paroolOct 18, 2026, 09:26

Long wait times at Schiphol due to electronic passport control failure

Schiphol Airport is facing significant passenger delays after a technical failure incapacitated its automated eGate passport control system on Sunday morning. Royal Netherlands Marechaussee officers are currently conducting manual checks as they investigate the cause of the malfunction, which is not believed to be a cyberattack.

Schiphol Airport has been experiencing significant disruptions since 6:00 a.m. on Sunday due to a malfunction in its electronic passport control system. The automated eGates, which utilize facial recognition technology to verify travel documents, are currently offline. As a result, members of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee are performing manual passport checks at the counters to maintain security protocols, leading to extended wait times for departing and transferring passengers. A spokesperson for the Marechaussee stated that while the cause of the failure is currently under investigation, authorities have ruled out a cyberattack as the source of the problem.

This incident adds to ongoing difficulties reported at the airport regarding the integration of new border control technologies. Internal documentation previously highlighted that recurring technical issues with the Entry/Exit System have repeatedly hindered the efficiency of the airport’s border control processes. Schiphol management has acknowledged the current delays on its website and is advising travelers to expect higher traffic volumes than normal as manual processing continues.

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Based on reporting by parool. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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