EES Rollout

This article updated on 10/10/2025 has a little more information about which ports of entry will be implementing ESS on 10/12 and to what extent.

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2025/10/10/eu-announces-launch-date-for-entryexit-system-heres-how-travellers-can-prepare

There is a small airport in the SW of France (Bergerac) that will have the EES operation on 12 October. This may not affect many of the RS travelers but I thought it was an interesting choice as there are a number of British who use this airport. My point...don't assume the rollout will only be at the large airports.

My point...don't assume the rollout will only be at the large airports.

It will affect all Schengen points of entry, Airports, Land crossings, and Ports; big and small. So at least expect it.

But then, really, there is nothing to even be concerned about. The process the first time likely will take no longer than what it took previously, with subsequent times being much quicker.

It will affect all Schengen points of entry, Airports, Land crossings, and Ports; big and small. So at least expect it.

The point is that on Eurostar for example it will only apply to Eurostar Premier ticket holders from 12 October- not to Standard or Standard Premier tickets- they will be following after Christmas.

Likewise for those travelling from Dover only bus passengers and truck drivers will be in the first phase of rollout.

And as another example, Berlin is using it on only one flight on day 1.

It will affect all Schengen points of entry,

Yes, gradually, up through next April when it is scheduled to be in use at all these points of entry. To start off, though, it is only some.

I saw a video put out by a UK news reporter using the new EES terminals. He filmed all the steps, the prompts and how the finger print gizmo works. It went pretty quickly but all I can say is wow, that is a germ incubation chamber. Take your sanitizer of choice. People from all over the world fresh off a plane rolling fingers around in the little cubby trying to get just the right placement. Just saying. How soon we forget...

This guy does an Awesome job explaining the rollout on Istagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPlga2VjrCF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I head to Vienna on Monday. I'll report back on how it went.

Sorry, I fail to see peoples level of concern. The current method is inefficient, you stand in line, go to a person, they pepper you with questions, or not, stamp your passport with a usually illegible stamp (look at your passport, try to decipher them all). Then move you on.

The e-gates will be quicker, even the first time having to register your fingerprint is not much of a delay, and you are on your way. No twenty booths with only three agents available to work,

One only needs to look to experiences entering the UK, once they allowed US and other nationalities to use the e-gates, Heathrow went from horror story to barely a blip to pass through.

My biggest concern for me (for my job I have to be fingerprinted yearly for a background check) is getting the fingerprints to register. It is only as good as the equipment and how clean it stays. As you age the harder to get the prints to take on those machines. I hope they work efficiently. I would really like to hear anyone’s experience. I have to fly to Munich the end of March. Luckily a direct flight so no time constraints.

If you watch this video, you can see the entire regisration process including how they get fingerprints:

https://youtu.be/RaiszoFXinM?si=gYv-f7hhMNQNMAF5

Went through Malaga on the 12th and they weren't implementing the new system, it was still just a passport stamp. It was actually the quietest I've experienced at the airport and we were through in no time. All the shiny new e-gates are all still wrapped in plastic as they have been for well over a year waiting for the implementation of the new system.

I just read a post from Time Out mentioning that there had been four-hour delays for people entering some of the larger airports (ex.: Amsterdam). Yikes.

We are flying from France to Portugal in a few days. We entered France on September 1st. I’m assuming this won’t affect us…but maybe it will? Does anyone know?

“I just read a post from Time Out mentioning that there had been four-hour delays for people entering some of the larger airports (ex.: Amsterdam). Yikes.”

@Janet;
Can you please place a link to the Time Out post? Amsterdam Airport only starts with EES on November 3, 2025. So it’s not yet operational. When I arrived at Amsterdam airport a few days ago, passport control was a breeze without any issues. And most certainly not a 4 hour wait, maybe only 4 minutes. So I’m very curious where Time Out based their post on.

This seems to be the article (dated 13 October)- https://www.timeout.com/news/these-are-apparently-europes-worst-airports-for-delays-due-to-new-entry-exit-system-ees-101325

It says-
At the moment, bigger airports are likely to have longer wait times. According to the Independent, which has analysed flight arrival times across several major European airports, mornings at Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gualle could be particularly painful. The Independent also mentioned Faro, Palma de Mallorca, Milan Malpensa, and Heraklion as being potentially overloaded.**

This is the base article (written on 10 October) by Simon Calder (a well known travel "motor mouth") based on speculation by Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership [a Travel Agents mainly for businesses], was speaking to the BBC Today programme-
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/eu-entry-exit-system-delay-arrival-flight-b2843028.html

There is another article about delays at Prague airport- https://www.connexionfrance.com/news/ees-border-checks-start-long-queues-at-prague-airport-but-france-calm/748078

I’ve read both articles that isn31c linked to, but neither article mentions anything about a current 4 hour delay at Amsterdam Airport due to EES. Both articles only talk about what could potentially happen when EES has come into effect.
So I don’t think that the linked article is the one that Janet read. There must be another one which mentions that there are, at present, 4 hour delays at Amsterdam. Hopefully Janet can shed some light on this and share the article she read.

These types of articles are starting to pop up. Hopefully things will calm down in a couple of months?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-15201097/Passengers-miss-flight-long-passport-control-queues-major-European-city.html

https://etias.com/articles/technical-glitches,-long-queues-mark-eu%E2%80%99s-entry/exit-system-rollout

I found this that talks about Amsterdam
https://www.express.co.uk/travel/articles/2122731/two-hour-long-queues-airport-new-eu-system

I’m not saying one shouldn’t see an English tabloid as a reliable source, but it’s a fact that Amsterdam Airport hasn’t started with EES yet. They will only start to phase in EES from November 3, 2025 onwards. https://www.schiphol.nl/en/prepare-for-your-flight-at-schiphol/ees/?_gl=1*dfgqiq*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTE3MjczNzE4NS4xNzYwNzM5MDE5*_ga_SY55X9B9Q6*czE3NjA3MzkwMTgkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjA3MzkwMTgkajYwJGwwJGg4MTA3NjkwNQ..

I saw it on Facebook and didn't delve into it - sorry!

I received my passport for this summer's trip, done in 2 parts. It took a week and a half.

Therefore, the passport has 4 stamps, 2 upon arrival in CDG and 2 upon departure from CDG.. True, the very first stamp is rather light and easy to miss, the other 3 luckily are not like that at all. Those stamps are dark and discernible , just as I wanted them.

Hopefully next summer's trip will be the same dark and discernible stamps from CDG.

I am curious as to how this will work if you have any hand injuries. My DH was involved in an industrial accident years ago and has two fingers that cannot lie flat, nor have fingerprints as skin from other areas of the body were used during reconstruction. I guess we will find out in September.

Dutch Traveler, you are right, we should all delve a bit deeper especially on something like this that will involve quite a few of us on here traveling to and within Europe.

https://www.government.nl/topics/holidays-and-travels/ees/entry-and-exit-checks-at-the-dutch-border

Let’s hope that the problems that are being accurately reported at some of the airports are not a sign of what is to initially come at all the airports.

Note if you hold an Irish passport you are exempt from both the Schengen Area system and the UK system.... The only one I believe...

FRA this morning: No ees for US passport holders.

We are flying from France to Portugal in a few days. We entered France on September 1st. I’m assuming this won’t affect us…but maybe it will? Does anyone know?

No, it will not affect you, this is only on entry to the Schengen area, you are already in.

Hopefully next summer's trip will be the same dark and discernible stamps from CDG.

Sorry Fred, probably not. After EES is implemented, no more stamps. They likely will continue for a while, but eventually go away.

I am curious as to how this will work if you have any hand injuries.

I am in the same boat, have an index finger and a middle finger, partially missing and no prints. But they really do not need all 10 prints, and absence of prints is as identifiable as prints. I am sure they have some means of accommodation since it is a common problem.

If you look at the video I posted earlier in this thread, the reporter was asked to place both hands on the machine--one at a time--and they tried to get one or two good prints. That's all they need.

I'm flying into Vienna tomorrow where EES is supposed to be up and running. I'll post about my experience.

No more stamps after the implementation of EES: oh well, I won't hold my breath on the final implementation of EES, hoping that unpleasant result will be bogged down in red tape while the stamping of passports upon entry / dep in/from Schengen continues.

We shall see....I 'll be landing back in Paris CDG the last week in May.

No EES at VIE. Same old same old.

In the video Frank linked to they ask if you have travel insurance. What if you don’t?

In the video Frank linked to they ask if you have travel insurance. What if you don’t?

Also in the video, the reporter commented that he was surprised by the question, since it is not really a requirement.

I suppose answering "No" might prompt an actual person to ask more questions, just like at entry kiosks used in the US.

In my view, it could be a matter of translation. You are required to be able to show proof of health coverage (as opposed to travel). For many of us, our health coverage extends to international travel (though reimbursed), otherwise you should buy coverage. I am not sure how coverage works for European nationals, they are covered throughout the EU, but I had European colleagues that always had to purchase a plan for travel to the US, ie: Travel Insurance.

My inclination would be to answer the question "Yes", since my current health care extends to the EU, and I have other elements of travel insurance covered by credit card benefits. Your response may be different. Basically, if you answer a question, have an answer prepared as to why you answered it that way, or seek out a person to talk to.

I bought travel insurance once, never repeated that on following trips, saw as useless. I have never been asked that question as part of Border Control and would have answered that question with a "no."

I have no idea whether EES was the cause, but departing Paris CDG yesterday was quite a bit more tedious and time-consuming than I recall its having been in the past.

I have no idea whether EES was the cause, but departing Paris CDG yesterday was quite a bit more tedious and time-consuming than I recall its having been in the past.

Likewise departing Malaga on Sunday. The queue for passport control was unbelievably long, far longer than I have ever experienced in twenty years of flying from there yet there was nothing different about the process, simply a cursory glance at the passport and a stamp and there were enough border agents working.

I have no idea whether EES was the cause, but departing Paris CDG yesterday was quite a bit more tedious and time-consuming than I recall its having been in the past.

Everyone looks like a jewel thief right now?

Flew out of CDG Terminal 1 to Istanbul. For the EU folks 2 of the 3 passport machines were working and for all others 3 of the 5 were operational. At one point a CDG staff member started moving those of us with a US Passport to a separate line & we had one of the three operational passport readers. However, then once through the electronic system everyone bunched up together because they still had one Passport Control Agent reviewing & stamping everyone's passport. Since I was one of the lucky few that got pulled into the new line, I spent only 20 minutes in line. CDG staff did walk up and down the lines to see if anyone had tickets to two departures, NY or NJ. They pulled them out & had them go directly to the Passport Scanner.

Note: July I flew out of Terminal 1, the older round building, did not like it. Last week it was in the newer section of Terminal 1, much better.

I flew out of CDG (to SFO) on Thursday morning, 10/30, and used the PARAFE line; there were 3 scanners for non-Schengen citizens and 8 for citizens, which I suppose is par for the course. Wait time was about 10m. It took a couple of tries for me to get my face scanned properly (I was standing too close to the camera). Other users had similar problems, which doesn’t bode too well for future EES implementation using the same scanners!

After this I still had to get my passport stamped by a human, which was a little weird. On our way into CDG on the 16th, PARAFE was unavailable, so we were stamped into Schengen the old-fashioned way … there was no line at all, which shocked me.

I flew into Athens airport on 10/19 and the EES lanes were not in use. Greece was supposed to be an early adopter of the technology, but the machines were not even turned on. All travelers went through the traditional passport check and received a physical stamp in the passport. When I departed Athens on 11/2, there were 5 of the scanning stations that were operational, but only a few people were directed to that line. Most travelers, including me, went through regular line.

@ acutor...thanks for the info at CDG.

Good to know that US passports are still being stamped. I can still look forward to getting my passport stamped at CDG in May of next year.

Good to know that US passports are still being stamped. I can still look forward to getting my passport stamped at CDG in May of next year.

Probably not. By May of next year, EES is supposed to be rolled out over the entire Schengen area. That would mean no more stamps as your entry and exit would be recorded digitally. LIke using the egates in the UK. The only difference is you have to register for EES but not to use the egates in the UK.

“ The only difference is you have to register for EES but not to use the egates in the UK.”

Can you clarify what you mean by this? It’s a bit confusing because, as far as I know, you don’t need to register for EES. There is an app, that you can use to pre-register, but the use of the app is and remains optional and so far only available to enter Sweden. Or do you mean ETIAS? But that won’t be implemented until next year, whereas EES is being rolled out right now. And the UK does require visitors from visa waiver countries to apply for ETA.

I'm sure Frank II will be back soon, but in the meantime, any non-Schengen citizen must register for EES when required on first entry to Schengen after 12 October.
It is a rolling rollout to be completed by April.
I have not yet been able to find the app, although its existence is rumoured. And you'll still have to do fingerprints and facial in person at the airport/port.

Ah okay, perhaps it’s the fact that English isn’t my first language but I guess I misunderstood what Frank meant with “you must register for”. I thought he meant it as an action you must do before you can travel to Europe.
EES stands for Entry and Exit System. Under this new system, your name, travel document data, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) and the date and place of entry and exit are registered in a database.

What Lin C. wrote. Registration is not done ahead of time but when you first use the EES system.

With the UK Egates, there is nothing to do except put your passport in the slot and smile for the camera.

E-gates and EES are 2 different things. E-gates have been used long before EES was implemented. Schiphol Amsterdam Airport for instance, uses E-gates for many years already. Upon entry into the Netherlands at Schiphol only visitors from EU/Schengen countries can use these E-gates. But upon departure passport holders from the UK, USA, Australia etc etc can use them too. All you have to do when you use these E-gates is insert your passport and look at the camera. So the same as in the UK.
See here for information about the E-gates at Schiphol Airport https://english.marechaussee.nl/topics/self-service-passport-control

When the new EES is implemented at Schiphol Airport, EU/Schengen passport holders can continue to use the current type of E-gates, i.e. the ones that scan your passport and make you look at the camera.
Visitors from outside the EU/Schengen will have to use a new type of scanners that can also scan and record fingerprints and facial features.

Dutchtraveler,
You are confusing the Schengen Egates and the UK egates.

To use the Schengen Egates, one has to have a Schengen or EU passport. If not, they have to have registered with EES.

In the UK only...the United Kingdom.....Americans, Canadians, and Australians, among others, can use UK EGATES without registering. There is no EES, there is no departure procedure. To leave the UK, you just leave.

The UK is no longer part of the EU and has never been part of Schengen. So it is a completely different system.

I am counting on the inefficiency of red tape to retard the desired progress of the EES rollout by May 2026.

If the efficiency of the EES rollout materializes, then I shall register my disappointment on not receiving 4 more Schengen stamps at CDG.