this is your first visit to the Schengen Area since EES launched, factor in additional time for the initial registration process.
Ensure your travel insurance for Greece covers missed connections caused by extended border processing - relevant if you have a same-day onward flight from Athens. Check flights to Greece schedules and consider choosing early-morning arrivals when queues are shorter. Travellers who have not yet read up on Greece’s entry requirements should also review our ETIAS guide - ETIAS registration, which applies to nationals of visa-exempt countries, remains a separate step from EES and must be completed before travel.
We will update this article as queue data from Greek airports becomes available.