Portugal and Italy Reject Exemptions for British Travelers from EU Biometric Checks

Portugal and Italy do not plan to exempt British nationals from Europe's new fingerprinting and facial scanning checks, the European Commission has confirmed.

Recent reports suggested the two countries would follow Greece's example by suspending biometric checks at their borders for British citizens to avoid summer disruptions. Authorities in Portugal and Italy did not confirm those reports.

The Entry-Exit System rollout has led to long queues at some European airports. Officials have warned that delays could worsen during the summer holiday period.

The European Union's digital system, introduced in October last year, requires most short-term visitors from outside the EU and European Economic Area to register biometric data each time they enter or leave the Schengen zone. It was meant to become fully operational on April 10.

The European Commission says the system has worked well overall. Still, travelers, many from the UK, have reported very long delays at borders.

Last month, more than 100 people missed an EasyJet flight from Milan's Linate airport to Manchester after getting stuck in what the airline called unacceptable passport queues.

Passengers scheduled on a Ryanair flight from Milan Bergamo airport to Manchester also missed their flight due to passport control problems, the airline confirmed.

Greece has abandoned biometric checks on British citizens at its borders in practice, even though Athens claimed it had successfully started full operation of the Entry-Exit System.

The Commission told the BBC it was in contact with Greece to clarify the situation and recall existing rules. Those rules allow short-term suspensions at specific border crossings in exceptional cases but not blanket exemptions for nationals of specific third countries over an extended period.

The Commission said it was also in contact with Portugal and Italy, as with all member states, on EES implementation. Portuguese and Italian authorities confirmed they do not intend to exempt any nationality.