US tourists traveling to certain popular destinations outside the continent may face delays at airports as a new system is rolled out.
Airports are stressful at the best of times, with the early alarms, the irrational fear of missing your flight and the awkward shuffle through security.
By the time you’ve finally landed, all you really want to do is breeze through arrivals and get on with your trip.
Whether you’re chasing the sun on a summer getaway or carving down snowy slopes on a ski adventure, that moment when you touch down is meant to feel exciting - the start of the vacation you’ve been waiting for.
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But often, you're met with a wall of people and the prospect of inching your way through long queues on the other side.
And for Americans heading to parts of Europe, that reality might be even more familiar in coming weeks.
Why? Well, it's down to the European Union's new Entry/Exit System, impacting 29 countries in the Schengen area - a group of European countries that have agreed to remove internal border controls.
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The shake-up comes into force on October 12 2025, but will be rolled out gradually across all EU countries by April 10 2026.
What is the EU airport shake-up?
At the moment, passengers heading to some EU countries - including Spain, Greece and Italy - have their passports stamped on arrival.
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But these are being phased out and replaced by biometric checks - fingerprints and facial scans - instead.
This is the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES).
It won't just apply to Americans, but to all non-EU citizens, including travelers from the UK, Canada and Australia.
How will the EES work?
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On first entry, travelers must register both their biometric data and passport details at the border.
There will be dedicated booths to scan fingerprints and faces - this is where the queueing is expected, especially during busy seasons.
But once registered, records are valid for three years, meaning any future trips within that time period will only require biometric verification.
So while it might be an inconvenience now, adding on more time and effort, it should make subsequent trips smoother - and safer.
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If you don't like the idea of handing over your biometrics, then it's tough luck.
Anyone who refuses will be denied entry to the EU - fancy that ruining your vacation!
Which destinations are impacted?
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Ellie Kemp