The European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES), designed to track non-EU visitors including biometric registration of fingerprints and facial images, launched on April 10, 2026, but encountered widespread technical glitches that disrupted operations at key borders.www.visahq.comwww.jobbatical.comwww.connexionfrance.com British travelers at ports like Dover, Folkestone, and St Pancras faced manual processing and queues after connectivity issues with the central database forced a revert to paper forms, while France paused biometric checks at Channel crossings including Calais and Eurostar terminals due to software and infrastructure problems. This bumpy rollout replaces traditional passport stamps, aiming to automate monitoring of the 90/180 rule, which limits non-EU stays in Schengen to 90 days within any 180-day period.

In France, the Ministry of the Interior confirmed the delay, opting to continue manual stamping for several weeks amid unresolved software integration and limited booth space, creating uncertainty for frequent cross-Channel commuters. Airports reported patchy biometric collection, with kiosks failing to transmit data to guards' computers, leading to desk-based checks and warnings of excessive queues if fully enforced. Travel experts like Simon Calder called the implementation "unravelling," urging corporate teams to add buffer time and manually track days in Schengen to avoid 90/180 rule breaches that EES data could later expose.

The European Commission maintains that once resolved, EES will deliver automated overstayer alerts and faster gates, paving the way for the 2027 ETIAS scheme, though airports like Heathrow recommend prompt Advance Passenger Information submission to ease delays. Mobility advisors stress carrying proof of onward travel during this transition, as inconsistent stamping risks compliance gaps for business travelers reliant on precise 90/180 rule adherence.