Introduction of European Entry-Exit Scheme (EES)

[Freightmaster]

Seamless experience at Schiphol last week...

Not quite so seamless at Athens recently:

Athens passport mega queue strands Luton-bound Ryanair passengers

A flight from Athens to Luton leaves without "angry" passengers who are stuck at passport control.

www.bbc.co.uk

Why is the experience so different between airports/countries??

 

[308165]

Not quite so seamless at Athens recently:

Athens passport mega queue strands Luton-bound Ryanair passengers

A flight from Athens to Luton leaves without "angry" passengers who are stuck at passport control.

www.bbc.co.uk

Why is the experience so different between airports/countries??

To some extent this reads like Ryanair were being deliberately awkward (what a surprise), you would have thought it would have been quicker to let people through than waste an hour extracting bags from the hold.

It probably also suggests the airport are no good at managing the queue. At Dubrovnik last week they were pulling people out of the queue for specific flights, and they do the same at Leeds when the security queue is vast.

So fault all round!

 

[signed]

Why is the experience so different between airports/countries??

Some airports are just this badly managed and aren’t nearly as ready as they need to handle summer flows (or all year flows like at LIS/AMS/CDG and FRA)

IMO, part comes to the layout of the airport, part come to management, part come to the lack of staff and/or the present staff’s willingness to work, and finally, in the case of passport control, to broken IT.

 

[308165]

in the case of passport control, to broken IT

Does it never occur to anyone to test IT before they inflict it on people? This isn't just an EES thing but a wider issue.

 

[Broucek]

Amsterdam (Schipol) was very slick in and out for me. (Although my colleague had a 10 minute delay on the way home when the machine didn't accept him.)

 

[signed]

Does it never occur to anyone to test IT before they inflict it on people? This isn't just an EES thing but a wider issue.

We are very far from the time actually competent people were in management at IT consultancies.

Nowadays it’s a number game and everything needs to be done as fast as possible with no regard to quality, especially shown with the absurd numbers of layoffs in that space.

And of course, we have the issues that companies don’t understand that there is very much a point to having IT in-house.

 

[The exile]

We are very far from the time actually competent people were in management at IT consultancies.

Nowadays it’s a number game and everything needs to be done as fast as possible with no regard to quality, especially shown with the absurd numbers of layoffs in that space.

And of course, we have the issues that companies don’t understand that there is very much a point to having IT in-house.

And to too many companies IT (and its acolytes) is a kind of god, infallible and demanding of sacrifices, but promising salvation to all who obey.

 

[JamesT]

And to too many companies IT (and its acolytes) is a kind of god, infallible and demanding of sacrifices, but promising salvation to all who obey.

IT is like many things, it needs an informed customer. If you know what you want and ask for it, you'll probably get it. But too many requests are vague and then an objection is made that the produced product isn't what the customer wanted. Many IT systems can be inflexible, but it often amazes me how much effort is made on customising the IT system to match how people currently work, when it can be more efficient to go the other way.

 

[scarby]

Thinking about this EES system, are their actually any positives at all, and any that outweigh the now huge negatives that have already happened and continued to happen? Namely the countless thousands who have wasted hours stuck in queues when they could be doing something better (which is almost anything), delays to travel, and in the worst case people actually missing flights.

What are the positives in this? Does it really matter if some people overstay their 90 days, which in most cases most likely has no negative impact on society? Does it do anything to prevent criminality, and could this not be better prevented by allocating resources precisely towards that?

In short, would it actually matter at all if instead of EES, entrants to the EU simply had their passport examined at a booth and then waved through if all good? Surely then the huge positive of instantly ending all this inconvenience for thousands of customers would outweigh whatever few negatives might occur?

 

[Class73Electro]

OK so... very interesting experience at Bergamo yesterday. For context, was there for a daytrip.

Arrived and directed to a machine. I estimate at least 30 machines there... of which about five or size were actually on and in use... So machine took my fingerprints (right hand fingers only though!) and photo. And it asks questions. Stay duration, so I selected 0-15 days. next question... Accommodation. With no option for none required, going home today. tried to ask lady there who just said something unrelated and walked off. So ended up selecting hotel, next question do you have a reservation, so selected no. Thankfully it did accept this, and was sent to the e-Gate. Which didn't like my passport and rejected it so ended up going to the manual gate. very bored guard just took my passport stamped it (yes I know!) and sent me on my way!

Coming back have to go via the the machines again, fingerprints and photo retaken (not sure why?!) go to eGate, and again it rejected my passport, so ended up going to the border guard again, who this time made me take my photo and fingerprints again (not sure how many times they need them! and what if you don't have a right hand!

Very faffy, but didn't take too long, about 10-15 minutes each way. Bu then I was pretty much one of the first off the plane, and we were the only non Schengen plane there I think (not that the airport was that busy.

 

[Mag_seven]

Not a good experience at Kraków this evening. Three flights from the UK arrived at roundabout the same time - result was a massive queue to be seen by an agent. Took about 45m to get seen. No EES kiosks anywhere. Agent took about 5 mins reading through every page of my passport that had stamps on it. In all it was just over an hour from alighting from the plane to exiting the airport. I am starting to get a bit fed up with the whole thing now in particular the long queues and inconsistent application.

 

[nap666]

Arrived at Athens last Sunday (Twice), go around due to wind shear, passport scanned by staff, no fingerprints or photo, no e-gates working, took longer walking Disney queue than passport check. Departed today again staff checked passport, no stamps etc.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Frankly I think this is a colossal waste of time and money.
The risk posed by those who qualify for a visa exemption is tiny.

 

[Spamcan81]

Anyone been through Stockholm Arlanda recently?

 

[eoff]

AMS transit schengen to non-shengen at around 1310 yesterday, 0 queue for e-gates.

 

[E94]

OK so... very interesting experience at Bergamo yesterday. For context, was there for a daytrip.

Arrived and directed to a machine. I estimate at least 30 machines there... of which about five or size were actually on and in use... So machine took my fingerprints (right hand fingers only though!) and photo. And it asks questions. Stay duration, so I selected 0-15 days. next question... Accommodation. With no option for none required, going home today. tried to ask lady there who just said something unrelated and walked off. So ended up selecting hotel, next question do you have a reservation, so selected no. Thankfully it did accept this, and was sent to the e-Gate. Which didn't like my passport and rejected it so ended up going to the manual gate. very bored guard just took my passport stamped it (yes I know!) and sent me on my way!

Coming back have to go via the the machines again, fingerprints and photo retaken (not sure why?!) go to eGate, and again it rejected my passport, so ended up going to the border guard again, who this time made me take my photo and fingerprints again (not sure how many times they need them! and what if you don't have a right hand!

Very faffy, but didn't take too long, about 10-15 minutes each way. Bu then I was pretty much one of the first off the plane, and we were the only non Schengen plane there I think (not that the airport was that busy.

I exited via Bergamo yesterday (entry was via Zurich) and found it totally chaotic. Pretty quick, but no-one seemed to have any idea which way to go and both at the entrance to the passport check, and between EES terminals and the E-gates and booths encountered groups of people heading in the opposite direction.
Started with the EES terminal, it took photo and fingerprint, asked if I was travelling with anyone under 12 (no) then gave me the green light to go. The only issue is it told me to use the automated exit, and there are no signs telling you where to go from the terminals, just a bank of E-gates labelled EU only!
Tried the e-gate, got rejected and directed to a manual check, where they took another photo (3rd) and a second set of fingerprints.
Left me questioning what the point of the terminal was.

 

[Barnsley]

Just arrived at Düsseldorf, machines cordoned off, went to desk, right hand prints taken, passport stamped! Bonus!

 

[TAS]

Went through Hoek van Holland as a foot passenger the other weekend. Slightly slower service than I've had there before, but still pretty efficient, albeit we were towards the front of the queue leaving the boat on the way in and arrived halfway through check-in on the way back. Three officers on duty on Saturday morning (plus another who seemed more senior standing in the booth with two officers), two on Sunday evening.

I had fingerprints and photos requested in both directions, my boyfriend only fingerprints each time. I haven't travelled to the EU since EES came fully into force but he has a few times, so probably that explains it, though my biometrics were registered by a French officer at St Pancras during the phase-in period.

We had the usual questions about length of stay and destination, but presumably due to his nationality he got asked some I wasn't (occupation, residence etc.) and there was a bit of discussion between the agents before we were allowed through each time (maybe them checking the visa-free period he's entitled to as I suspect they don't see many people of his nationality at this border, though the period is actually the same as for British citizens).

 

[rmHawk765]

Arguably a daft question, but I'll ask once again, why? What issue necessitated this costly, issue-riddled and inconvenient system to exist?

 

[signed]

Arguably a daft question, but I'll ask once again, why? What issue necessitated this costly, issue-riddled and inconvenient system to exist?

There is no way that Schengen could continue with stamps, as most developed countries have already

Enforcement of length of stay was lax if not inexistant at a lot of ports, as looking individually to find stamps takes ages, a global database is just easier, faster, and an ideal world, could lead some day to a full eGates system à la Singapore.

Or even a fully electronic visa system, like in the UK is becoming or Australia/NZ has been for 15-20 years now, saving millions of people very expensive trips to the embassies, visa processors.

Now it's the implementation that's royally flawed, but that's another subject and a lot of the issues come down to a massively diversified application (laws, means of each port of entry, willingness) at a unheared of scales.
And regardless of the implementation, good IT has disappeared at that scale.

Digital or globally accepted ID card format passport is something that is nearly guaranteed to happen in the medium term, so stamps would have had to go anyways even if it wasn't now;

 

[JamesT]

Arguably a daft question, but I'll ask once again, why? What issue necessitated this costly, issue-riddled and inconvenient system to exist?

People overstaying their visa(-exemption) in the Schengen area.

 

[matt]

Entered Vienna airport last night. Used the registration machines although I've already registered twice before When I got to the manual inspection apparently I was in the system twice so they had to phone someone. It was something to do with my Porto visit recently. Luckily only took a few minutes to resolve.

 

[TravelDream]

Arguably a daft question, but I'll ask once again, why? What issue necessitated this costly, issue-riddled and inconvenient system to exist?

The answer is very obvious.

They need a solution that can seamlessly check if someone has the right to enter the Schengen zone the length someone has been in it (both continuously and collectively over time).

The old solution of stamps in a passport, matching stamps up and counting days is not a viable solution in 2026.

I am sure most people who've traveled much have stories of being waved through passport control without even a cursory check of their passport. There are also other stories of strict checks and cross-checks at other airports. Lack of consistency is a massive issue in protecting Europe's borders.


How it's been implemented is a very different story and is obviously a bit of a disaster this summer. However, let it bed in and see what it's like in 24 months time and I am sure it will be a much more positive picture.

 

[route101]

The answer is very obvious.

They need a solution that can seamlessly check if someone has the right to enter the Schengen zone the length someone has been in it (both continuously and collectively over time).

The old solution of stamps in a passport, matching stamps up and counting days is not a viable solution in 2026.

I am sure most people who've traveled much have stories of being waved through passport control without even a cursory check of their passport. There are also other stories of strict checks and cross-checks at other airports. Lack of consistency is a massive issue in protecting Europe's borders.


How it's been implemented is a very different story and is obviously a bit of a disaster this summer. However, let it bed in and see what it's like in 24 months time and I am sure it will be a much more positive picture.

I remember Greece was like that, they just waved you through!

 

[Reliablebeam]

I am sure most people who've traveled much have stories of being waved through passport control without even a cursory check of their passport. There are also other stories of strict checks and cross-checks at other airports. Lack of consistency is a massive issue in protecting Europe's borders.


How it's been implemented is a very different story and is obviously a bit of a disaster this summer. However, let it bed in and see what it's like in 24 months time and I am sure it will be a much more positive picture.

But isn't this a big part of the problem, that individual countries are basically able to choose how they want to implement this system? I've had completely different experiences entering Spain or France versus the unpleasant, deliberate problems and aggravation going into the Sweden and Denmark which are patently punishment of British passport holders for Brexit. There's no standardisation, at all.

 

[Djgr]

However, let it bed in and see what it's like in 24 months time and I am sure it will be a much more positive picture.

Blimey, 24 months!!

 

[signed]

Blimey, 24 months!!

At such a humonguous scale with such major incompetence at every level with no willingness to improve, 24 months is conservative

 

[308165]

How it's been implemented is a very different story and is obviously a bit of a disaster this summer. However, let it bed in and see what it's like in 24 months time and I am sure it will be a much more positive picture.

24 months *might* be ok once most people who travel have been through it once, but the digital profile only lasts three years, so in three years time there will be another bulge in demand for new profiles placing more pressure on the hopeless IT.

It's just another example of an IT solution being seen as a miracle cure when it's only half baked. It would have been better for the EU to mandate a standard technology, make sure it was rolled out then implement it.

 

[TravelDream]

I remember Greece was like that, they just waved you through!

Spain too for many years. Zero minute queues despite one officer and several hundred passengers.

Though the risk profile has changed greatly compared to the olden days of charter flights and everyone being on a package holiday with that company.

But isn't this a big part of the problem, that individual countries are basically able to choose how they want to implement this system? I've had completely different experiences entering Spain or France versus the unpleasant, deliberate problems and aggravation going into the Sweden and Denmark which are patently punishment of British passport holders for Brexit. There's no standardisation, at all.

I am sorry but this is patently laughable and screams of someone unhappy that project fear is actually project reality.

Europe has the right to protect its borders against non-EU nationals like Brits.

The system applies to all third country nationals. Americans, Australians, Canadians etc. etc. It doesn't just pick on little Englanders. You can't retain the benefits of a club unless you're a member at the end of the day.

On the differences, yes, each country has implemented it in its own way. It one of the things that makes the EU a bit of a disaster but also totally workable. Rules and regulations can be molded and adapted locally - officially or semi-officially. Delays happen and are just accepted. Differences will iron out over time, no doubt.

The old system was stuck in the past and not fit for purpose. Something had to change and digitization is the answer as it very quickly allows an officer to check someone's right to enter the Schengen zone and the time spent in it.

Blimey, 24 months!!

Maybe I was being conservative as one poster said above.
It's going to cause issues at least this summer and next summer to a lesser extent. There may be issues in three years too, but I imagine this will be greatly smoothed out by then.
Fundamentally, the system has to work to protect Europe's borders. Even more lax countries implementing the system have a strong imperative to strengthen border security.

 

[Cloud Strife]

But isn't this a big part of the problem, that individual countries are basically able to choose how they want to implement this system? I've had completely different experiences entering Spain or France versus the unpleasant, deliberate problems and aggravation going into the Sweden and Denmark which are patently punishment of British passport holders for Brexit. There's no standardisation, at all.

This is basically it. The idea was something like this:

- if needed, register on the EES system. This could be done via an app, via a kiosk, etc. They were supposed to be located away from the first line controls, so that passengers could register in peace.

- once registered, travellers would proceed to the first line controls. The biometric data would be checked, either via a photograph or fingerprints, while the EES records would be checked.

The first line control could be manual checks or e-gates, but the idea was to funnel as many people as possible through the e-gates. The UK is the textbook example here: most people go through them with no problems at all.

If something was wrong such an overstay, the traveller would be directed for a second line control. The e-gates would also have the possibility of "detaining" the passenger until sometime could come to deal with them.

--

Unfortunately, what has happened is that some countries have created a truly idiotic implementation where the kiosks are being used for border control as well as EES registration. It makes zero sense, as it means chaos with people having problems with registration being mixed up with people who simply need to get through border control.

On top of this, many airports have dramatically reduced staffing levels. It's not uncommon to see as few as two people working on manual controls, meaning huge queues.

If the system was implemented properly, it would be seamless and straightforward. Unfortunately, it seems that quite a few countries simply botched it, and that many IT issues simply weren't resolved properly.