Flying to Europe for a short-term stay as a non-EU resident? This page applies to you!
Discover the latest on the European Entry and Exit System (EES). Page last updated: May 2026.
New European Entry & Exit System (EES)
Everything you need to know from the travel experts
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What is the new European Entry & Exit System?
Since October 2025, travelling to Europe with a non-EU passport has changed significantly due to the arrival of the new Entry and Exit System (EES).
The EES, implemented by 29 countries, is designed to increase security.
If you're a non-EU citizen visiting an EU country for a short-term stay, then expect the following:
- A fingerprint scan
- A face scan
Although collecting this biometric data makes processing travellers more efficient, it can lead to long queues at the airport.
How does the new European Entry & Exit System impact travel?
Non-EU citizens visiting the EU can expect longer queues at the airport. Especially during special events and the summer holidays.
Tourist hubs have documented queues lasting over 3 hours. In some cases, these extremely long waits have caused people to miss their flights.
If you're travelling during the holidays from a very popular destination like Tenerife, Palma de Mallorca, or Lisbon, we recommend arriving earlier than the standard international advice of 3 hours.
Exemptions to the EES
Don't want to go through the EES? Check if you're exempt:
- EU nationals in countries that use the EES
- Nationals of Cyprus, Ireland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City
- Those travelling for one of the following: research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes/ educational projects and au-pairing
- Those with residence/ long-stay permits within the EU
- Those exempt from border checks (heads of state, accredited diplomats, etc.)
Discover the countries that have implemented the EES
25 EU and 4 Schengen-associated countries have rolled out the new EES. Discover major airports and standard wait times below.
| Countries with the EES | Most Served Airports | Average Queue Length |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Vienna International Airport (VIE) | Short |
| Belgium | Brussels Airport (BRU) | Medium |
| Bulgaria | Sofia Airport (SOF) | Short |
| Croatia | Zagreb Airport (ZAG) | Medium |
| Czechia | Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) | Short |
| Denmark | Copenhagen Airport (CPH) | Short |
| Estonia | Tallinn Airport (TLL) | Short |
| Finland | Helsinki Airport (HEL) | Short |
| France | Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) | Long |
| Germany | Frankfurt Airport (FRA) | Long |
| Greece | Athens International Airport (ATH) | Long |
| Hungary | Budapest Airport (BUD) | Medium |
| Iceland | Keflavík International Airport (KEF) | Short |
| Italy | Rome Fiumicino (FCO) | Long |
| Latvia | Riga Airport (RIX) | Short |
| Liechtenstein | Vaduz Airport (VAD) | Medium |
| Lithuania | Vilnius Airport (VNO) | Short |
| Luxembourg | Luxembourg Airport (LUX) | Short |
| Malta | Malta International Airport (MLA) | Medium |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) | Medium |
| Norway | Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) | Short |
| Poland | Warsaw Chopin (WAW) | Medium |
| Portugal | Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) | Medium |
| Romania | Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) | Short |
| Slovakia | Bratislava Airport (BTS) | Short |
| Slovenia | Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU) | Short |
| Spain | Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) | Long |
| Sweden | Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) | Short |
| Switzerland | Zurich Airport (ZRH) | Short |
The details to remember ahead of your next trip
EES - Key information
Only impacts non-EU citizens
Only relevant for short-term stays
Involves a biometric fingerprint & face scan
Flyer experiences with the EES
We had to wait on the plane due to long queues
KG says - "I travelled to Gran Canaria in February 2026 as a party of three. Our plane landed ahead of schedule, however, we were told to wait on the plane as there were long queues at passport control.
Once we got onto the buses to the terminal, we once again were told to wait as the queues were out the door. After queuing for 45 minutes inside the airport, we finally got to the EES desks."
Flyer experiences with the EES
My partner has a UK passport and queued for 40 minutes
CM says - "I was travelling to Amsterdam and ended up waiting for my partner to come through passport control.
I have an EU passport, so I was through in about two minutes, but he has a UK passport and had to queue for around 40 minutes."
Flyer experiences with the EES
I only had to queue for around 10 minutes
RB says - "I travelled to Vienna International Airport with a UK passport during half term and only had to queue for around 10 minutes.
I'd hurt one of my fingers at the time, so I had a plaster on one of them, but they were still able to scan my hands without any problems."
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New European Entry & Exit System FAQs
Why is the new EES happening?
The new European Entry and Exit system is designed to enhance security in the Schengen area.
It makes it easier for border staff to track whether tourists have stayed in the Schengen area longer than the permitted 90 days of a short-term trip.
What counts as a short stay in the EU?
You can stay in the EU and the Schengen Area for up to 90 days over a 180-day period.
If you want to stay longer than this, you'll need to apply for a long-stay visa or residency.
Do I have to go through EES if I'm staying for more than 90 days?
No. If you have residency or a long-term visa to an EU country, you won't need to go through EES.
You won't require the face and fingerprint biometric scan.
Do I have to go through EES every time I visit a country in the EU?
Yes. The EES logs each time you enter and exit a country using biometric scanners.
Eventually, this system will get a lot faster with self-service scanners at major airports.
Do I have to go through the EES if I have a UK passport?
Yes. Although the UK is a part of Europe, it isn't a member of the EU or the Schengen Area.
Therefore, unless you meet one of the exemptions mentioned earlier on the page, you'll have to go through the EES when travelling around Europe with a UK passport.