Spain is preparing for the rollout of the EU’s long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES), a new border-control scheme expected to come into force within the next few weeks.
For Spain, the most visited country in the EU by British tourists, the change will have a particularly visible impact at airports, ferry ports and land borders.
The system will be gradually rolled out across the EU from October 12, with completion expected in the spring of 2026.
What is the Entry/Exit System?
The EES is a centralised EU database that will replace the traditional passport stamping system for non-EU travellers.
Instead of border guards manually stamping passports, visitors will have their entry and exit recorded electronically, with biometric data such as fingerprints and facial recognition also stored.
The system applies to non-EU nationals who do not need a visa for short stays, which includes UK citizens since Brexit.
Why it matters for Spain
The UK remains Spain’s largest source of foreign visitors, with nearly 18 million Britons travelling to the country in 2023.
The new system means that every British traveller, whether coming for a week in Malaga, a villa stay in the Costa Blanca, or a second-home visit in Mallorca, will need to register their biometric data the first time they cross into the Schengen area after the EES goes live.
Spanish airports with high volumes of UK passengers, such as Malaga-Costa del Sol, Alicante-Elche, and Palma de Mallorca, are expected to feel the impact most strongly.
Extra kiosks and staff are being put in place, but longer queues at the start are seen as inevitable.
How it affects UK travellers:
- First entry registration: On their first trip to Spain (or anywhere in the EU) after the system launches, UK citizens will have to provide fingerprints and a facial scan at a designated kiosk or booth.
- 90-day rule unchanged: The EES does not alter the post-Brexit rule limiting UK citizens to 90 days in every 180 within the Schengen area. It simply automates the monitoring of stays.
- No more passport stamps: Travellers will no longer collect physical entry and exit stamps in their passports – all records will be digital.
- Potential delays: Industry experts warn of longer processing times in the early months, especially at busy Spanish airports during holiday peaks.
The Spanish perspective
For Spain, where British tourism is a cornerstone of the economy, smooth implementation is essential.
The government has stressed that it is working closely with AENA (the airport operator) and local authorities to ensure a ‘gradual and efficient’ rollout.
However, Spanish tourism associations have raised concerns that teething problems could frustrate visitors and damage Spain’s reputation if not managed carefully.
‘We cannot afford chaos at passport control when millions of Britons choose Spain every summer,’ one industry representative said.
Looking ahead
The Entry/Exit System is just the first step. In 2025, the EU also plans to introduce ETIAS, a €7 electronic travel authorisation that UK citizens (along with other non-EU nationals) will need to obtain before travelling.
For now, the focus in Spain is on ensuring the EES launches with minimal disruption.
Read more Spain travel news at the Spanish Eye.
