In an unexpected twist to the EU’s brand-new Entry/Exit System, Greece has unilaterally exempted British citizens from the mandatory biometric capture that now applies to most third-country travellers. The Greek Embassy in London confirmed the policy on 20 April 2026, arguing it would smooth passenger flows ahead of the summer rush. The decision immediately sparked speculation about whether other tourist powerhouses—France among them—might follow suit. The Connexion, France’s English-language news service, notes that French authorities already exercise ‘operational discretion’ by pausing enrolment at the Port of Dover when queues spill onto UK roads. However, officials insist those pauses are strictly time-limited and reported to Brussels; Paris has given no hint that it will offer a wholesale waiver for any nationality. Industry insiders say France’s diversified tourist base, coupled with its desire to maintain regulatory credibility as EU chair in H2 2026, makes a Greek-style carve-out unlikely.
![Greece Drops EES Biometrics for Britons—Will France Copy the Move?]()
Travellers worried about navigating these evolving border-control rules can lean on services like VisaHQ, whose platform (https://www.visahq.com/france/) tracks Schengen entry requirements in real time, provides document checklists and offers expedited processing support—an easy way for frequent flyers to avoid unpleasant surprises at French checkpoints.
For British holiday-home owners and business travellers who frequently cross the Channel, the contrast is glaring. A London-Marseille commuter who can skip biometrics in Athens will still have fingerprints captured in Nice or Lyon. Travel-management companies therefore face new compliance headaches when routing UK clients across multiple Schengen destinations in a single trip. French airports are watching developments closely. Union des Aéroports Français secretary-general Nicolas Paulissen told The Connexion that many larger airports already switch off biometric registration for short periods when queues exceed two hours, but a permanent exemption could require software and staffing changes—and would almost certainly draw scrutiny from Brussels. For now, mobility teams should assume that France will continue full EES enforcement. Travellers entering via Greece and transiting onward to France will have to enrol at the first French border crossing, potentially adding unplanned queue time to multi-stop itineraries.
Travellers worried about navigating these evolving border-control rules can lean on services like VisaHQ, whose platform (https://www.visahq.com/france/) tracks Schengen entry requirements in real time, provides document checklists and offers expedited processing support—an easy way for frequent flyers to avoid unpleasant surprises at French checkpoints.
For British holiday-home owners and business travellers who frequently cross the Channel, the contrast is glaring. A London-Marseille commuter who can skip biometrics in Athens will still have fingerprints captured in Nice or Lyon. Travel-management companies therefore face new compliance headaches when routing UK clients across multiple Schengen destinations in a single trip. French airports are watching developments closely. Union des Aéroports Français secretary-general Nicolas Paulissen told The Connexion that many larger airports already switch off biometric registration for short periods when queues exceed two hours, but a permanent exemption could require software and staffing changes—and would almost certainly draw scrutiny from Brussels. For now, mobility teams should assume that France will continue full EES enforcement. Travellers entering via Greece and transiting onward to France will have to enrol at the first French border crossing, potentially adding unplanned queue time to multi-stop itineraries.
