04/24/2026
EES - Europe’s New Entry/Exit System: What You Need to Know Before You Go
As you prepare for your upcoming vacation to Europe, you may be hearing more and more about a new system called the Entry/Exit System (EES). At Trellis Travel, we want to make sure you feel informed, prepared, and confident before you go, so you know exactly what to expect when arriving in and departing from Europe.
EES is a digital border control system being introduced across much of Europe. Instead of stamping passports, border officials will electronically record when you enter and exit the Schengen Area. The system also collects biometric data, including a facial image and fingerprints, to securely link your identity to your travel record. The goal is to modernize border control, improve security, and eventually make crossings more efficient, although during the early rollout there may be some adjustment time.
The official website for the EES is https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees
When you arrive in Europe from the United States, your first stop in a Schengen country is where EES comes into play. For example, if you land at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, that is where you will complete both immigration and the EES entry process. After leaving the aircraft, you will follow signs for passport control. At this point, you may be directed to a self-service kiosk or directly to an immigration officer. Your passport will be scanned, and you will be asked to provide fingerprints and have your photo taken. This information is securely stored and linked to your entry record. Once completed, the officer will clear you to enter the country. After immigration, you will collect your luggage if needed and proceed through customs, which is typically a simple walk-through unless you have items to declare.
On departure, the experience is different and generally quicker. When you leave the Schengen Area, you will go through passport control before heading to your gate. This is where your exit is recorded in the EES system. Because your biometrics were already captured on arrival, this step usually involves scanning your passport and a brief check by an officer. There is no fingerprinting again in most cases, and the process should feel similar to a standard passport check today. After this, you proceed to your departure gate as usual. Customs is not part of the exit process, as it is primarily an entry procedure.
To make the process as smooth as possible, preparation is simple but important. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure from Europe. Arrive no less than three hours early for any flight out of the Schengen Area, especially if it is your first entry into Europe under EES, as biometric enrollment can add a few minutes per traveler and lines may be longer during peak times. Have your passport easily accessible and be ready to follow kiosk instructions if directed to one. If you have a biometric passport (with the gold camera logo on the cover), you can use the self-service kiosks when they're offered.
Travelers will encounter EES at most major airports within the Schengen Area, particularly those serving as primary international gateways. These include airports such as Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, Barcelona-El Prat Airport, Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, and Vienna International Airport. In general, if an airport is located in a Schengen country and handles international arrivals from outside the Schengen Area, EES will apply.
There are also well-known European airports where travelers will not encounter EES because those countries are not part of the Schengen Area. Examples include Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom and Dublin Airport in Ireland. Switzerland participates in Schengen, so airports like Zurich do use EES, while countries such as the UK and Ireland maintain their own separate border systems.
The key takeaway is that EES does not add new steps so much as it modernizes existing ones. You will still go through immigration when you arrive and passport control when you depart, but instead of a stamp in your passport, your travel is recorded digitally. With a little extra time and awareness, most travelers will find the process straightforward and easy to navigate.
NOTE: EES is not the same as ETIAS. ETIAS a visa-waiver system for Europe that allows eligible citizens to obtain the appropriate travel authorization for Europe by filling out a simple online form. ETIAS will become operational in the last quarter of 2026. The official website for the ETIAS is https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias
