Germany wants stamps.

I also had problems checking in for my flight.

I had checked in but wanted to drop my bags. The check in person asked if I had an ETA. I said yes. He said are you sure because the computer says you don't have permission to enter the UK. (I have probably entered at ten times since the ETA came into effect..)

He asked if I had ay kind of code and I told him its tied to the passport. I started searching for the email when he said "you're okay."

It seems his computers were acting up.

Thanks for the heads up. I am entering through Finland in a few weeks and then exiting through Germany at the end of my trip. I'll make sure to keep my boarding pass/eticket and maybe even ask for a stamp in Helsinki if they will give one.

PS Edited to add- it does make me wonder. When I left Italy in May, the border agent gave a 2 second glance at my passport and waved me through. There wasn't any record that I could see of me leaving the Schengen zone. I assumed it might be tied into the photo scans at the start of security or an airline manifest, but it seemed pretty casual. Always something new going on...........

If they didn't take your fingerprints or a photo when you left Schengen, have some proof with you when you arrive just in case you are asked.

The security photo has nothing to do with Schengen.

It seems that not all Schengen countries are on the same page when it comes to EES.

This reminds me of an comical experience I had many years ago shortly after the introduction of the Schengen system. On a business trip I flew into France from the US. I then traveled on the Germany by air. For whatever reason the French customs officer didn't stamp my passport upon entry. And this is when passports were regularly stamped both in and out.

In Germany the customs officer saw an exit stamp, but no entry stamp and asked where I entered the EU. I told him France. He threw my passport down on his desk and applied the most vigorous entry stamp I have ever received. He then turned to his colleague and made an unflattering comment about the efficiency of the French customs officials. He then looked harshly at me and shoved my now correctly stamped passport back to me. It was all I could do not to laugh, but I didn't think that would go over well.

I was checking some of the train routes a few weeks ago on the SNCF site as I'm heading to Germany and France later in the year. When I was checking tickets between Kehl to Strasbourg, there was this note on the website.

The German authorities are introducing border controls at Kehl station, the first station after the German border. As a result, the journey will take around 15 minutes longer. Please have your identity documents ready.

So at least they're giving people notice. Well, in this case, France was. 😊

In Amsterdam in April, there was no stamp going into the country, but there was an official at the airport who was very eager to stamp all non-EU passports after the holders of the passports went through the booths to exit the country. It made me happy. I like stamps in my passport!

Mardee. I've traveled into Germany a few times since they introduced these checks.

On my trains, the border guards got on at one station and left at another. At none was my, or any person near me, passports checked.

They know who they are looking for and it's not random.

They do it Austria and Hungary too ... in both directions, but not every train and unless you are watching they can walk right past you and you will never notice them.

He told me that Germany still wants stamps but they realize some countries, like Austria and France,

And, the Netherlands, and Italy, and Spain, and I am sure, many others, basically all except Germany, they seem to be the lone holdout.

It sort of defeats the purpose of the whole EES scheme, if you always then have to go to a manned booth to get a stamp!

This has to be the most German thing ever. Also, I am guessing that they will want you to fax in any questions you may have.