New European Entry/Exit System (EES)

Unfortunately I am unable to provide any useful info. In Paris at CDG airport, they have had the machines in place for months, but have yet to use them. But I understand that we are still in the roll-out / optional portion of the EES and it only becomes required everywhere something like April if I remember correctly.- so it WILL be fully in place by the time you travel.

I am hoping that others may have traveled via airports that are using the machines and can provide some insight.

I have yet to use EES at arrival; probably will have to when arriving at Schiphole next Spring.

I found these information online; hopefully they're accurate and useful:

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EES (European Entry/Exit System)

If you arrive at a border crossing point for the first time since the EES started, you will have to provide your personal data. Passport control officers will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints. This information will be recorded in a digital file.

This process can be quicker if you register some of your data in advance. You can do this by using either one of these options if they’re available:

• Self-service system : if available at your border crossing point. You can use it to submit your personal information before meeting a passport control officer.
• 'Travel to Europe' mobile app : if made available by the country of arrival or departure; you can use it to submit your personal information ahead of your journey. Note: so far this app is available only for arrivals to Sweden.


In any of the instances above, you will then meet a passport control officer.

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Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport (AMS) is implementing the European Entry/Exit System (EES) in phases, starting in November 2025 and fully roll out by April 10, 2026. So you'll find some EES kiosks for non-EU passport holders, following signs for non-EU/EES, to register on arrival before potentially using eGates on future visits. 

How it works at Schiphol: 
1. Arrival (First Visit): Follow signs for non-EU passports/EES.
2. Register at Kiosk: Scan your passport, provide a facial image, and give fingerprints.
3. Data Stored: This info is stored for three years.
4. Subsequent Visits: You'll use these stored biometrics at kiosks or eGates for quicker entry. 

Key Points: 
* Who it's for: Non-EU nationals on short stays (90/180 day rule).
* When: Phased rollout started November 3, 2025, fully by April 2026.
* What it replaces: Manual passport stamping. 

After registering at the EES self-service kiosk at Schiphol (for first-time or infrequent visitors), you then proceed to passport control where an official verifies your data and confirms entry, either at an eGate or a staffed booth, with the system recording your biometrics and travel details digitally. 

Took me an hour to get through Rome recently. The first time you use it, you get your photo and fingerprints taken by a border officer. How long that takes depends on the length of the queue at the time and the number of staff on duty.

Next time you enter, providing you have a biometric passport, you can use the e-gates, and that will be much quicker.

Took 10 minutes at Malaga airport 2 weeks ago.
All done through a digital kiosk not a border officer.
scan passport, take photo and digital fingerprints see a border officer and done. There was no queue.

It is definitely causing some delays. We were delayed by an hour recently because of issues with the system and the time it took to get everyone’s passport checked and onto the plane. Back in Bristol a lady told me it took them 3 hours to get through security on arrival in Italy and their luggage had been moved to unclaimed baggage. I don’t know which airport it was though.

We didn’t register for the EES because I was travelling with a child under 12 and was directed down a different lane. No idea if that’s universal.

Apparently it's so awful in Lisbon, they've suspended it for 3 months!

Apparently it's so awful in Lisbon, they've suspended it for 3 months!

That probably has little to do with EES, Lisbon has been a mess for several years, both coming and going.

I asked Border Control about it when I entered through Helsinki in Dec. - and he just rolled his eyes at me. Made me laugh. But he said his guess was they would not be doing away with passport stamping there for a while yet.

We were on a cruise in December. When we were in port at Athens, they entered us into the system one day when we returned to the ship. It was a SLOW process. Give them your passport, they scan it, look at the camera and get your face scanned, then scan your fingerprints. There were only about 6 people in front of me, and I waited in line for over 30 minutes. I guess they thought they'd get us entered into the system because we had time and didn't have a connecting flight to catch like at the airport. I can't imagine how long it would take to process a full flight...