UK tourists heading to Spain’s Balearic Islands are being alerted to the introduction of the new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires non-EU visitors to provide biometric data upon arrival. The system will launch on Menorca on November 4 and extend to Majorca on November 19, with Ibiza’s start date yet to be announced.
The EES, implemented across EU external borders beginning October 12, is designed to replace traditional passport stamping with digital biometric registration—capturing fingerprints and a photograph or retina scan. Spain is gradually rolling out the system across its airports, following initial trials at Madrid airport for limited passengers.
British Ambassador to Spain Sir Alex Ellis praised the gradual introduction, saying, “We need to know how the world of this new technology is going to work.” He highlighted the significance of the Balearic Islands as a key destination for UK visitors—who numbered 18.4 million to Spain last year—and emphasized the importance of efficient border processes.
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Travellers should anticipate longer wait times on first entry as biometric registration takes place, but subsequent visits will be faster once their details are stored. The UK Government advises that no prior action or fees are required for EES registration, but urges visitors to comply with the 90-day limit within any 180-day period across the Schengen Area to avoid penalties.
This new system is being phased in gradually across Europe—with countries like France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Portugal also adapting their borders—and is expected to be fully operational by April 10, 2026. Notably, the Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are exempt from EES requirements.
In summary, UK travellers to Spain should prepare for biometric data collection at border control in the Balearics starting tomorrow and plan for slightly extended processing times during this transition to enhance border security and facilitate smoother future journeys.