Greece has said it will exempt UK travellers from the EU's new biometric registration requirement. Under the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES), visitors from non-EU countries, including the UK, are to undergo biometric data collection at borders as part of the new bloc-wide entry process.

However, on Friday (April 17), the Embassy of Greece in the UK said that British citizens will not be subject to these new rules, which would allow for a smoother, faster journey to the country's sun-soaked islands and bustling cities this summer.

"Update for British passport holders travelling to Greece," a statement on the embassy's website said, as of 6pm on Saturday. "In the framework of the implementation of the Entry/Exit System (EES), as of 10 April 2026, British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points."

There was no further detail of how long the exemption would last, and FCDO travel advice for Greece had not been updated as of 6pm on Saturday (April 18).

Commenting on the announcement, Britain's ambassador to Greece, Eleni Skarveli, the UK director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, posted on LinkedIn: "When good news arrives in the midst of a crisis, its impact is even greater.

"The exemption of British passport holders from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points, effective from 10 April 2026, is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports."

"UK travellers will no longer need to undergo additional EES biometric procedures, ensuring a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece," she added. "The Greek National Tourism Organisation remains committed to ensuring a seamless and welcoming journey for all visitors from the UK."

The announcement will come as a major relief for British travellers, particularly amid ongoing concerns over long queues and delays at border controls due to the EES roll-out.

Brits have already been celebrating not having to undergo EES checks at Greek airports on Facebook. In a post on a "Travel Guide" group with over 190,000 members, one wrote on Thursday: "Just arrived in Athens, no EES today baby (didn't stamp my passport either)."

"Flew into Preveza last night (only flight that day) - the machines were stacked against the wall and switched on, but we were all funnelled past them straight to the normal booths where they scanned them on a computer system as per," another wrote, while a third said: "Another EU shambles".

The EES is an automated digital database that replaces manual passport stamps by recording the biometric data and stay duration of non-EU travellers at Schengen borders. After years of technical delays and infrastructure setbacks, the system finally reached full operational status on April 10, aiming to enhance security while strictly enforcing the 90-day visitor limit.

The Express has contacted the FCDO for comment.