Italy joins Greece and Portugal in relaxing EES checks for UK visitors as Spain stays silent

British holiday-makers received welcome news on 4 May when Italy, Portugal and Greece each confirmed that they will temporarily scale back biometric border checks for UK passport holders. All three countries will revert to traditional passport stamping during peak hours, citing the severe bottlenecks seen since EES became mandatory on 10 April. Italy’s Interior Ministry is drafting a decree that authorises officers to switch to manual procedures once wait-times top 45 minutes. The policy mirrors measures already in place at Athens and Lisbon airports and is designed to protect summer tourism revenue: British travellers accounted for 12 percent of Italy’s overnight stays in 2025. The announcement leaves Spain – the top destination for UK tourists – isolated. Madrid has yet to clarify whether it will use the flexibility allowed by Brussels, creating uncertainty for tour operators arranging multi-country itineraries. Airlines have begun contingency planning: some carriers are advising passengers transiting through Barcelona or Malaga to allow at least three hours between flights until a policy is announced. For corporate mobility teams the divergence underscores the importance of route selection. It may be faster to connect through Rome or Milan than through Spanish hubs over the next few months.



Before embarking, UK travellers may want to double-check visa or entry requirements beyond the temporary stamp policy. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) provides real-time updates on Schengen regulations, EES registration timelines and offers end-to-end assistance with any necessary documentation, helping to prevent last-minute hassles for both leisure and corporate itineraries.

Travellers should keep printed boarding passes and ensure passports have blank pages in case of manual stamping.