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Europe's Entry Exit System (EES) now applies to U.S. and other non-EU travelers, having been fully implemented on April 10, 2026 after an initial partial roll-out by select airports starting in October 2025. It's a precursor to the anticipated Q4 2026 ETIAS Approval roll-out.
The new automated biometric system, which replaces passport stamps, records passport data as well as a facial image and fingerprints. Children below the age of twelve are required to provide a facial image, but do not have to provide fingerprints. Non-EU travelers only need to provide this data at their first EU port of entry; it isn't used for internal border controls, although it records their exit from the Schengen zone. Biometric data will be kept on file for three years following any Schengen entry, as long as the traveler complies with short-stay visa rules. Overstayers will have their data retained for five years.
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Long Lines and Delays
Already, even in the first week of implementation, EES has caused long lines and delays for many travelers. That's because this is the first time all these non-EU passengers (visitors and business travelers alike) are providing their facial scans and fingerprints, and airports and airport staff are still adjusting to the new system. On future trips that fall within three years after their first provision of biometric data, passengers won't have to re-register, which, as airports also improve efficiencies, should reduce delays.
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Avoid Having an Intra-Europe Connecting Flight
Particularly during this period of long delays, avoid booking a flight that requires a connecting intra-Europe flight. Aim to fly directly to your European destination, so that you don't face potentially long delays due to EES that could cause you to miss your onward flight.
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Allow Extra Time Both for Arrivals and Departures
If you can't avoid an onward connecting flight after landing in Europe, be sure to allow plenty of time for EES and to get to your next flight: say 3.5-4 hours instead of a couple hours. Similarly, plenty of time for flights departing the EU, because airports are still adjusting to the new biometric system for exit passport control as well.
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Avoid Certain Airports
This could change, but recently Paris CDG, Lisbon LIS, Amsterdam AMS, and Berlin BER, Rome FCO and Milan MXP have been some of the worst airports to go through with the longest EES lines and delays. Fewer lines have been reported at Barcelona BCN, Copenhagen CPH, Helsinki HEL, and Zurich ZRH.
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Avoid Peak Dates and Arrival Times
Many flights from the U.S. to Europe arrive in the morning, from ~7am to 10:30am. Consider taking a flight that arrives before or after that window, for example arriving 5:30 or 6am, or 11am or later.
If you have flexibility with your trip, also consider avoiding school holidays and peak summer travel; much of southern Europe, such as Italy and Spain, is too hot in July and August anyway; Athens, Rome, Barcelona, and Madrid tend to have more pleasant weather in late September.
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Who EES Applies To
The new European EES applies to all short-stay travelers (those staying up to 90 days out of a 180 day period) traveling to the Schengen Area who are not citizens of the EU and not citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. EES does not apply to non-EU citizens who hold a residence permit for an EU country, or who are entering to conduct research, study, voluntary service or for au pair employment. Similarly, those who hold a valid local border traffic permit, crew members of passenger and goods trains on international connecting journeys, and those who have been granted certain privileges which exempt them from border checks aren't subject to the EES.
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What Are the Schengen Countries That EES Applies To?
The Schengen countries using EES are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Ireland is in the European Union but is NOT in the Schengen Zone, so Ireland is not using EES. The UK left the EU so it is also not using EES.
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Why EES is Being Implemented
The stated purpose of the EES border management system is to “improve the effectiveness and efficiency of controls at the EU’s external borders.” Specifically, the EU wants to strengthen enforcement of its external borders against illegal migration by those who enter legally, but overstay and attempt to live and work in the EU illegally.
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