The Italian government has confirmed to the European Commission that it does not intend to suspend the biometric border control system. EES (Entry/Exit System) during the summer of 2026. The statement contradicts a series of international reports that have circulated in recent weeks claiming that Italy was about to halt the checks by September.
The EES became mandatory on April 10, 2026, following an implementation phase that began at airports in Roma Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa in October 2025. The system replaces the manual passport stamp with an electronic record that collects fingerprints and a facial scan of non-European travelers on short stays.
What the rumors said
Several international publications, including travel outlets and news aggregators, reported that Italy had prepared an emergency decree authorizing border police to suspend biometric checks and resume manual stamping whenever queues exceeded 45 minutes, a measure valid until September 30.
The European Commission denied the information. A Commission spokesperson told the BBC in May that "Portuguese and Italian authorities have confirmed that they do not intend to exempt any nationality." The Commission also rejected reports that Italy had relaxed the application of the rules, stating that such a measure would not have Brussels' support.
What regulation allows
What formally exists is a flexibility mechanism foreseen in Regulation 2025/1534 itself. Until September, member countries can partially suspend checks at individual checkpoints for up to six hours, in exceptional cases of excessive waiting times, during the 90 days following implementation, with a possible extension of 60 days.
Commission spokesman Markus Lammert confirmed that member states “may still partially suspend EES operations when necessary for an additional 90 days, with a possible 60-day extension to cover the summer peak.”
Situation at airports
In practice, the application of the system varies significantly between Italian airports. Aviation industry associations have reported queues of up to three hours at terminals such as Bergamo, Malpensa, Fiumicino, Ciampino, Venice, Turin, Palermo, Pisa, and Naples. At smaller airports, such as Pisa, travelers have reported a complete absence of checks.
Ryanair informed the governments of the 29 EES countries in May that the nations are "clearly not ready" to operate the system and requested a suspension until September.
Residents of Italy, regardless of nationality, are exempt from the EES fee. Those with a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) must present it at counters with human assistance, rather than at automated kiosks.
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