AFTER all the EES chaos of missed flights and waiting in three-hour long queues, Greece has put a stop to it.
On April 18, a statement from the Greek Embassy announced that Brits are “exempt” from biometrics at all “Greek border crossing points”.
The new travel requirement of EES, where all non-EU nationals have to register their details like fingerprints and facial images, was fully rolled out on April 10, 2026.
After the official rollout, there have been reports of lengthy queues at border control points, and even missed flights.
In a surprising move this weekend, a statement on the website of the Greek Embassy and posts on official social media channels said: “Update for British passport holders travelling to Greece.
“In the framework of the implementation of the Entry/Exit System, as of 10 April 2026, British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.”
Eleni Skarveli, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, added: “The exemption of British passport holders from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points, effective from 10 April 2026, is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports.
“UK travellers will no longer need to undergo additional EES biometric procedures, ensuring a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece.
“The Greek National Tourism Organisation remains committed to ensuring a seamless and welcoming journey for all visitors from the UK.”
Greece has always been a popular spot for Brits from the capital of Athens to its beautiful islands.
It’s been speculated that the scrapping of EES for the time-being is to ensure British holidaymakers continue to visit over the summer season.
In peak season, hotspots like Corfu, Crete and Rhodes see around 2,000 UK arrivals per day.
And in 2025, figures showed that there were around 4.89million Brits visiting the country.
If you’re keen on booking a holiday to Greece – check out our favourites…
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Blue Bay Beach Resort, Rhodes
The four-star Blue Bay Beach Resort sits a stone’s throw away from this beach, and has its own pools, splash park and water slides. Here you’re only a 15-minute drive away from Rhodes Old Town, where UNESCO-listed medieval streets wind through castle-like architecture. Make sure to check out the Street of the Knights, one of the best-preserved medieval streets in Europe.
Gouves Bay Hotel, Crete
Gouves Bay Hotel keeps things simple on a sunny Greek island location right by the sea. This hotel has a relaxed, family-friendly feel with two pools, a kids’ club and easy all-inclusive dining. And if you fancy a change of atmosphere, Gouves’ bars and tavernas are just a short walk away for your choice of evening drinks with a view.
Aegean View Aqua Resort, Kos
The picturesque hotel is perched up high and surrounded by lush greenery in the historic harbour town of Kos. Here you’ll find a huge swimming pool and a waterpark, as well as activities like darts, tennis, football and more. There’s evening entertainment six days a week, and an on-site spa with a hot tub and sauna to unwind.
TUI Blue Lagoon Queen, Halkidiki
This mega resort with six pools and its own waterpark is rated five stars by TUI. In the main restaurant, you’ll see show cooking displays as you take your pick from an extensive international buffet. Plus, Kalives beach is on the doorstep of this hotel, with its strikingly blue water and soft golden sands.
ABTA predicts Greece to be the fifth most popular destination for Britons this summer, behind Spain, France, Italy and the United States.
On social media, some holidaymakers have already changed their mind on where they’ll be heading this summer as a result.
One wrote on X: “Great to see Greece halting EES for now. Usually go to Tenerife in August for my annual chill. Looks like Greece this year!”
Another added: “Well done Greece. We’ve just booked a holiday to Crete.”
The EES requirement has been causing delays all over Europe with travellers calling it a “shambles” in some cases.
Last week there were delays in Brussels Airport, Krakow Airport and Schiphol in Amsterdam.
In another instance, passengers were left behind when a plane to Manchester took off without them.
Over 100 people were left stranded when an easyJet flight from Milan to Manchester left with the majority of its passengers queueing through passport control.
Here’s more on EES and the 29 countries that are affected by it.
And if you want to keep an eye on the queues, check out this new travel app.
