Home » AIRLINE NEWS » Spain Transforms Travel Experience At Tenerife South Airport With New EU Entry System Redefining Border Control For Millions Of Tourists
Published on
November 9, 2025
Tenerife South Airport in Spain is leading the way in enhancing travel efficiency by implementing the new European Union Entry/Exit System (EES). This system is designed to streamline border control processes, allowing for faster processing times and reducing long queues at passport control. As the system rolls out across the Schengen area, it aims to provide a more secure and efficient travel experience for millions of tourists, including the large number of British visitors who flock to Tenerife each year. While the full implementation will take time, the initial steps are expected to significantly improve the arrival process, benefiting both travelers and airport staff alike.
Tenerife, a prime destination for British tourists, is rolling out the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which is set to affect non-EU travelers visiting the island. Tenerife South Airport, which sees millions of British visitors each year, is one of the first airports to begin implementing this initiative, marking the start of a major overhaul in border control procedures across the Schengen area.
The new system requires certain travelers to have their biometric data collected upon arrival. This will include facial photographs and fingerprint scans, which will be recorded at the border. The main objective behind this change is to streamline the immigration process, reduce long waiting times, and improve overall efficiency at entry points. This new initiative is part of a wider push by the EU to modernize its border control infrastructure and ensure smoother travel for both residents and tourists.
Currently, the EES is being phased in, and while the system is already in place at some airports, its full rollout won’t be completed until April 10, 2026. This timeline reflects the gradual introduction of biometric registration across the region, which aims to reduce delays and increase security during the check-in process. Spain, in particular, has allocated a significant budget of 83 million euros to upgrade the technology and facilities at its airports, ensuring that they are prepared for the upcoming changes.
The responsibility for border control is being shared between several agencies. While the National Police will oversee many aspects of border security, the Guardia Civil is still tasked with handling customs operations. The implementation of the EES system began in October and will continue to expand in the coming months, gradually affecting more airports and travelers.
Under the new system, each traveler’s biometric data will be stored digitally and linked to their passport, allowing for faster processing on future visits. This means that once a traveler’s data is recorded, it will be accessible for any subsequent trips, which should significantly speed up future entry procedures. However, this transition may take some time, as travelers and airport staff alike adjust to the new requirements.
For British tourists heading to Tenerife, particularly those passing through Tenerife South Airport, it is advisable to allow for additional processing time at the border. Although the system is designed to make the process faster in the long run, there may be some initial delays as the system becomes fully operational. Travelers should be prepared for longer waiting times during this adjustment phase, especially in the early stages of implementation.
Despite the anticipated benefits, the introduction of biometric data collection may cause some concerns for privacy-conscious travelers. The system will create a digital record of each traveler, which may raise questions about the security of personal data and how it will be used. To address these concerns, the European Union has emphasized that data will be securely stored and used exclusively for border control purposes, in compliance with EU privacy regulations.
The new system is not expected to affect all travelers immediately. In the early phases of the EES rollout, only a small number of passengers will undergo the full digitized process. For the first six months of the system’s implementation, manual passport stamping will still be in use alongside the new EES procedures. This means that while some travelers may experience the new process, others will continue to go through traditional passport control methods during this transitional period.
For those traveling to other Schengen countries, the EES will eventually be implemented at airports across the region, with more countries adopting the system as the rollout progresses. As part of the EU’s broader effort to enhance security and efficiency, this system will help to manage the flow of tourists and residents, and provide a more modern, digital approach to border control. Travelers will also benefit from faster processing times, as the system is designed to track entries and exits automatically, reducing the need for manual checks.
Tenerife South Airport is at the forefront of implementing the new European Union Entry/Exit System, marking a significant shift in the way border control will be managed across the Schengen area. While the full implementation of the system will take time, and travelers may experience some delays initially, the changes are expected to lead to smoother, faster, and more secure travel in the future. British holidaymakers planning to visit Tenerife in the coming months should be prepared for a new, digitized entry process that will eventually streamline their travel experience.
