Greece Promises No Border Delays for British Tourists This Summer
BBC Business reported Saturday that British holidaymakers heading to Greece this summer should expect no border delays whatsoever. Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni made the assurance in a direct interview, stating that Athens does not want visitors burdened by bureaucratic entry procedures.
Greece Takes a Softer Line on Biometric Checks
Kefalogianni confirmed that British nationals will not face biometric scanning at any Greek border crossing during the summer season. The Greek government is targeting frontier processing times of under two minutes per traveller. She framed the approach not as an exemption from EU rules, but as a deliberate effort to streamline procedures so passengers are not inconvenienced.
The position puts Greece at odds with some of its EU partners. The European Commission confirmed last week that both Portugal and Italy have no plans to suspend digital border checks for British nationals. Earlier reports had suggested those two countries might follow Athens’ lead. The Commission also said it had contacted Greece directly to clarify the situation and remind Athens of existing rules.
What the Entry-Exit System Actually Requires
The EU’s new Entry-Exit System, or EES, completed its phased rollout across the bloc in April. It compels short-stay visitors from outside the Schengen zone to submit biometric data, including fingerprints and a facial scan, on their first crossing. One of those identifiers is then verified on each subsequent trip.
Greece quietly suspended biometric checks on UK arrivals in early April after lengthy queues formed at Corfu airport. EU rules do allow temporary suspensions when airports become severely congested, but they prohibit blanket carve-outs for specific nationalities. The minister argues Greece is operating within those temporary provisions rather than granting a permanent exemption.
Problems elsewhere in Europe have been acute. More than a hundred passengers missed an EasyJet departure from Milan’s Linate airport last month after passport-control queues ran to several hours. Ryanair travellers departing from Milan Bergamo also missed flights for the same reason.
Jet Fuel Jitters Add Another Layer of Uncertainty
Beyond border friction, Kefalogianni acknowledged that fears around jet fuel availability are making some tourists hesitant to book. Gulf fuel supplies to Europe have thinned significantly since the US-Israel conflict with Iran escalated more than two months ago. The minister said Greece remained confident in its tourism offering and noted that visitors are already arriving in meaningful numbers ahead of peak season.
The UK government told travellers last week there is currently no domestic fuel shortage and that contingency plans are in place, urging the public not to cancel flights.
Read Next: What the EU’s Entry-Exit System Means for Your Summer Holiday
