Arriving in Madrid in 2026: EES Passport Queues at Barajas and What's Happening with ETIAS
This post reflects the situation as of 12 November 2026. Things may have changed since, so please check official sources before your visit.
In 30 seconds
What EES is: a biometric record (facial image and fingerprints) of entries and exits for non-EU travellers. It has been fully operational at all external Schengen borders since 10 April 2026, Madrid-Barajas included.
Who it does NOT affect: EU citizens (Germans and Austrians, for example), Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtenstein nationals, and people holding a residence permit from a participating country. Nothing changes for you.
How much time to allow: if you're a non-EU traveller entering with EES for the first time, allow one to two hours from landing to the arrivals hall at busy times.
ETIAS: isn't running yet and you can't apply. It will cost €20 once it starts, but there's no official launch date. Be wary of any website charging you for it now.
If you're flying into Madrid in the coming weeks, you may have read about long queues at passport control. They're down to the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces passport stamps with a digital record. Here's a calm, practical look at what it means for your arrival.
What EES is and why there are queues
According to the European Commission, EES has been fully operational at every external Schengen border crossing since 10 April 2026. Travellers it applies to have their passport, a facial image and their fingerprints recorded the first time they enter. Children under 12 aren't fingerprinted.
That first registration takes longer than a stamp. In the first days, industry media reported waits of an hour or more at Spanish airports, Madrid included, and over the summer several major European hubs saw peaks of up to two hours. Later trips are usually quicker, because your details are already in the system.
During 2026, countries could partly suspend registration when queues got out of hand. According to specialist sources, that flexibility expired in September 2026, and the travel industry has asked for it to be extended. As of today, we haven't found any official confirmation of an extension.
Who is NOT affected
For many of our visitors, this is the key point. According to the European Commission, the following are not registered in EES:
Citizens of any EU country, such as Germany or Austria.
Nationals of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The Swiss authorities put it simply: for Swiss nationals, "nothing will change".
Nationals of Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, and holders of a Vatican passport.
Non-EU nationals with a residence permit or long-stay visa issued by a country that uses EES (those issued by Cyprus or Ireland are registered).
Family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who hold a residence card or residence permit.
If you're in one of these groups, you go through passport control as usual with your ID card or passport, with no fingerprints or photo. The full list is on the European Commission's EES page.
It does apply to short-stay visitors with a non-EU passport, for example from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia or Latin America. British visitors in particular should expect the new process on their first trip.
What about ETIAS?
ETIAS is a travel authorisation you'll need in advance if you don't need a visa for the Schengen area, as is the case for British or American travellers. Here's what official sources say:
It's not running yet and no applications are being accepted. The EU says it will announce the start date several months in advance.
It will cost €20 once it launches. Under-18s and over-70s won't pay the fee.
The date is still open. The EU had expected the last quarter of 2026, but several media outlets report it will slip to 2027. There is no confirmed official date.
You won't need it if you're an EU or Swiss citizen, or if you hold a residence permit or long-stay visa.
More details on the European Commission's official ETIAS page.
Watch out for fake websites
As ETIAS isn't accepting applications yet, any website charging you today to "process your ETIAS" isn't official. Once the system launches, you'll only apply via the official EU website (travel-europe.europa.eu) or its official app. Be wary of look-alike domains, fees well above €20 or messages pushing you to act urgently.
How much time to allow at Barajas
There are no official live waiting times for Barajas, so it's wise to build in a buffer:
EU and Swiss citizens: same as always. Use the EU/EEA/CH passport desks or e-gates.
Non-EU travellers entering with EES for the first time: allow one to two hours from landing to the arrivals hall at busy times, especially when several long-haul flights land together.
Leaving Madrid: EES also records your exit. If you're a non-EU traveller, get to the airport in good time, particularly for international flights.
Connections: where you cross the border
Border control happens at the first Schengen airport you land in. If you fly from London or New York via Frankfurt, Paris or Amsterdam, your EES registration takes place there, not in Madrid, so avoid very tight connections. If you're arriving from another Schengen country, you normally won't go through passport control when you land in Madrid.
To find your way around the airport, our guide to the Madrid-Barajas terminals should help.
Getting through faster: our tips
Keep your passport handy and take it out of any cover before you reach the desk.
Remove sunglasses, caps or hoods for the facial image.
If you're travelling as a family, go to the same desk together.
Travel with hand luggage only if you can: if the queue drags on, at least you won't be waiting at the carousel afterwards.
If you have a choice, avoid early-morning arrivals, when many long-haul flights land.
Don't plan anything important for the first two hours after landing.
Check the Metro before heading into town: some lines have engineering works, as we explain in our post on the Line 10 closure. And for getting around afterwards, here's how to get around Madrid like a local.
If, after a long wait, you'd rather not think about getting to your hotel, have a look at our airport transfers. And to ease into your stay, our Famous Landmarks Walking Tour is a great way to get your bearings in the centre – ideally booked for the day after you arrive rather than the same day.
Booked a tour with us?
If passport queues or a flight delay might affect your booking, message us on WhatsApp at +34 614 500 379 to let us know.
Sources: European Commission (Migration and Home Affairs, July 2026 and October 2025), Swiss State Secretariat for International Finance (October 2025), Regulation (EU) 2018/1240, AFAR/Financial Times, Newland Chase and Spanish travel-industry media. Consulted on 12 November 2026.
Cover photo: Daniel Schludi on Unsplash
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