EES in Greece: What British Travellers Should Expect Updated 13 September 2026 If you are travelling from the UK to Greece, the formal EES rules and the experience at Greek airports have not always been the same. The EU Entry/Exit System formally applies to Greece, but biometric registration has not so far been routinely carried out for Sail Ionian guests arriving through our local airport, Aktion/Preveza (PVK). This does not mean British travellers have a legal exemption. Greece has been using operational flexibility to keep passengers moving during the EES rollout, so the procedure can change according to the airport, passenger volumes and instructions from the Greek border police. What the formal EES rules require EES applies to most non-EU nationals, including most British passport holders, entering the Schengen area for a short stay. On a first EES registration, travellers may be asked to provide fingerprints and have a facial photograph taken at passport control. There is no application to complete or fee to pay in advance. The official UK government EES guidance explains the formal requirements. Greece is included in the system and the Greek police are responsible for operating it at the border. What has actually been happening in Greece During the 2026 rollout, Greece has not consistently completed the full fingerprint and photograph process for every eligible passenger. At busy border points, biometric checks have sometimes been reduced or suspended to avoid serious queues. Many British visitors have therefore continued to experience little more than the familiar passport-control process. Reporting on the Greek rollout confirmed that there was no nationality-specific exemption, while also explaining that scanners could be temporarily suspended at individual border points when passenger traffic was high. The original period of additional border-flow flexibility ended on 6 September 2026. However, the latest reporting indicates that Greece is among several countries continuing to receive practical flexibility over full implementation. At the time of this update, we have found no official announcement confirming that universal biometric processing will begin on Monday 14 September. The position at Aktion/Preveza Airport The official Aktion Airport information states that EES applies at Greece's external borders. Fraport Greece also confirms that the Hellenic Police operate the system and warns that biometric processing can make passport control take longer. In day-to-day reality, the full EES biometric process has not yet been routinely applied to our guests arriving locally. That is the most useful current information for visitors flying into Preveza, but it is an operational observation rather than a permanent rule. Border police can require the complete procedure at any time. What Sail Ionian guests should do Travel with your valid passport as normal. Do not pay or apply in advance for EES registration. Be prepared for fingerprints and a photograph to be taken, even though this has not been routine locally so far. Allow some additional time at passport control, particularly on busy changeover days. Check this page again shortly before departure, as Greek operating arrangements can change at short notice. The short version Real-world position in the Ionian: EES biometric registration has not been routinely carried out locally so far. Formal position: EES applies to Greece and British visitors are not exempt, so biometric checks may be introduced or required at any time. We will keep this article updated as soon as the position changes. If you are planning an Ionian sailing holiday, you can also view our live yacht availability and prices. This post was written by Neil Bingham
