UK Warns of Easter Travel Delays Due to New EU Border Checks — What You Need to Know

Allow Extra Time at Borders This Easter

The UK government has issued a formal travel warning ahead of the Easter holiday, advising British travellers heading to Europe to allow extra time at border control due to the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES).

UK Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris said: "The EU's Entry Exit System will be a significant change for Brits travelling this Easter. Always check with your transport operator in case extra time may be needed, both for your return to the UK and travelling to the EU. We continue to engage with the European Commission on taking steps to help minimise disruption for Brits as much as possible."

The government's official guidance states that "EES checks should take only a few minutes per person, although longer waits at border control are possible", including on the return journey to the UK. Travellers are advised to follow their transport operator's guidance and allow sufficient time, particularly if they have connections or onward transport booked.

What Is the EES and How Does It Work?

The Entry/Exit System replaces the manual stamping of passports with a digital biometric record of every non-EU traveller's entries and exits across the Schengen Area. It has been rolling out gradually across the 29 Schengen countries (25 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein) since 12 October 2025.

On 10 April 2026 — just after Easter — it is set to become fully operational at all EU airports and ports.

When a non-EU traveller enters the Schengen Area for the first time under EES, facial scans and fingerprints are taken and stored digitally. After that first registration, subsequent checks are expected to be quicker as the biometric record remains valid for three years, or until the passport expires — whichever comes first. It is the first-time registration that takes the most time.

Where the Checks Take Place

For travellers crossing between the UK and France, the EES operates at juxtaposed border controls — meaning the checks happen before departure, not on arrival:

Travelling from the UK to Europe:

• St Pancras International station, London (Eurostar)
• Eurotunnel LeShuttle terminal, Folkestone
• Port of Dover

Travelling from Europe to the UK:

• Gare du Nord, Paris (Eurostar)
• Eurotunnel terminal, Calais
• Port of Calais

Eurotunnel's terminals activated biometric registration on all travellers earlier in March, having initially restricted checks to coach passengers and lorry drivers only.

For those flying directly to Spain — including to Alicante-Elche, Málaga, Barcelona, or Madrid — the EES checks will take place at the Spanish airport on arrival.

Who Is Exempt?

Not everyone needs to go through EES registration. The following categories are exempt:

• EU and Schengen country residents — people who hold a valid residence permit in an EU or Schengen country do not need to register. This includes British expats living in Spain who hold a valid TIE card or green residency certificate
• Dual citizens using an EU passport — if you hold both British and an EU nationality, presenting your EU passport means you are not subject to EES checks as a non-EU traveller

For British expats living in Spain, this is an important point: your Spanish residency document exempts you from EES registration. Make sure you carry your TIE card or residency certificate when travelling.

Easter Travel: Already Busy Before EES

The timing of the EES rollout coincides with one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Spain's traffic authority DGT is forecasting 17.1 million long journeys over the Easter period — the highest figure since 2002 — driven partly by reduced confidence in the rail network and rising air fares.

Meanwhile, European Commission officials recently confirmed that member states have the option to partially suspend EES during peak travel periods — including the summer months — to avoid serious disruption. Whether any border authorities choose to exercise this option over Easter remains to be seen.

A pre-registration app is also in development to help smooth passenger flow, but as of now it is only available in Sweden and Portugal — not yet in Spain or at UK departure points.

Practical Advice for Easter Travellers

• Allow extra time — both at departure and on return. Border queues during the first-registration phase of EES can be significantly longer than what travellers are used to
• Check with your airline or transport operator for specific guidance on how much additional time they recommend
• If you are a resident in Spain, carry your TIE card or residency certificate — it exempts you from the full EES biometric process
• If you have connecting flights or onward transport booked, build in a larger buffer than you normally would
• First-time registration takes longer — if this is your first trip to Europe since EES launched, expect the border check to take somewhat longer than on subsequent trips

This article is based on reporting from The Local Spain, published March 27, 2026. This article is for informational purposes only.