EU's new entry system stalls UK travelers with long queues and glitches

The EU's Entry/Exit System, launched last autumn and in force since April, obliges non-EU visitors to be photographed and fingerprinted at each border crossing, yet it has generated extensive delays for UK holidaymakers. Reports describe queues lasting up to three hours, absent passport stamps, and malfunctioning kiosks that force manual processing. An opt-out provision lets border officers relax requirements when lines swell, but this temporary relief ends next month.

Passengers such as Martin Farrall discovered their exit records were not updated, risking an overstayer label, while others like Nadia and Evie faced repeated fingerprinting and unclear signage about visa exemptions. The system's lack of inter-state communication and technical flaws have left many travelers anxious and uncertain about future entries.