https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Readers' experiences of the EU's new EES border checks vary depending on where in Switzerland they are travelling to and from. Help us build a picture of any problem airports or places where queues are minimal. Share your experience in the comments section and we'll add them to this article. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260610/zurich-sort-it-out-your-experiences-of-ees-border-checks-at-swiss-airports Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:20:36 +0200 zurich-sort-it-out-your-experiences-of-ees-border-checks-at-swiss-airports European ferry ports have sounded the alarm about the impact of the EU's new EES checks this summer at the same time as global tourism chiefs say travellers from around the world are being put off by the prospect of long border delays in Europe. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260609/tourism-chiefs-and-european-ferry-ports-sound-alarm-over-summer-border-chaos Tue, 09 Jun 2026 17:24:20 +0200 tourism-chiefs-and-european-ferry-ports-sound-alarm-over-summer-border-chaos If you are a non-EU resident flying into Switzerland, expect long lines at immigration booths. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260609/new-ees-border-system-at-swiss-airports-causes-longer-waits-for-passengers Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:33:43 +0200 new-ees-border-system-at-swiss-airports-causes-longer-waits-for-passengers In the first six months of operation of the new EU digital border system, the Entry-Exit System (EES), almost 7,000 travellers were denied entry into Europe's border-free Schengen area because they stayed beyond their permitted time limit, a European Commission report has revealed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260520/ees-7000-overstayers-snared-since-launch-of-eus-new-schengen-border-checks Wed, 20 May 2026 14:37:30 +0200 ees-7000-overstayers-snared-since-launch-of-eus-new-schengen-border-checks Despite claims that the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) border checks would be "fully operational" by April 10th, many airports have reported disruption and some Channel ports don't even have the technology for full rollout yet. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260411/full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:56:38 +0200 full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption European airports and airlines organisations issued on Monday the latest warning about the next implementation phase of the EU's new biometric border system, “as the transition phase comes to an end right in the travel peak of the Easter holidays.” https://www.thelocal.ch/20260330/european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:31:07 +0200 european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms The British government has alerted UK tourists travelling to the Schengen area around Easter about the full implementation of EU’s new Entry/Exit border system (EES), urging travellers to allow additional time for journeys. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260327/uk-warns-of-easter-travel-delays-to-due-to-new-eu-border-checks Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:40:25 +0100 uk-warns-of-easter-travel-delays-to-due-to-new-eu-border-checks One of the stated aims of the EU's new EES system of biometric passport checks is to catch people who 'over-stay' the 90-day limit, and 4,000 of those have been caught in the first months of its implementation, according to an EU official. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260224/eus-ees-biometric-passport-checks-catch-4000-over-stayers-in-first-4-months Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:34:18 +0100 eus-ees-biometric-passport-checks-catch-4000-over-stayers-in-first-4-months The new European biometric registration regime, the Entry/Exit System (EES), has been causing major delays at the Geneva airport, as thousands of tourists flock to Switzerland's ski slopes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260213/foreign-tourists-faced-interminable-queues-at-geneva-airport-due-to-ees-rollout Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:35:13 +0100 foreign-tourists-faced-interminable-queues-at-geneva-airport-due-to-ees-rollout Airlines across Europe have called on EU chiefs to review the ongoing roll-out for the EES biometric border checks amid fears the system will lead to border chaos this summer. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260211/4-hour-queues-europes-airlines-and-airports-fear-summer-travel-chaos Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:32:29 +0100 4-hour-queues-europes-airlines-and-airports-fear-summer-travel-chaos Member States will have the green light to partially suspend Europe's Entry/Exit System (EES), the new EU digital border system, over the summer to avoid any travel chaos at ports and airports during peak season. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260131/eu-delays-full-rollout-of-ees-border-system-over-travel-chaos-concerns Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:00:03 +0100 eu-delays-full-rollout-of-ees-border-system-over-travel-chaos-concerns The association of European airports called on Thursday for an urgent review of the new EU border system, amid “mounting operational issues” that could affect the holiday season. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251218/mayhem-and-chaos-europes-airports-demand-urgent-review-of-new-border-system Thu, 18 Dec 2025 19:06:28 +0100 mayhem-and-chaos-europes-airports-demand-urgent-review-of-new-border-system Christmas is always a busy time for travel to and from Switzerland, but this year travellers may have to reckon with new rules, including the EU's Entry & Exit System and the UK's ETA. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251208/ees-and-eta-what-to-expect-when-travelling-to-and-from-switzerland-this-christmas Mon, 08 Dec 2025 11:58:43 +0100 ees-and-eta-what-to-expect-when-travelling-to-and-from-switzerland-this-christmas The European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES), which will change border control procedures for third-country nationals, is set to launch at Zurich airport on Monday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251117/zurich-airport-launches-eus-biometric-entry-exit-system Mon, 17 Nov 2025 10:18:36 +0100 zurich-airport-launches-eus-biometric-entry-exit-system From Sunday, non-EU travellers entering Europe's Schengen open-borders zone will gradually be photographed and fingerprinted at border crossings, as the European Union rolls out its much-delayed automated border checks. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251012/europe-rolls-out-automated-border-checks Sun, 12 Oct 2025 09:27:13 +0200 europe-rolls-out-automated-border-checks The EU's new Entry & Exit System (EES) of enhanced passport controls will be launched on October 12th, albeit in a phased in approach, but how will it impact non-EU residents legally living in EU/Schengen countries? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240427/reader-question-what-will-ees-mean-for-foreigners-living-in-europe Sat, 27 Apr 2024 07:59:09 +0200 reader-question-what-will-ees-mean-for-foreigners-living-in-europe Switzerland will introduce the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) from October 12th, with Geneva, Zurich, and Basel EuroAIrport set to implement the checks for non-EU travellers. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250912/what-we-know-about-switzerlands-rollout-of-ees-checks-at-airports Fri, 12 Sep 2025 17:45:56 +0200 what-we-know-about-switzerlands-rollout-of-ees-checks-at-airports Non-EU travellers heading to EU/Schengen countries will soon face biometric border controls as the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) comes into force from October 12th. But can travellers opt out? https://www.thelocal.ch/20251003/can-i-opt-out-of-giving-my-biometrics-under-europes-new-border-checks Fri, 03 Oct 2025 13:07:28 +0200 can-i-opt-out-of-giving-my-biometrics-under-europes-new-border-checks Car passengers travelling from the UK to France and onwards to other European countries will not be immediately subject to the EES biometric border checks that are set to be launched on October 12th. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250904/dover-and-eurotunnel-reveal-start-dates-for-new-ees-passport-checks Thu, 04 Sep 2025 17:52:30 +0200 dover-and-eurotunnel-reveal-start-dates-for-new-ees-passport-checks One of the stated aims of the EU's new Entry & Exit System is to catch over-stayers, especially those who have over-stayed their 90-day allowance. Here's a look at what changes for those who currently travel visa-free to Europe. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250730/how-do-the-eus-new-ees-passport-checks-affect-the-90-day-rule Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:18:59 +0200 how-do-the-eus-new-ees-passport-checks-affect-the-90-day-rule