British tourists heading for the Balearic Islands have been issued a warning as non-EU residents will face a staggered introduction to the new Entry/Exit System (EES) over the next few weeks, starting on one island from tomorrow. The new EES began operations on October 12, with countries across the EU now gradually introducing the system at their external borders. Full implementation is expected by April 10, 2026.

Now, it appears Spain’s Balearic Islands are next on the list, as the British Ambassador to Spain, Sir Alex Ellis, has revealed the new system will start in Menorca on November 4, followed by Majorca on November 19. No date has been set for Ibiza yet. The new entry-exit scheme is currently being trialled in Madrid, but only for a limited number of passengers. It is also being staggered across all the other Spanish airports, as well as in countries including France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Portugal. The only countries in the EU where the EES rules will not eventually apply are the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus. 

Sir Alex said phasing in the new way of controls was a good idea “because we need to know how the world of this new technology is going to work”.

“The EES has started to be introduced in Spain but it will be rolled out over a period of six months. Madrid was the first airport to do it on October 12th and only for a limited number of passengers. So they are staggering it across Spain, Menorca is November 4th and Palma [Majorca] November 19th; Ibiza has yet to set a date,” he told Bulletin de Mallorca.

“It’s an EU Schengen system. We’ve been talking to the Spanish authorities about how it’s going because there is a very big interest on the Spanish side that it’s made to work properly,” he said.

“The UK provided some 18.4 million visitors last year, so we’re talking to the various parts of the world which have a significant number of British visitors; the Balearics is one, the Canaries will be another. In fact, the Spanish have been ready to go for a while but it’s been delayed a couple of times. That’s not because of the Spanish, it’s been other countries which have not been ready.

“Everyone is tightening up their border controls where they can across the world, including the UK. But everyone has an interest in that all border controls flow efficiently; I think it’s a very good decision to stagger it,” Sir Alex said.

The ambassador urged Brits: “Have a good time. Allow for a little bit more time at border control because the first time you come you will have to register two bits of biometric information, fingerprints and a retina scan. But once you are registered on the system then it should be relatively simpler; that first time may take a little longer.”

The UK Government has said: “If you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area (including Spain) for a short stay using a UK passport, you will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border and there is no cost for EES registration.

“After it is fully implemented, EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU.”

It adds that the EES may take each passenger a few extra minutes to complete, so visitors should be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border once the system is in place at their destination.

“If you frequently travel to the Schengen area for work and/or leisure purposes, you must ensure that your total stay in the Schengen area is no more than 90 days in every 180 days. You must be aware of the penalty and enforcement approach for exceeding the immigration limit in any individual Member State you plan to travel to or through.”

A tourist’s digital EES record is valid for three years, it added. If one enters the Schengen Area again during this time, visitors will only be required to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border upon entry and exit.