05/17/2026
🛂TRAVEL UPDATE: On April 10th, started the new EES system implementation which is scheduled to be fully implemented around the last quarter of 2026.
Expect long wait times at customs, immigration, and passport control areas when entering and exiting the European Union.
The EU’s new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) replaces manual passport stamps at border crossings. All visitors from non-EU countries must register their biometric information with the EES when they first enter any Schengen Area country.
If you’re travelling on a non–EU passport, please plan for significant delays. Not all airports offer self-serve options, so even if you’re already registered, there may be long queues and wait times during peak periods. If you have a connecting flight within Europe, make sure you head to the passport control area straight away to give yourself as much time as possible before your next flight.
Here's how the EES works:
The first time you enter or exit a country using EES, a passport control officer will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints. Your biometric data will be stored for three years.
The next time you enter or exit a country using EES, a passport control officer will only need to verify your photo and/or fingerprints.
If you’re travelling on a passport with a biometric chip, you’ll be able to use self-serve kiosks at border crossings, where available, and then a passport control officer will review your travel information and confirm your identity.
For more information, visit the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) website.
Remember that you’re responsible for meeting all entry, exit, and transit requirements for each country on your itinerary, and local officials have the final say on whether you can cross their country or territory’s border.
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