Since the (*6*) was introduced in in the beginning of April 2026, journey in Europe for non-EU nationals has been greater than a little bit bumpy, with some passengers going through prolonged queues at Border Control and missing their flights altogether, compelled to pay hefty charges for various journey.
Amidst all of the chaos, the Greek embassy within the UK introduced on 17 April that the nation can be waiving the EES travel requirements for British passport holders, stating that “within the framework of the implementation of the new Entry/Exit System (EES) as of April 10th 2026, British passport holders are excluded from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.”
Eleni Skarveli, director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, meanwhile, added that the move would ensure a “smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece” and that it “is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports.”
But Greece isn’t the only country in Europe that’s doing away with the new rules or left unaffected by them. Here are the countries on the continent where the EES doesn’t apply.
Which European countries are in the Schengen area?
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
6 European countries without EES worth visiting
Albania
Because Albania is just not a part of the EU or the Schengen space, it stays unaffected by the brand new EES guidelines. British travellers can go to the nation for as much as 90 days without a visa, inside a 180-day interval. Should you want to keep longer than 90 days, you will want to use for a long-stay visa or apply for residency.
Just a stone’s throw from the Greek island of Corfu, Albania is brimming with attractive sandy seashores and can also be house to the Theth-Valbonë path, a mountain climbing route that runs through the scenic “Albanian Alps”, or Accursed Mountains.
Cyprus
Scenic view of sea seen by way of Cape Greco, CyprusGetty Images