Schengen Borders Restore Full Biometric Checks as EU Peak Exemption Ends
European border checkpoints can no longer pause digital biometric registration during peak hours, increasing queue times for non-EU travelers.
2026年10月11日
/ DANGDI / DANGDI / DANGDI /Non-EU passport holders face longer queues at Schengen borders. European checkpoints can no longer pause biometric scans during peak hours.
Temporary peak-time flexibility rules under EU Regulation 2025/1534 have officially expired. These rules previously allowed congested checkpoints to pause collecting fingerprints and facial images. Border officers used these pauses during extreme overcrowding.
All external Schengen checkpoints now enforce full digital biometric registration. The full scan requirement applies to all non-EU travelers without peak-time pauses.
The change directly impacts non-EU residents in Denmark and Sweden. Border control officers at Copenhagen Airport must process all biometric checks. Family members visiting from China will also complete biometric checks upon arrival. Travelers should budget extra waiting time when moving through Schengen borders. The update was reported by HelloSafe.
Source: HelloSafe
