EES delays: what to expect and how to avoid the queues
EES is adding time at the border while travellers are registered for the first time. Here is why it happens, where the queues are worst, and how to keep your own wait short.
In brief
ETIAS at a glance
- Status
- Live (fully operational)
- Operational since
- 10 April 2026
- What it records
- Facial image, fingerprints, document data
- Who it affects
- Non-EU short-stay travellers
- Do you apply?
- No, automatic at the border
- Cost
- Free
- Replaces
- Manual passport stamps
- Related system
- ETIAS (separate, not live yet)
Why is EES causing delays?
A passport stamp took seconds. EES instead records your facial image, fingerprints and travel-document data the first time you cross an external Schengen border, which takes longer per traveller. Because the system went live for everyone at once, large numbers of people are being registered for the first time in the same period, and that is what builds the queues. The delay is heaviest now and is expected to ease as more travellers already have a record.
Where are EES delays worst?
The pinch points are places with high volumes and limited space for registration. For UK travellers that means the juxtaposed controls where French checks happen before you leave: the Port of Dover, Eurostar at St Pancras, and Le Shuttle at Folkestone. On the Schengen side, major airports and ferry ports see the longest waits on arrival, especially at peak travel times.
How long does EES take at the border?
The first registration takes a few minutes per traveller while your face and fingerprints are captured and linked to your passport. After that, your record exists, so later crossings are faster and may only need a quick facial check. Families and groups register individually, so allow more time if you are travelling together.
Will EES delays get better over time?
They are expected to. Once most travellers have a record, repeat crossings are quicker, and self-service kiosks are being introduced at many borders to take registration away from the desk. The slowest stretch is this initial phase, while first-time enrolment is happening at scale.
How to keep your EES wait short
- Allow extra time, particularly on your first crossing after EES went live.
- Travel off-peak where you can; early mornings and midweek are usually quieter.
- Have the passport you booked on ready; EES links to that document.
- Use a self-service kiosk if one is available at your border point.
- Travelling as a family or group? Build in more time, as each person registers separately.
Does ETIAS add to the delays?
No. The queues are caused by EES, which happens at the border. ETIAS is a separate, online step you complete before you travel, so it does not add time at passport control, and it is not live yet in any case. For how the two differ, see EES vs ETIAS, and for the full picture of the border system see EES explained.
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EES delays FAQs
How long does EES take at the border?
On your first crossing after EES went live, registration takes a few minutes while the system captures your facial image and fingerprints. Later crossings are quicker because your record already exists. Waits are longest at busy ports and airports during peak periods.
Will EES delays get better over time?
They are expected to ease. Once most travellers have a record, repeat crossings are faster, and self-service kiosks are being rolled out to speed things up. The slowest period is the initial phase when everyone is being registered for the first time.
Does ETIAS add to border delays?
No. ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation you apply for online before you go, not a border check, so it does not add time at passport control. The biometric registration that causes EES queues is separate. ETIAS is also not live yet.
What is the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)?
EES is the EU’s automated border system. It records non-EU travellers’ entries and exits using a facial image and fingerprints, replacing the manual passport stamp. There is nothing to apply for; it runs at the border.
Related pages
Get ready for ETIAS before it becomes mandatory
ETIAS is not live yet. Check whether you’re likely to need it and we’ll alert you when applications open.