The EU has postponed the full implementation of the new EES border control system due to the risks of a transport collapse at airports and checkpoints during the peak tourist season. The system is already being tested, but its operation will be partially suspended. Learn more about how the EU entry rules for tourists will change in 2026

The European Union has once again postponed the full launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated border control system that is supposed to replace passport stamping for third-country nationals. The reason is fears of massive congestion at the borders, malfunctions of biometric kiosks, and overworking of personnel at airports and seaports.

A pilot launch at the end of 2025 has already shown that the new system significantly increases the time it takes to pass border controls. That is why the EU has decided to allow countries to temporarily postpone the full implementation of EES to avoid chaos during the peak summer tourist season.

Earlier we talked about ETIAS, ETA, digital arrival cards and other new travel rules in 2026.

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What is the EES system and how does it work?

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new automated system for controlling the external borders of the European Union, which is intended to replace the traditional stamping of passports for third-country nationals traveling to the Schengen area for a short period of time. It covers 29 Schengen countries, including the EU member states, as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

The main goal of EES is to automatically record each entry and exit of a traveler to monitor compliance with the 90-day stay rule within a 180-day period. Instead of stamps in the passport, the information will be stored in a single electronic database accessible to the border services of all Schengen countries.

When crossing the EU's external border for the first time, third-country nationals will have to undergo biometric registration, i.e. take a photo of their face and have their fingerprints taken. For this purpose, special self-service kiosks are being set up at airports, ports and land border crossing points, and the control process is being supervised by border guards. In the future, the system will automatically record each border crossing and calculate the allowed period of stay.

In the article at the link, we have collected 5 underrated European destinations that can surprise even experienced travelers.

Why did the EU postpone the full implementation of EES?

The decision to postpone the full launch of the EES system was made after a pilot implementation at the end of 2025, which revealed a number of practical problems at the borders. The European Commission has allowed Schengen countries to partially suspend the use of EES during peak periods to avoid a transport collapse at airports and border crossing points.

The main reasons for the postponement and relaxation of the rules of the system implementation are:

1. Significant increase in border crossing time. During the testing, passenger processing at some airports increased by about 70%, which created queues and flight delays.

2. Problems with biometric data. Technical failures were recorded during the reading of fingerprints and face photos, which slowed down the verification process.

3. Lack of staff at the border. Not all checkpoints were ready for the sharp increase in the workload of border guards.

4. Risk of chaos during the summer tourist season. Peak flows of travelers could cause large-scale congestion at airports and ports.

5. Uneven infrastructure readiness in different countries. Some self-service kiosks have not yet been fully commissioned.

To reduce the burden on transport hubs, countries were allowed to temporarily return to stamping passports at certain checkpoints and partially suspend the EES during peak periods.

When will the EES system be fully operational?

Despite the official launch of the Entry/Exit System in the fall of 2025, it was decided to postpone its full implementation at all EU border crossings. The Schengen countries were allowed to complete the transition to the new system by September 2026 instead of spring to avoid a transport collapse during the peak tourist season.

According to the updated approach, member states must gradually connect all border crossing points to the EES, but after the rollout phase is completed, they will be able to temporarily suspend its operation where the longest queues occur. This “flexible mode” allows the system to be adapted to the actual flows of passengers in different countries and not to create critical congestion at airports, seaports and land borders.

In fact, in 2026, tourists may face different border crossing scenarios: at some points, control will already be fully EES with biometric registration, while others will temporarily maintain a mixed format using passport stamps. This is a temporary stage that should make it easier to adapt to the new EU entry rules.

In the previous article, we looked at the opportunities for traveling in Italy during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

What will change for tourists and what to expect next (ETIAS)?

After the full launch of the EES system, travel to the Schengen countries will become more “digital”. For third-country nationals, including Ukrainians, the usual passport stamping will disappear - all border crossings will be recorded in the electronic system. When entering Schengen for the first time, biometric registration will be required, and the system will automatically track compliance with the 90-day stay rule within a 180-day period.

In the short term, this may mean slightly longer border controls, especially at popular airports and tourist destinations. However, in the future, the EU expects automation to make controls faster and more transparent, and to reduce the number of errors and abuses of overstay periods.

The next stage in the digitalization of borders will be the launch of the ETIAS system, an electronic authorization system for visa-free travel to the EU. It should be launched in the fourth quarter of 2026 and will require mandatory online registration before travel and payment of a fee. According to the EU, ETIAS and EES will create a unified system of preliminary control of travelers before they arrive at the border.

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Reminder! Popular tourist destinations can be a trap. We have already told you which 8 places in the world Fodor’s advises to avoid in 2026 due to overtourism, environmental risks and social tension – and what alternatives to choose instead.

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