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British holidaymakers heading for some winter sun in the Balearic Islands will be among the first to face Europe’s new Entry-Exit System (EES) – and it starts tomorrow in Menorca. Menorca first, Mallorca next – Ibiza still waiting The announcement came from Sir Alex Ellis, the British Ambassador to Spain, who confirmed to the Daily Mail that Menorca will roll out the new border checks on November 4, followed by Mallorca on November 19. As for Ibiza, which welcomed over 3.2 million visitors last year, no official date has yet been announced. Speaking about the rollout, Sir Alex said it made sense to introduce the new system gradually, explaining that it’s “a good idea because we need to know how this new technology is going to work.” The new border checks are already being tested in Madrid for a limited number of passengers, before being extended across the rest of Spain in the coming months. What travellers need to expect under the new rules The EES system will replace the traditional passport stamping for non-EU nationals – including British citizens – entering the Schengen area. Instead, travellers will have to register their biometric data, including fingerprints and a facial scan, the first time they cross the border. Sir Alex Ellis advised British visitors to allow extra time at border control, especially during their first trip under the new rules. “The first time you come, you’ll need to register two bits of biometric information – fingerprints and a retina scan,” he said. “But once you’re in the system, it should be much simpler.” The ambassador added that registration is free, and there’s nothing travellers need to do before arrival. Once you’ve gone through the process once, future trips should be quicker. Why the rollout is being staggered The EES rollout has faced multiple delays, despite Spain being ready “for a while,” according to the ambassador. The hold-up, he said, was due to other countries not yet prepared to implement the new technology. Meanwhile, the system’s launch at Dover was paused over the weekend after French authorities requested more time. Once fully implemented – expected by April 2026 – the EES will apply across all 29 Schengen countries, ending the need for passport stamping altogether. Sir Alex said that while tightened border checks are becoming common worldwide, the key is to keep travel moving smoothly: “Everyone is tightening up their border controls, including the UK. But everyone also wants them to work efficiently. I think it’s a very good decision to stagger it.” So if you’re flying to Menorca tomorrow, expect a few extra minutes at border control – and a little less ink in your passport. Stay tuned with Euro Weekly News for more news about Travel
