UK travellers continue to enter and exit Greece without biometric checks

Authorities in Greece are understood to be preparing to clarify their policy on biometric border checks for UK passport holders under the EU Entry-Exit System (EES) after announcing a suspension of the checks in mid-April.

 

Reports suggest UK travellers continue to enter and exit Greece without being required to register fingerprints and photos, unlike at other EU borders where EES registration on entry and checks at departure have led to queues and delays.

 

Sunvil Group managing director Chris Wright told Travel Weekly: “I passed through four airports [in Greece] last week and UK passengers were moving through dedicated queues without biometric checks and without delay.”

 

He said: “Greece appears to have made a pragmatic call and stuck with it. My sense is Greece will ride this out until the pre-registration technology is ready, rather than create disruption mid-season.”

 

Wright’s comments came after Jet2 urged other EU states to follow the Greek example, with chief executive Steve Heapy saying: “We applaud the Greek authorities. 

 

“Pausing EES checks until systems and processes are ready will result in a much better experience for our customers. We expect a quick response in terms of demand for holidays to Greece.”

 

The Greek National Tourism Office (GNTO) in London declined to comment on the border process. But GNTO secretary general Andreas Fiorentinos said: “UK holidaymakers are vital to Greek tourism, and facilitating their travel to Greece remains a strategic priority.”

 

It was the Greek Embassy in London which first issued notice that UK visitors would be exempt from submitting biometric data, with statements on its website and in social media posts on April 17.

 

These stated: “British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.” 

 

Biometric registration of non-EU citizens, including UK passport holders, became mandatory from April 10 on entry to Schengen Area states of the EU in line with full EES implementation.

 

The EC has made clear that only temporary suspensions of the process for up to six hours at a time are allowed to alleviate severe delays and overcrowding.

 

The Greek Embassy’s statement and posts on the exemption for UK passport holders were deleted after a report by Travel Weekly was picked up by other media outlets. 

 

The Greek ministry of police subsequently issued a statement confirming: “Greece has successfully launched the full operation of the Entry-Exit System, with the registration of third-country nationals. 

 

“Greece is taking all necessary measures to manage increased travel traffic at border crossing points within the framework [of EU regulation].”

 

The police statement made no mention of an exemption for UK arrivals and gave no further details.

 

The UK Foreign Office continues to advise: “Greek authorities have indicated they will not collect biometric data for UK travellers.”

 

A senior travel industry source also confirmed this week: “Our understanding is Greece is doing as it announced.”

 

However, the EC continues to insist that “blanket exemptions for nationals of specific third countries” are not part of the legal framework for EES, and suspension of biometric data collection is possible only “at specific border crossing points for a limited amount of time”.

 

An industry source said: “There will be a clarification, but it may take some time. The authorities – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior – are working on it.”