Greece EES Status (June 2026): Airport Wait Times and What to Expect

Last updated: Jun 10, 2026

Greece’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational, and it has been since the EU’s Entry/Exit System became fully operational across the Schengen area on 10 April 2026.

It is not paused — but individual Greek airports can temporarily switch off biometric capture during severe congestion.

Is EES paused in Greece, or still running?

EES is running at every Greek border crossing, including Athens International Airport. The Athens airport authority confirms the system has been fully deployed for all third-country nationals since 30 March 2026.

What can change is the biometric step, not the system itself. Under Regulation (EU) 2025/1534, a country can briefly pause fingerprint and facial-image capture at a specific crossing when queues exceed capacity.

Here is what a temporary pause means in practice:

• It is local and short: a pause applies to one named crossing for up to six hours at a time, and each one must be reported to Brussels.
• The database stays live: even when biometrics are paused, the central EES record keeps running in the background and overstays are still flagged.
• It cannot target one nationality: a pause must cover everyone at that crossing, not a single passport type.

So you cannot assume your Greek airport will skip biometrics. Plan for full EES registration, and treat a pause as a bonus if it happens.

What Greece travellers register at the border

On your first EES crossing in Greece, a border officer takes your biometrics and creates a digital file that replaces the old passport stamp.

EES applies to non-EU nationals visiting for a short stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and not to EU citizens or holders of EU/Schengen residence permits or long-stay visas.

At that first registration, the officer collects:

• A facial image taken at the border.
• Four fingerprints scanned on arrival, unless you are aged 11 or younger.
• Your passport data and the details of your entry.

That record is valid for three years, so later trips to Greece or the Schengen area within that window are faster because your file already exists. You still pass through passport control on every entry and exit.

Airport wait times in Greece: what to expect now

As of 10 June 2026, expect longer passport-control queues than normal, and worse in July and August.

The biometric step adds time per traveller, and Greece’s airports were among those hit when EES rolled out — one passenger reported almost two and a half hours to clear passport control at Athens.

Athens International Airport now advises every traveller to arrive at least 2.5 hours before departure to allow time for check-in, security and passport control.

Here is how the picture looks across the main Greek gateways during peak season:

Airport
Busiest period
What to expect at passport control

Athens (ATH)
Jul–Aug, Dec
The main hub. Non-EU queues reached up to about 2.5 hours at peak during the rollout; off-peak waits are far shorter. Arrive 2.5 hours before departure.

Heraklion (HER)
Jul–Aug
Crete’s primary airport and a top summer entry point. Heavy holiday volumes mean long peak queues — budget extra time.

Rhodes (RHO)
Jul–Aug
A high-volume island gateway flagged for EES-related delays during the rollout.

Thessaloniki (SKG)
Jul–Aug
Northern Greece’s main international airport; expect heavier non-EU queues on summer weekends.

Santorini (JTR) & Mykonos (JMK)
Jul–Aug
Small terminals where queues build fast even at moderate traffic. Allow a generous buffer.

Greece has at times reverted to manual stamping when queues climbed, but you cannot count on it on any given day. Check live status for your flight and airport on the Wego flight tracker before you travel.

How to clear Greek passport control faster

The single best move is to give yourself a long buffer. Build your day around the airport’s 2.5-hour arrival advice and treat tight connections with caution.

A few practical steps that help:

• Arrive early: follow the 2.5-hour rule at Athens, and add more in July and August.
• Prepare your passport: have it open and ready, and remove glasses and hats so the facial scan is quick.
• Know your record lasts: your digital EES record is valid for three years, so repeat trips to Greece or the Schengen area are usually faster.
• Avoid the tightest connections: if you transit, leave extra time between flights during peak weeks.
• Check status before you fly: monitor your flights to Athens and live airport conditions on the Wego flight tracker.

For a country-by-country view of where biometric checks are being paused, see Wego’s EES suspension tracker.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is EES paused in Greece right now?

No, EES is fully operational across all Greek border crossings. Individual airports can temporarily pause biometric capture during severe congestion, but the system itself is running.

How long are airport queues at Athens under EES?

The European Commission cites about 70 seconds for the biometric step itself, but peak queues during the rollout reached up to roughly two and a half to three hours at the busiest airports. Athens advises arriving at least 2.5 hours before departure.

Does EES apply to my passport?

EES applies to non-EU nationals entering for a short stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. EU citizens and holders of EU/Schengen residence permits or long-stay visas are not registered.

Are British travellers exempt from EES in Greece?

No. Greece briefly indicated a UK exemption in April 2026, but reversed it in late May 2026 after the European Commission stressed that no country can exempt a single nationality. UK government guidance now tells British travellers they may need to register biometrics like other non-EU visitors, so expect full EES registration in Greece.

Do I have to register every time I enter Greece?

Your digital EES record is valid for three years. After first registration, later trips are usually quicker, though you still clear passport control each time.

Sources

1. European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs — Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational
2. Athens International Airport — Entry/Exit System (EES) procedures
3. GOV.UK — Greece entry requirements (EES and 3-year record)
4. VisaHQ — EU allows temporary suspension of biometric checks (Regulation 2025/1534)
5. Biometric Update — EU defends EES rules amid delays and exemptions
6. Money Tourism — Athens airport full EES implementation from 30 March, arrive 2.5 hours early
7. Greek City Times — Greece ends UK exemption from EU biometric border checks
8. The Connexion — Greece backtracks on EES exemptions for Britons

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.