Offline kiosks and long waits mark Prague’s EES debut
Most Schengen states will phase EES in by March 2026; Prague opted for an immediate switch.
Prague’s EES launch stumbled, with long queues and offline kiosks forcing manual processing at Vaclav Havel Airport. Staff handled first-time enrolments and routine checks by hand until machines came online later. Airport notices warned of longer waits during the bedding-in phase.
Some non-EU passengers, including Australians and Britons, were briefly redirected to an EU lane and waved through without enrolling. Others arrived after midnight, expecting the system to be live, but passed passport control without using EES. Delays eased once kiosks were restored.
EES requires non-EU travellers aged 12 and above to register fingerprints, facial biometrics, and passport details on first entry, while recording the last three years to speed up later crossings. Enrolment is free and separate from ETIAS, a paid pre-travel authorisation due in 2026.
The Czech Republic moved to a day-one switch with Estonia and Luxembourg, while most Schengen states will phase EES in by March 2026. Pressure spikes when multiple flights land close together or large aircraft arrive. Prague urged passengers to expect slower processing until enrolments normalise.
Smooth borders matter for Prague’s heavy UK travel market after a sharp rise in 2024 visits. Officials say reliability will improve as more travellers complete initial capture. The early glitches underline the risk of launching complex systems at full scale on day one.
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