British holidaymakers have faced severe delays at European airports after new EU border check rules came into force, with queues for passport control reported to be taking up to three times longer than usual and, in some cases, spilling out into car parks. The disruption has hit travellers during the peak summer getaway period, raising concerns about the practical impact of the EU's tightened entry procedures on UK visitors now that Britain is treated as a "third country" post-Brexit.

Reports from the ground describe hours-long waits at multiple airports as staff grapple with processing passengers under the revised system, with holidaymakers describing chaotic scenes as queues extended well beyond terminal buildings. The changes are linked to the EU's rollout of stricter border controls, which require additional checks on non-EU nationals, including Britons, adding significant time to arrival and departure processes during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.