We have been looking forward to this! Good news before the summer season and trips to Greece

The EU has confirmed that the full implementation of the new system (EES), planned from April 10, 2026, may be temporarily postponed or partially suspended during the summer season.

Member states have the right to a 90-day flexibility, with the possibility of extension for an additional 60 days - practically covering the entire season.

This means that at many borders, traditional passport control with a manual stamp will still be used, instead of mandatory biometric registration.

Lisbon Example

The airport in Lisbon completely suspended the EES for three months in December due to extreme delays, so the system was suspended until technical and staffing issues were resolved.

Why did the EU react?

The introduction of the EES has extended border procedures at some airports by up to 70%.
During peak times, passengers were waiting up to 3 hours, and some were missing flights.

Find out more about the EES system and what it entails - which controls it includes - here: What is the EES new border control system?

What does this mean for vacationing in Greece?

  • Reduced risk of long border delays during the summer.
  • Faster entry into the country during the peak tourist season.
  • A calmer and more organized start to your vacation.

In short: The EES will formally launch on April 10, but in practice, it will be flexibly implemented or suspended at least until the end of the summer to avoid chaos at the borders.

Official source of information

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