EES Changes Entry to Greece: What Serbs Should Know
The new biometric system at EU borders means fingerprints and a photo on your first crossing, here is what it means for a trip to Greece.
- The EES has been fully live since 10 April 2026 at the EU's external borders, including Greece.
- Your first entry records four fingerprints and a facial photo, with data valid for three years.
- Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprints, only a photo is recorded.
- ETIAS, an online authorisation costing 20 euros per person, follows the EES later in 2026.
Are you heading to the Greek coast this summer? Then you should know that crossing the border no longer works the way it used to. The European Union brought its biometric entry and exit system, known as the EES (Entry-Exit System), into full effect on 10 April 2026 at every external border, including the ones that lead into Greece.
That means a few new steps await you on your first crossing. None of it is alarming, but it pays to know what is coming, especially if you travel by coach or with children, since queues at crossings like Evzoni can run long.
What exactly awaits Serbian travellers at the border?
On your first entry into the EES zone, a border officer records the fingerprints of four fingers on your right hand and takes a photo of your face. That data is stored and stays valid for the next three years, so future trips move faster.
On every later crossing within that three-year window, you face only a quick check. You show your passport and scan a single finger, with no full re-enrolment of your details.
There is one helpful exception for families. Children under 12 are exempt from giving fingerprints. Only a photo is recorded for them, which speeds up the youngest travellers considerably.
To keep queues from blocking crossings at the height of the season, a safeguard has been built in for travellers:
Customs officers will be able to temporarily suspend the EES procedure at moments when major queues build up.
Reports from the Evzoni crossing suggest that the first processing run takes, as people on the ground put it, around 20 minutes per coach, or roughly 30 seconds per passenger. Factor that in when you plan your departure and stops along the way.
What is ETIAS and when does it apply?
Alongside the EES, one more change is coming for Serbian travellers. ETIAS is an online entry authorisation that follows the EES later in 2026, and it should not be confused with the biometric system at the border itself.
ETIAS is paid once, 20 euros per person (about 2,340 dinars), and you obtain it online before you travel. It is a digital approval rather than a visa, so the form takes only a short time to complete.
There is also a rule that is easy to overlook. Your passport has to be valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave the EU zone. Check the expiry date in good time, before you set off, so you are not turned back at the border.
Our advice is simple. If you are heading to Greece with children or in a group, reach the crossing with time to spare and your passports ready. The first time takes a little longer, but the next three summers go quickly.
Are you planning a Greek holiday this summer, and will you travel by car or by coach through Evzoni?
