Operation Paso del Estrecho 2026 Kicks Off with Biometric Entry/Exit System and Frontex Support (opens in new tab)

Spain has opened Operation Paso del Estrecho 2026, expecting 3.5 million travellers to transit its southern ports. The big novelty is the mandatory EU Entry/Exit System biometric check, supported by Frontex officers and “smart-border” technology in Ceuta. Travellers should brace for initial delays but, once stabilised, the system promises faster, more secure border processing and provides Spain with a live test of EES before it reaches airports later in the year.