Biometric Entry/Exit System Crash Triggers 3-Hour Queues at Prague Airport
Interior Ministry Switches Off Immigration Hotlines Until 2 January, Disrupting Permit Renewals
Germany Extends Land-Border Checks with Czechia to 15 March 2026
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Biometric EES Glitch Triggers Three-Hour Queues at Prague Airport
The EU’s new Entry/Exit System crashed at Prague Airport on 19 December, forcing manual checks and creating queues of up to three hours for non-EU passengers. Airport authorities will hire extra staff and add kiosks, but ACI warns EES glitches are increasing processing times across Europe. Global-mobility teams should build extra travel buffers and remind assignees of the system’s automatic overstay calculations.
Interior Ministry Immigration Hotlines Go Dark Until 2 January
Czechia’s Interior Ministry has taken its main immigration helplines offline from 22 December to 2 January 2026, with only limited service for Ukrainian refugees on 29–30 December. The outage coincides with the busiest renewal period for work and residence permits, raising the risk of missed deadlines. Employers should move quickly to gather documents, book January appointments online and provide alternative support to foreign staff.
Germany Extends Land-Border Checks with Czechia and Neighbours to March 2026
Germany will keep spot border controls on its frontiers—including the one with Czechia—until at least 15 March 2026. Random police checks can delay road and rail journeys and may require proof of travel purpose. Czech businesses should factor extra transit time into schedules and ensure travellers carry appropriate documentation.