New EU Border Checks Are Slowing Arrivals — and Reshaping Travel Services for Non-EU Visitors

How EU border checks are reshaping arrival services for travellers

New European Union border controls are already lengthening arrival times for non-EU travellers, and the impact is extending well beyond passport control. As the EU continues rolling out its new biometric Entry-Exit System (EES) throughout 2026, travel operators across Europe are being forced to adapt to longer, less predictable arrival flows — particularly during peak travel periods.

Under the new system, travellers entering the Schengen Area from outside the EU must register biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images, during their first entry. Industry groups representing European airports warn the added checks have increased passenger processing times by four to five times at some border crossings, with reports of waits stretching into several hours during busy periods.

Arrival Delays Create Ripple Effects Beyond Border Control

While much of the public attention has focused on passport queues, industry experts say the disruption continues once travellers exit customs.

Delayed arrivals often create congestion at car rental desks, airport transport pick-ups, and hotel check-ins, particularly in popular leisure destinations, according to travel operators monitoring the rollout.

With global air passenger numbers expected to surpass five billion travellers in 2026, according to the International Air Transport Association, pressure is mounting on arrival services that still rely on manual verification and counter-based processes.

Car Rental Services Shift to Digital, Desk-Free Models

Some travel service providers are accelerating the shift toward fully digital, app-based arrival experiences to reduce bottlenecks after border control.

One such company is Woop Drive, a Vilnius-based platform that recently launched desk-free car rentals at airports in destinations including Greece, Spain, Montenegro, the United Arab Emirates, and Seychelles — markets popular with non-EU travellers.

Rather than requiring customers to queue at rental counters, the platform allows travellers to complete verification, unlock vehicles, and manage rentals entirely through a mobile app.

A recent J.D. Power study found that skipping traditional rental counters results in 36 per cent faster vehicle pick-up times and increases customer satisfaction by up to eight per cent.

Travel Industry Braces for Busy Seasons Ahead

Airport and travel associations warn that arrival delays could intensify during Easter and the summer travel season, particularly when multiple long-haul flights arrive within short time windows.

Travel operators say digitalisation is becoming less of a convenience and more of a necessity as border procedures grow more complex.

“Border control is becoming more complicated for non-EU travellers, and that pressure doesn’t stop once passengers clear passport checks,” said Ričardas Šukys, CEO of Woop Drive. “As arrival times become less predictable, services that still depend on manual handovers are increasingly exposed to delays.”

Industry analysts note that while the EES represents one of the most significant changes to European border management in decades, it is also accelerating broader changes across the travel sector — particularly in how airports, ground transportation, and hospitality services handle arrivals.

What Non-EU Travellers Should Expect in 2026

Travellers entering Europe from outside the EU should plan for longer arrival times throughout 2026, especially during peak travel periods. Travel experts recommend factoring in additional time for ground transportation, pre-booking services that offer digital check-in where possible, and monitoring airline and airport advisories closely.

As Europe adjusts to its new border framework, the travel experience for non-EU visitors is evolving — with technology increasingly stepping in to reduce friction where traditional processes can no longer keep pace.