Brussels, April 12, 2026 – European border authorities are urging travelers to carry physical passports and visas following technical errors in the Entry/Exit System (EES) on April 11. The disruptions, affecting automated checks at major airports and ports, have led to widespread delays for non-EU visitors subject to the 90 180 rule—allowing stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Officials recommend printing digital confirmations to avoid stranding at borders.

The EES, launched last year to streamline tracking of short-stay visitors, experienced server overloads and software bugs yesterday, halting biometric scans at key entry points like Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol. Travelers recount hours-long queues, with some missing flights after digital records failed to load. "The 90 180 calculator apps we rely on were useless without backups," said one affected British tourist. EU tech teams worked overnight to restore services, but manual verification remains the norm today.

Industry groups like the International Air Transport Association (IATA) echo the call for physical docs, warning of repeat issues during peak seasons. While EES aims to enforce the 90 180 Schengen limits more efficiently, experts stress hybrid preparedness: digital for convenience, paper for reliability. Borders now display signage promoting printed itineraries, and apps are updating with offline modes to prevent future chaos. Travelers are advised to check official EU sites before journeys.