British visitors to Greece have been told they don’t have to go through biometric checks as part of the EU Entry/Exit system (EES) that came into force earlier this month.
Over the weekend, an update on the website of the Greek Embassy and posts on official social media channels announced: “In the framework of the implementation of the Entry/Exit System, as of 10 April 2026, British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.”
No details were given of how long the exemption would be in place for.
However, Director of Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK Eleni Skarveli commented on the announcement, saying the move ‘is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports’.
She told The Independent: “Practically, this means that the entry process in place before the implementation of the EES will remain unchanged.”
Sunvil Group Managing Director Chris Wright posted at the weekend to say: “This is the news I’ve been waiting for.
“Greece has taken a pragmatic approach – allowing British travellers to pass through without EES biometric checks while systems to streamline the process are still being implemented.
“Less friction. Smoother arrivals. Exactly what customers want – especially at a time when there are already plenty of other reasons people might hesitate to travel.”
The move has since been widely reported, however, the announcements are no longer showing on official channels.
Despite that, Chris said British nationals are not currently being asked to give their biometrics. He shared an image, taken today in Kefalonia, that shows UK passport holders are being directed through a separate channel to keep things moving.
“The information was based on an official update issued by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in London and shared via their channels at the time,” Chris told Travel Gossip on Monday (20 April).
“While that specific page/post now appears to have been amended or removed, the position has been widely reported and, importantly, reflects what is currently happening operationally at Greek border points.
“We are continuing to receive on-the-ground feedback from multiple destinations that UK arrivals are not being subject to biometric registration at present. From what we’re seeing on the ground, the practical position hasn’t changed.”
He added: “It’s not unusual for initial operational updates to be shared and then refined or removed as governments align messaging more formally, particularly with something like EES which sits at EU level.”
