You are here: Home/travel-blog/Europe/ What Is The Europe EES (Entry/Exit System) & How Does It Work?
On October 12, 2025, Europe rolled out a new digital border control system called EES (Entry/Exit System). If you’re visiting the Schengen Zone (for tourism or short stays up to 90 days), your passport stamps are being replaced with a biometric record. This guide walks you through exactly how it works, what changes on your next trip, and practical tips to make your border crossing smoother.
We are The Tour Guy, and we’ve helped thousands of travelers explore Europe. This is your ultimate cheat sheet for one of the most important steps—navigating the new Europe EES.
New EU Border Rules Explained for US, UK & Canada Travelers
You hold a U.S., Canadian, or U.K. passport (plus most other non-EU passports).
You’re visiting for a short stay—up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
You’re not in EES if…
You’re a citizen of an EU or Schengen country.
You hold a long-stay visa or residence permit for an EU/Schengen country.
A note on kids and the EES
Under 12: No fingerprints. Still expect a passport scan and a live photo.
12 and up: Photo + four fingerprints on the first entry after EES starts.
What Actually Happens at the Border (Step-by-Step)
Your first EES trip (registration)
Show your passport at a kiosk or border control booth.
The kiosk or officer will read your passport information (name, nationality, travel document number, etc.).
A live photo (facial image) is taken.
You’ll place four fingers (two on each hand, or otherwise specified) on a fingerprint scanner.
The system logs your entry into the EES—no ink stamp, just a digital record.
On Departure (Leaving the Schengen Area)
The system records your exit digitally.
Because everything is tracked, there’s no physical exit stamp (or at least, it’s not the official record).
On Return Visits (Within Valid Stay Period)
Once your data is registered, subsequent trips should be much quicker. The system will recognize your passport and match it with the biometrics already stored. You will often only need a photo check or a simple scan, making repeat entries more efficient than the first.
Heads up: For your first time under EES, expect it to take longer than a typical passport control. Be prepared for extra processing time.
What This Means for Your Europe Trip in 2025–2026
Expect delays at first
Rollout won’t be perfectly smooth. Some borders will be ready; others will stall.
Budget extra time on arrival—especially late 2025 through early 2026.
No “fudging” the 90/180 rule
EES makes overstays obvious. If you like to “cut it close,” don’t.
90/180 explained: You can be in the Schengen Zone up to 90 days total within any rolling 180-day window.
Practical timing advice
Arrivals: Add 30–60 extra minutes to your normal border-crossing time frame during the soft launch.
Connections: Avoid tight layovers on your first EES entry.
Peak times: Morning arrivals tend to come with longer lines. Midday or late-evening flights usually have shorter line.
Documents handy: To make the process quicker, have your passport ready and remove your hat and sunglasses.
Angel Castellanos, www.AngelsTravelLounge.com , is a multi-media travel expert and travel journalist that has appeared on BBC News, Los Angeles Times, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, Univision, Frommers Radio, USA Today. Angel is also an acclaimed speaker appearing as a featured travel expert with the Travel & Adventure Show and New York Times Travel Show. 80+ Countries, 5 Continents and counting. He's passionate about travel to Europe, especially to Italy & France, countries he's visited every year of his adult life.
