EES FINGERPRINT PROBLEMS: Why Some Older Travellers Are Facing Delays At European Borders
British dual nationals and other British travellers heading to Europe are facing a new potential problem at the border: fingerprint scanners that cannot read their fingerprints.
The issue has emerged following the introduction of the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES), which records biometric information from eligible non-EU nationals travelling for short stays across participating European countries. The system became fully operational on 10 April 2026 and records information including fingerprints, facial images and travel document details.
Recent reports suggest that some older British travellers are struggling to complete the fingerprint stage of the process, leading to manual checks and, in some cases, lengthy waits at European airports.
What is the EES?
The Entry/Exit System is an automated EU border system designed to register non-EU nationals travelling for short stays. It records travellers’ personal and biometric information and the date and place of their entry and exit.
Since 10 April 2026, the system has replaced passport stamping for travellers covered by EES, with the aim of creating a digital record of entries and exits and helping identify overstayers.
For British travellers who are treated as non-EU nationals for the journey and do not have an EU residency card, the biometric process can therefore become an important part of crossing the external European border.
Why are some older travellers having problems?
One reported difficulty is that fingerprint scanners may fail to capture a sufficiently clear fingerprint.
The problem appears particularly relevant to some older travellers. Research by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre found that fingerprint image quality can decline with age, with a gradual reduction observed from around age 65.
Other factors can also affect fingerprint recognition. These include worn fingerprints following years of manual work, dry skin or skin conditions, injuries and scarring, and certain medical treatments.
Recent media reports have described British passengers experiencing repeated failed attempts at airports including Palma de Mallorca, Salzburg and Naples. Some were subsequently directed to manual border-control queues.
One reported traveller described trying several times before being moved to a long passport-control queue. Another reported being unable to register fingerprints at Salzburg Airport, while a British couple travelling through Naples reportedly waited around two hours in a manual inspection queue.
What happens if fingerprints cannot be recorded?
This is an important distinction.
EU rules provide that people who are physically unable to provide fingerprints should be exempt from the fingerprint requirement. Where the inability is temporary, the situation can be recorded and fingerprints may be requested on a later journey.
The rules also require procedures designed to protect travellers’ dignity when difficulties occur during fingerprint capture. However, The Connexion reports that the European Commission has not specified one single EU-wide procedure for passengers whose fingerprints cannot be recorded at a kiosk.
This means the practical experience at the border can still vary, particularly where a traveller cannot complete the automated process and has to be referred to a border officer.
What does this mean for British dual nationals?
The position of dual nationals needs particular care.
The sources provided do not establish that holding dual nationality itself causes a traveller to be subject to EES. The relevant distinction described by the sources is whether the traveller is a non-EU national travelling for a short stay and, in the reporting from The Connexion, whether they have an EU residency card.
Therefore, British dual nationals should not assume that their British nationality alone determines whether EES applies to them. Their circumstances and the travel document or status they use may be important.
What should travellers be aware of?
For travellers who may encounter difficulties with biometric checks, the recent reports highlight a practical issue rather than a new visa requirement: a failed fingerprint scan can result in additional processing at the border.
The possibility of queues is particularly relevant when travelling through busy European airports. Recent reports have described significant delays where passengers have been unable to complete the automated process.
For anyone with concerns about their particular nationality, residency position or travel arrangements, it is sensible to check their individual circumstances before travelling rather than assuming that the same EES process applies to everyone.
Have you experienced problems with EES fingerprints? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.
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