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 Monday September 7th could be a key date for the full enforcement of the EU's biometric border checks across the Schengen area with concerns raised that queues at border checks could get longer and slower this month. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260904/could-europes-border-queues-get-longer-this-month-as-key-ees-date-passes Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:13:46 +0200 could-europes-border-queues-get-longer-this-month-as-key-ees-date-passes The EU/Schengen area's '90-day' rule is a complicated one that causes much confusion for travellers - here we answer some of the most common questions from readers of The Local. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230518/your-key-questions-answered-about-the-schengen-areas-90-day-rule Thu, 18 May 2023 11:19:22 +0200 your-key-questions-answered-about-the-schengen-areas-90-day-rule European airport bosses have warned that new EU border checks are significantly increasing waiting times for British nationals arriving in the bloc, in some cases tripling the average. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260720/airport-bosses-warn-eus-new-border-checks-triple-waiting-times-for-brits Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:22:17 +0200 airport-bosses-warn-eus-new-border-checks-triple-waiting-times-for-brits The EU's border agency Frontex developed an app allowing travellers to pre-register for its Entry/Exit System rollout. With the summer travel season upon us and queues expected at tourist hotspots, what happened to the app and which countries are using it? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260713/which-european-countries-are-already-using-the-ees-pre-registration-app Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:23:13 +0200 which-european-countries-are-already-using-the-ees-pre-registration-app In the first six months of operation of the new EU digital border system, the Entry-Exit System (EES), more than 8,700 travellers were denied entry into Europe's border-free Schengen area because they had stayed beyond their permitted time limit. 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 The European Commission is refusing to suspend strict new border controls despite pressure from airports and airlines who have demanded they be put on hold until after summer amid fears of chaos at holiday hotspots. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260708/europes-ees-border-checks-wont-be-suspended-eu-insists Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:42:33 +0200 europes-ees-border-checks-wont-be-suspended-eu-insists European airport and airline associations have once again urged the European Commission to take immediate action as they warn the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) risks travel mayhem and misery for millions this summer. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260701/critical-point-europes-airports-demand-urgent-action-to-avoid-summer-border-delays Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:37:00 +0200 critical-point-europes-airports-demand-urgent-action-to-avoid-summer-border-delays 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 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