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Mallorca’s Palma Airport activates new EU Entry/Exit System for UK arrivals

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Palma Airport in Palma de Mallorca has formally activated the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU travellers – which includes UK passport holders – as of Wednesday 19 November, 2025.

This follows a phased EU-wide rollout that began when the system officially came into force on 12 October. Not every country went live at the same time, so airports have been switching over gradually. Palma is one of the first major Spanish holiday airports to introduce the full process, after earlier testing at Madrid-Barajas, Menorca and several other locations.

In this article, we’ll explain what this means for you when you fly to Palma from London Southend Airport.

What’s new at Palma Airport?

From 19 November, 2025, UK travellers arriving in Mallorca have been required to complete a short biometric registration at passport control. This means that, on arrival, you’ll be asked to:

  1. Provide four fingerprints
  2. Complete an iris scan

Will this cause delays?

The process takes only a couple of minutes per person, but authorities have advised that queues may occur at peak times.

So the answer is… possibly – but Palma Airport has flexibility in case the situations get too dire. Because the EES is still in its transition period, the airport can temporarily reduce or skip checks if queues become too long. Full, mandatory registration for all passengers isn’t expected until April next year.

Read more:

    Wait – what is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?

    The EES is a new EU border system replacing traditional passport stamping with a secure digital record. It launched on 12 October 2025 and requires a one-time registration the first time you enter the Schengen Area after launch.

    This means that on your first trip you’ll automatically complete:

    1. A digital passport scan
    2. Fingerprint scanning (unless you’re under 12)
    3. A photograph

    Registration is done at the border, is completely free, and requires no preparation before travelling. Once registered, future trips should be faster – you’ll only need to scan your passport and provide either a fingerprint or a photo.

    The EES applies across the Schengen Area, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. It does not apply when travelling to Ireland or Cyprus.

    What does this mean when I fly from London Southend?

    For most passengers, the change will just add a few minutes to your passport check on your first trip after the EES launch. There’s nothing new to prepare, and the process becomes quicker once you’ve completed initial registration.

    If you’re flying to Mallorca from London Southend Airport soon, expect possible queues on arrival – especially during busy holiday periods! But right now, early indications suggest Palma Airport is managing the rollout carefully and can ease checks if waiting times build.

    See you on the other side! 

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