Portugal and Italy Suspend EU Biometric Entry/Exit System for UK Visitors, Reverting to 90 in 180-Day Stamp Checks

Portugal and Italy have temporarily suspended the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) for UK travelers, allowing border officials to revert to manual passport stamping amid widespread implementation chaos.www.visahq.comwww.travelandtourworld.com The move follows the EES's mandatory rollout across the Schengen Area on April 10, 2026, which tracks non-EU visitors' biometrics and enforces the 90 in 180-day stay limit previously managed by stamps.www.jobbatical.com This suspension provides relief for British holidaymakers facing hours-long queues at airports like Rome-Fiumicino and Milan-Malpensa during the recent May Day weekend.

Joining Greece in pausing the biometric checks, Italy's Interior Ministry is preparing a decree to switch back to traditional procedures when lines exceed 45 minutes, addressing complaints over insufficient kiosks and staffing.www.travelandtourworld.com The EES requires fingerprints and facial scans from visa-exempt travelers like those from the UK, automatically calculating compliance with the 90 in 180 rule to curb overstays. Officials emphasize that the central database remains active, so airlines must submit advance passenger data, and passports need blank pages for any stamps issued.

Spain may soon follow suit as disruptions threaten summer travel, with member states permitted up to 90 days of partial suspension plus a 60-day extension to avoid peak-season bottlenecks. While the system aims to boost security and efficiency for repeat visitors, early glitches have prompted these waivers until infrastructure upgrades, including more kiosks and a pre-registration app, are ready. UK tourists should monitor updates to ensure smooth entry into popular destinations.