NetherlandsEntry rules Schiphol Passport Gates Fail, Leaving Travellers Facing Hour-Long Queues
A technical failure knocked out all 78 electronic passport-control gates at Amsterdam Schiphol on 18 October 2026, forcing manual checks and waits of up to 90 minutes. Travellers departing or transferring were advised to allow extra time.
Travellers passing through Amsterdam Airport Schiphol faced long delays on Sunday, 18 October 2026, after a technical failure disabled all 78 electronic passport-control gates operated by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee. The outage began at around 06:00 local time, forcing passengers to undergo manual passport checks during a busy autumn holiday period.
Key facts
- Date of the disruption: Sunday 18 October 2026, from around 06:00 local time
- What failed: all 78 electronic passport-control gates run by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee
- Waiting times: around one hour on average, with some passengers waiting up to 90 minutes
- Who was affected: passengers departing from or transferring through Schiphol
- Cause: under investigation; the Marechaussee said there was no current reason to suspect a cyberattack
What happened at passport control?
With the automated gates out of service, passengers departing from or transferring through Schiphol had to queue at staffed passport-control desks. Waiting times averaged around one hour, with some passengers facing waits of up to 90 minutes.
All available manual counters were opened, and officers carried out less extensive checks in an effort to reduce the queues. Even so, substantial waiting times remained.
Who is affected?
The disruption affected passengers departing from or transferring through Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It hit during the Netherlands' autumn school holiday period, which was already contributing to increased passenger numbers at the airport.
The failure affected passport control rather than airport security screening itself. No widespread flight cancellations linked directly to the outage had been confirmed in the reports available at the time of publication.
Why did it happen, and has it been fixed?
The cause of the technical failure remained under investigation, and there was no immediate estimate for when the system would be restored. The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee said there was no current reason to suspect a cyberattack.
What this means for travellers
Schiphol advised passengers travelling from or through the airport to allow additional time and monitor their flight information for updates. Travellers passing through passport control should factor in extra time while the automated gates remain out of service.
No estimate has been given for when the electronic gates will return to service. The cause of the failure is still being investigated.