ATHENS, Greece – Amid swirling confusion over travel rules ahead of the peak summer tourism season, Greek authorities have clarified that the new EU-mandated biometric screening system for non-European Union travelers at the country’s entry points is fully functional, directly contradicting earlier reports of a temporary seasonal exemption for British visitors. The clarification comes as Greece, one of Europe’s top tourism destinations, balances European regulatory obligations with the economic urgency of supporting its critical travel industry.
Responding to queries from the Associated Press on Thursday, the Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed that no official notification of nationality-based temporary waivers has been issued. “We have not received any further update or clarification as to whether, for example, specific nationalities are temporarily exempt from the relevant procedure,” the ministry stated.
The biometric screening framework, officially named the EU Entry-Exit System (EES), launched at Greek airports and border crossings on April 10 as part of a bloc-wide rollout that replaces traditional ink passport stamps with digitally stored biometric data, including facial photographs and electronic fingerprint records. The system is designed to streamline border security and track cross-border travel more efficiently across the Schengen area.
Confusion over exemptions first emerged after a visit by Greek officials to the United Kingdom, during which informal comments suggested British travelers – who make up one of the largest tourist groups visiting Greece annually – would be waived from the requirement for the 2024 summer travel season. Even the UK Foreign Office updated its official travel guidance to reflect this initial claim, noting that “Greek authorities have indicated that they will not collect biometric data (fingerprints and photos) for UK travelers as part of EES. Follow the advice of authorities on the ground.”
That informal understanding was quickly corrected by senior Greek and EU officials, who made clear that temporary suspensions of the system are only permitted during periods of extreme peak passenger congestion at specific individual entry points, and are never granted on the basis of nationality or country of origin. In short, no national group will be automatically exempt from the screening requirement.
Even with that clarification, many non-EU travelers may still avoid the biometric check process in practice this summer. European Union rules allow for temporary pauses in biometric collection during the early rollout phase of the system to prevent crippling airport delays that could disrupt travel. Last week, Greek police reaffirmed that the EES is in full operation, but added that authorities would “take all necessary measures to ensure the smooth flow of visitors … making full use of provisions in Union legislation” – a nod to the potential temporary suspensions at busy airports when passenger numbers surge.
The confusion around the rule has stoked anxiety among private Greek tour operators, who worry that added screening requirements could deter last-minute travel bookings from the UK – a key market for Greek tourism. Operators also note that the requirement creates a clear disparity between non-EU travelers and EU citizens, who face no routine passport checks when moving within the Schengen bloc.
Tourism is one of the largest drivers of the Greek economy, accounting for a substantial share of national output. In 2023 alone, nearly 38 million international travelers visited the country, pumping 23 billion euros ($25 billion) into Greece’s 204-billion-euro national economy. Germany topped the list of source markets with nearly 6 million visitors, followed closely by the United Kingdom with 4.9 million. The upcoming summer travel season is widely seen as critical to sustaining the country’s post-pandemic economic growth.