Heading to Europe this summer? Give yourself more time than you think…
The new EU border system (EES) is now live for UK travellers.
In some places, it’s quick and easy. In others… queues have been a bit longer than people expected. The twist? It’s not the same everywhere:
- Greece has temporarily dropped the new biometric checks for UK travellers
- Some Spanish airports (like Majorca) are using UK-only queues
- Other countries are still finding their rhythm
Translation: your experience will depend on where you’re travelling.
One important extra to be aware of:
If you’re travelling via Eurostar, Eurotunnel Le Shuttle or ferries…
Your EES checks will happen before you leave the UK, not when you arrive in France.
So places like: London St Pancras, Folkestone, Dover …could see longer processing times at peak periods.
Nothing to worry about — just:
- Allow a bit more time than usual
- Avoid tight connections
- Expect your first trip to take slightly longer
Once you’re through… it’s sunshine and sangria as normal!