Greece has confirmed that a new biometric screening system for non-European Union travellers is fully operational at its airports, despite earlier suggestions that British tourists could be temporarily exempt during the busy summer season.
The EU’s new Entry-Exit System (EES), introduced across Greece on April 10 as part of a wider European rollout, replaces traditional passport stamping with biometric identification, including facial photographs and fingerprint scans for non-EU citizens entering the bloc.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Greece’s Foreign Ministry dismissed reports of a formal exemption for UK travellers.
“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 said in response to questions from the Associated Press.
Confusion arose after Greek officials visiting Britain reportedly indicated that biometric checks for UK tourists would not apply this summer, amid concerns the additional screening could affect tourism from one of Greece’s largest visitor markets.
Current advice from the UK Foreign Office still states: “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.”
However, both Greek and European authorities later clarified that any temporary suspension of biometric checks would only apply during periods of heavy congestion at specific airports and border points, rather than to travellers from particular countries.
As a result, some passengers may still pass through airports without completing the biometric process during peak travel periods, as EU rules permit temporary adjustments while the system is phased in.
Greek police said last week that the system was already in “full operation”, while adding that authorities would use all available provisions under EU legislation to ensure the smooth movement of travellers during the busy tourism season.
Tourism operators have expressed concern that the added airport procedures could discourage British visitors, particularly those making last-minute bookings, and widen the gap between non-EU travellers and EU citizens, who can continue moving freely within the bloc without passport checks.
Tourism remains a major pillar of the Greek economy, with nearly 38 million people visiting the country last year and contributing approximately €23 billion to the national economy. Germany remained Greece’s largest tourism market, followed by the United Kingdom with 4.9 million visitors.
Source: AP News
