The rollout of the European Union's much-anticipated Entry-Exit System (EES) has created significant delays at Brussels Airport, where non-EU passengers have faced queues lasting up to three hours since the system's introduction on October 12, 2025. The EES replaces traditional passport stamping with digital biometric registration, requiring fingerprints and facial images from travellers entering the Schengen Area. While the system aims to enhance security and streamline border checks across Europe, the first week of implementation has instead brought congestion and confusion for international arrivals.
The European Entry-Exit System represents one of the EU's most significant border control overhauls since the creation of the Schengen Zone. Managed by Frontex and implemented by national border authorities, the system automatically records the entry and exit of third-country nationals while collecting biometric data to verify identity and track travel across twenty-nine participating countries.
At Brussels Airport, the system is operated by Belgium's Federal Police, with infrastructure support from the airport. A total of sixty one biometric registration kiosks, twelve new border control booths, and thirty-six new e-gates have been installed to facilitate the process. Despite these measures, technical bottlenecks and limited staffing at peak hours have led to queues stretching through arrival corridors, primarily affecting travellers from non-EU countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
According to reports by The Brussels Times and passenger testimonials, non-EU travellers landing in Zaventem have encountered long waits, minimal communication from airport staff, and continued manual passport stamping despite biometric infrastructure being in place. For elderly passengers or those in transit, the delays have proven particularly exhausting, with some describing the process as disorganized.
Meanwhile, travellers holding EU passports have largely experienced smooth, digitized processing using the e-gates, highlighting a stark contrast in efficiency. Belgian Federal Police officials acknowledged that a "combination of factors",including simultaneous peak-hour arrivals and first-phase system adjustments, contributed to the disruption.
The European Commission confirmed that Belgium is among the first EU member states to begin full-scale implementation of the EES. The system will be fully operational across all Schengen external borders by April 10, 2026. Other participating points include Dover Port (UK), Eurostar terminals, and the Eurotunnel, where phased rollouts began earlier this month.
In Brussels, airport authorities emphasize that the current challenges are transitional and that the new system will deliver time-saving benefits once all first-time registrations are complete. Registered biometric data remains valid for three years, meaning returning non-EU travellers can pass through border checks using facial recognition rather than repeated data input.
The new digital process marks a crucial step in modernizing border control within Europe's Schengen Area. The system's introduction seeks to improve immigration oversight, prevent overstays, detect identity fraud, and bolster overall border security. However, industry analysts note that the Brussels experience reflects the challenges of balancing technological transition with real-time passenger volumes.
Brussels Airport Company has reiterated its commitment to supporting smooth operations by staffing assistance teams at kiosks and enhancing guidance through signage and digital instructions. The airport continues to urge passengers entering from outside the EU to allow extra time for border procedures, particularly during mornings and weekends when multiple non-Schengen flights arrive simultaneously.
The short-term delays at European airports like Brussels mark a broader growing pain for the travel industry as governments implement high-tech solutions to manage unprecedented mobility. Once stabilized, the EES is expected to make cross-border travel smoother by removing manual passport checks, reducing human error, and granting border officials clearer data insights.
For tourists visiting Belgium and neighbouring countries, early registration will simplify future entries, allowing them to move faster through e-gates using facial recognition. For frequent visitors such as business executives or long-stay visa holders, this promises greater consistency in travel timelines. However, airlines and tourism boards have raised concerns that prolonged early-stage delays could temporarily dampen arrival rates from key international markets like North America and Asia.
Beyond Brussels, the EES rollout is advancing across major European transport hubs. The Dover Port currently processes coach passengers under the system, with implementation for car travellers expected in early November. Eurostar terminals, connecting London, Paris, and Brussels, are testing the process for business travellers before expanding it to all passengers, while the Eurotunnel will deploy it first for freight and later for passenger vehicles.
These initiatives serve as a precursor to the EU's upcoming ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), which will take effect by late 2026. ETIAS will pre-screen travellers from non-visa nations before their arrival in Europe, adding another layer of digital border security designed to complement the EES.
For Belgium's tourism sector, the EES introduces both opportunities and temporary hurdles. Streamlined entry for pre-registered visitors is expected to improve long-term travel efficiency, making destinations like Brussels, Antwerp, and Bruges more accessible for repeat travellers. However, in the immediate term, the delays risk affecting visitor sentiment and travel itineraries for short-term stays. Brussels Airport authorities have assured passengers that ongoing adjustments, including staff reinforcements and improved passenger communication, will ease congestion in the coming weeks.
Tourism operators across Europe are monitoring the rollout closely, emphasizing the importance of traveller education and clear communication at every step of the border process. Once fully operational, the system could strengthen Europe's position as a safer and more technologically advanced destination for global tourism.