Dozens of tall, sophisticated and expensive machines stand idle at Palma de Mallorca airport – one of the key gateways to Spain for British holidaymakers. They are the kiosks that will take facial biometrics and fingerprints from arriving passengers to comply with the much-delayed EU entry-exit system (EES). But they will remain idle for a while longer; Spain is adopting a slow and cautious approach to the new digital borders scheme.
As a consequence of the Brexit agreement, which made UK citizens “third-country nationals” in relation to the EU, all British holidaymakers and business passengers will be subject to EES checks on entry and exit. By 9 April 2026, the aim is that the entry-exit system will apply at all external frontiers of the Schengen area, which encompasses most of the EU plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
