Facing reports of hour-long lines and dozens of missed flight connections since the new Entry/Exit System (EES) went fully live on 10 April, the European Commission has authorised member states to pause fingerprint-and-facial-capture requirements during peak surges. The move, announced on 2 May, does not halt the database itself—now logging 61 million crossings—but introduces “built-in flexibility” so border authorities can revert to fallback passport-stamping where necessary. Although Ireland and Cyprus remain outside Schengen and are not participating in EES, the decision is significant for Irish carriers and travellers transiting through EU hubs such as Paris-CDG and Amsterdam Schiphol, where biometric booths have become bottlenecks.
![EU allows temporary suspension of biometric checks as Entry/Exit queues mount]()
For travellers looking to navigate these evolving entry requirements, VisaHQ’s Irish portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers up-to-date guidance on Schengen policy changes and can manage applications for visas, ETIAS authorisations and passport services on behalf of both individuals and corporate mobility teams.
Airlines must still transmit API/PNR data, but ground-handling staff may now see fewer passengers off-loaded due to missed connections. Travel-risk consultants advise corporates to maintain the extra 30-minute buffers recently added to onward itineraries until the impact of the flexibility is assessed. Mobility managers should also update traveller briefing notes: non-EU assignees flying on single-entry Schengen visas may find their passports stamped again, potentially affecting permitted-stay calculations. The Commission will review data weekly and could reinstate compulsory biometrics once additional kiosks and staff are deployed. Longer-term, Brussels is pressing member states to accelerate adoption of the digital Schengen visa and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), now expected to start in October 2026.
For travellers looking to navigate these evolving entry requirements, VisaHQ’s Irish portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers up-to-date guidance on Schengen policy changes and can manage applications for visas, ETIAS authorisations and passport services on behalf of both individuals and corporate mobility teams.
Airlines must still transmit API/PNR data, but ground-handling staff may now see fewer passengers off-loaded due to missed connections. Travel-risk consultants advise corporates to maintain the extra 30-minute buffers recently added to onward itineraries until the impact of the flexibility is assessed. Mobility managers should also update traveller briefing notes: non-EU assignees flying on single-entry Schengen visas may find their passports stamped again, potentially affecting permitted-stay calculations. The Commission will review data weekly and could reinstate compulsory biometrics once additional kiosks and staff are deployed. Longer-term, Brussels is pressing member states to accelerate adoption of the digital Schengen visa and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), now expected to start in October 2026.
