Italy and Portugal Follow Greece in Suspending EU Border Checks for UK Tourists

Portugal and Italy are moving to ease EU border checks for British travellers, following Greece’s decision to suspend the bloc’s Entry/Exit System (EES) amid mounting travel disruption concerns.

Greece leads the shift for UK arrivals

Greece became the first country to effectively pause the new biometric checks for UK tourists, prioritising smoother arrivals during the peak travel season. Authorities moved to bypass mandatory fingerprinting and facial scans for British passport holders, a decision confirmed by officials in London.

The move protects a key tourism market. UK visitors contribute an estimated €3.5 billion annually to the Greek economy, with nearly 4.9 million arrivals recorded in 2025. By easing entry requirements, Greece aims to avoid airport congestion and maintain its competitive advantage among Mediterranean destinations.

Portugal and Italy follow suit

Now, other southern European hotspots are reacting quickly.

Portugal has already begun informally relaxing checks during peak congestion, allowing passengers to pass through immigration with minimal delays when queues build up.

Italy is expected to introduce similar measures ahead of the May school holiday period, reverting in practice to traditional passport stamping for UK travellers.

Industry observers warn that these coordinated moves could trigger a broader shift, with countries such as Spain, France and Croatia also considering flexible approaches to avoid losing British tourism revenue.

Pressure mounts on EU system rollout

The EES system—introduced across most of the Schengen Area, including Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland—requires non-EU travellers to submit biometric data at entry points.

However, its rollout has faced widespread criticism due to technical failures, staff shortages and long processing times, leading to significant delays at major airports.

Airline leaders have pushed back strongly. Executives have described the system as poorly timed and operationally flawed, warning that it risks causing missed flights and damaging Europe’s tourism sector during its busiest months.

EU faces growing challenge

With multiple countries now taking a flexible or selective approach, pressure is mounting on the European Commission to reassess implementation.

Analysts suggest that if more member states continue to sidestep strict enforcement, the bloc may struggle to maintain a unified system—especially as tourism revenue remains a top priority for southern European economies.

For now, travel organisations advise UK passengers to prepare in advance where the system is still active, including using pre-registration tools where available, while expecting varied procedures depending on their destination.

WT.24

Greek City Times (Italy and Portugal Follow Greece in Suspending EU Border Checks for UK Tourists)