What Is the EU Entry/Exit System and How Will It Affect Your Trip to Europe?

What the EU Entry/Exit System Actually Is

The EES is the European Union's new digital border control system, and it replaces the old passport stamp with something a lot more high-tech. When you enter or exit any of the 29 countries in the Schengen Area, you'll now have your fingerprints scanned and your photo taken at a kiosk, alongside a scan of your passport.

The system covers the vast majority of EU countries plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. Ireland and Cyprus are the two holdouts and will continue with manual checks for now.

The goal, in theory, is to create a more accurate digital record of who's entering and leaving the EU, and to better track whether visitors are staying within the allowed 90-day limit in any 180-day period. Long-term, EU officials say it should also speed things up. Right now, though, it's doing the opposite at some airports.

What the Process Actually Looks Like

Not every airport is fumbling this. My family flew out of Venice's Marco Polo Airport this past Sunday, and while it was clear the policy change was brand new, the airport was ready for it. Several staff members were stationed at the departure area, actively directing all non-EU passengers toward the EES kiosks. The machines were plentiful, no line formed at all, and the entire process took each of us about 60 seconds. Fingerprint scan, photo, passport scan, done.

That experience, unfortunately, isn't universal.

At Milan's Linate Airport that same Sunday, over 100 passengers missed an EasyJet flight to Manchester after getting stuck in passport control queues for hours. Travelers reported people fainting and vomiting from the stress and the wait. One traveler told the BBC he spent £1,800 arranging alternate routes home after the airline initially offered a rebooking four days out. EasyJet called the queues "unacceptable" but noted the situation was outside their control.

It's not just Milan. Geneva recorded multi-hour wait times during the early stages of the rollout, and Lisbon actually suspended EES checks for three months at the end of 2025 because queues got so unmanageable. Industry groups representing airports and airlines have called for greater flexibility to pause checks during peak travel periods, warning that summer 2026 could see even longer delays if the kinks aren't worked out.

The difference between Venice and Milan appears to come down to preparation: staffing, kiosk availability, and passenger flow management. The system itself, when properly resourced, moves quickly. When it isn't, it doesn't.

What You'll Need to Do at the Border

For Americans and other non-EU travelers, the process works like this: on your first visit to an EU country after EES is active at that border point, you'll register your biometric information, including fingerprints and a photo, while also having your passport scanned. At some locations, you'll also be asked a few questions about your trip, like where you're staying and confirming you have enough funds

That registration is then stored for three years. On future trips, you'll verify your details at a kiosk rather than going through the full registration again, which should be faster once the kinks are worked out.

Children under 12 don't need to provide fingerprints. If you hold an EU residency card or are an immediate family member of an EU national, you're exempt. There's also a mobile app called Travel to Europe that lets you pre-register some information before arriving at the border.

For most Americans flying into Europe, this will all happen on arrival at your destination airport. There are dedicated kiosks in the arrivals hall, though not every airport has them yet. At smaller hubs, the process may happen at the immigration desk instead.

Not Every Airport Is Ready Yet

Here's the fine print: "fully operational" is doing a lot of heavy lifting. France, Greece, Poland, and Spain are among the destinations reportedly not fully ready to process visitors through the new system. Some airports have requested permission to suspend EES checks temporarily during busy periods, which is currently allowed through the end of summer 2026. Depending on where you're landing and when, your experience could vary significantly.

A few specific situations worth knowing about: EES for cars at Dover and Folkestone hasn't launched yet due to technical issues, and manual passport stamping continues there in the meantime. Eurostar at London St. Pancras has 49 kiosks installed but is still completing checks manually while it awaits software approvals from French authorities.

What This Means for Your Summer Travel

If you're heading to Europe this summer, the main takeaway is simple: budget more time at the border. Airport and airline groups have flagged that two-to-three hour waits are already being reported at peak times, and summer will only bring more volume.

A few practical things to keep in mind: arrive early, check your airline's guidance before you fly, and don't schedule a tight connection right after clearing immigration on your first entry into the Schengen Area. Once you're registered in the system, subsequent border crossings should move faster, but the initial registration is the chokepoint right now.

The system will eventually also connect to ETIAS, the EU's new visa waiver program similar to the US ESTA, which is expected to launch in late 2026 and will require a €20 pre-travel authorization for eligible non-EU travelers.

The experience at Venice showed what EES looks like when an airport takes it seriously: fast, organized, and genuinely painless. The goal now is getting every airport in Europe to that standard before peak summer hits. For travelers, that means staying informed and giving yourself more buffer time than you think you need.

Frequently Asked Questions: EU Entry/Exit System

What is the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)?

EES is the EU's new digital border system, which replaces passport stamps with biometric registration. It requires non-EU travelers entering or exiting the Schengen Area to scan their fingerprints and have their photo taken, alongside a passport scan, at border kiosks.

Does the EU Entry/Exit System apply to Americans?

Yes. Any traveler who is not an EU citizen and doesn't hold a long-stay visa or EU residency permit is subject to EES when entering or leaving the Schengen Area, including Americans.

Which countries are part of the EES system?

EES applies to 29 countries in the Schengen Area, including France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Portugal, the Netherlands, and more. Ireland and Cyprus are exempt and continue with manual passport checks.

How long does EES registration take?

The initial registration involves fingerprint scans, a photo, and some questions about your trip. At a well-prepared airport like Venice's Marco Polo, the process took about 60 seconds per person with no wait at all. Subsequent visits should be faster since your data is already stored in the system for three years.

Will EES cause delays at European airports?

It depends on the airport. Some, like Venice's Marco Polo, have handled the rollout smoothly with ample kiosks and staff on hand. Others have struggled. Milan's Linate saw over 100 travelers miss a flight in a single incident this past weekend, and wait times of two to three hours have been reported at other airports during peak periods.

Do I have to register for EES before my trip?

No, but you can pre-register some information using the Travel to Europe mobile app before arriving at the border. Full registration will be completed at the kiosk on your first entry.

Are children exempt from EES?

Children under 12 are not required to provide fingerprints, though they still go through the passport scanning process.

What is ETIAS and is it the same as EES?

ETIAS is a separate EU visa waiver program, similar to the US ESTA, that's expected to launch in late 2026. It will require a €20 fee for eligible non-EU travelers. EES is the biometric border tracking system; ETIAS is the pre-authorization requirement. Both will eventually work together.