Introduction of European Entry-Exit Scheme (EES)

[WessexEclectic]

Does it seem currently that it’s a pretty random variation, country to country, as to enactment of the new procedures?

Or are some countries better/worse than others? (am travelling to Spain later this month…)

 

[Hadders]

At Malaga airport earlier I had to register my details at the self service kiosk. First kiosk didn’t work correctly but the 2nd one worked fine.

The signage was not clear about whether I could then use the e-gate or manual booth, I went to the manual booth but was told I could’ve gone to the e-gate.

Now I’ve registered my finger prints does that mean I don’t need to do this again? Can I just proceed to the e-gates, even at other airports?

 

[Bald Rick]

Geneva.
Long queue on way in. No machines, no fingerprints, nothing, just the old fashioned way with stamps.
Even longer queue on the way out. Again no machines / fingerprints etc. Aiprot staff asking everyone in the queue which flight they were on and bumping people up for flights that should already have departed.

 

[Class73Electro]

I believe it is. I will report back later this weekend as I have to pass through here. Dreading to think how bad it will be, but I've filled out this 'Travel to Europe' app - currently Sweden is the only country using it!!

Hi, did you pass through Arlanda in the end? just checking as I'm out there in a couple of weeks - first European flight since EES was put in service.

 

[dorsetdesiro]

Sweden is the only country using the EES app?

There really should be a more co-ordinated approach to the rollout, obviously not due to system difficulties, different cultural behaviours etc.

They possibly should have gone with 3 phased rollouts - first: Northern states, second: Eastern & Baltic states, then finally Southern & Mediterranean states.

As Brussels is insisting on the EES system so are they planning to push more partipicating states to use the EES app? It is odd the app seems voluntary which is only used by Sweden, this could help relieving the very long queues at Geneva & Lisbon etc.

 

[Mike395]

At Malaga airport earlier I had to register my details at the self service kiosk. First kiosk didn’t work correctly but the 2nd one worked fine.

The signage was not clear about whether I could then use the e-gate or manual booth, I went to the manual booth but was told I could’ve gone to the e-gate.

Now I’ve registered my finger prints does that mean I don’t need to do this again? Can I just proceed to the e-gates, even at other airports?

You shouldn't be asked for biometrics on every visit but you always need to answer the questions on each entry, at the moment this means a kiosk or officer on every single visit, but ultimately the intention is you'll be able to do these in a mobile app.

 

[chrisjo]

You shouldn't be asked for biometrics on every visit but you always need to answer the questions on each entry, at the moment this means a kiosk or officer on every single visit, but ultimately the intention is you'll be able to do these in a mobile app.

But see article quoted in post #601 above which says that they're going to keep taking at least one biometric, normally a face photo, on every occasion.

 

[Mike395]

But see article quoted in post #601 above which says that they're going to keep taking at least one biometric, normally a face photo, on every occasion.

Indeed - but this can be done by the software on the e-gates if someone doesn't go to a manned booth, rather than needing a separate kiosk.

 

[Broucek]

Hi, did you pass through Arlanda in the end? just checking as I'm out there in a couple of weeks - first European flight since EES was put in service.

I had a bad experience at Arlanda in October but that was just after the new rules had come in. The main problem was too few kiosks - there were three but one was for "priority customers" (families with kids, people with mobility issues) which meant two kiosks in reality, It took nearly an hour - I was in the middle of the plane and I'm a fast walker....

 

[Class73Electro]

I had a bad experience at Arlanda in October but that was just after the new rules had come in. The main problem was too few kiosks - there were three but one was for "priority customers" (families with kids, people with mobility issues) which meant two kiosks in reality, It took nearly an hour - I was in the middle of the plane and I'm a fast walker....

So little difference then from before! Arlanda always did seem a bit slow to get through.

How was coming back through?


As an aside, I saw a random article on my phone that EES is being delayed until after summer peak now. Lost the article, but a few random (unknown) sites seem to be suggesting similar; nothing on the main new sites yet. Anyone heard more?

 

[Broucek]

So little difference then from before! Arlanda always did seem a bit slow to get through.

How was coming back through?

It was fine but then the flow of passengers is more spread out on the way home.

The non-Schengen parts of Arlanda aren't great. By contrast, Copenhagen handles this better

 

[Hadders]

Exiting Malaga this afternoon:

Visit a kiosk and scan passport - no finger prints or photo taken, just a message to proceed to the e-gate
Go to the e-gate where another photo is taken (there was a separate e-gate lane for authorised non-EU persons)
Proceed to the staffed booth where Señor stamps my passport

So a three-step process which should really be one. Thankfully there were no queues but I dread to think what it'll be like on a summer Saturday.

 

[davetheguard]

Visit a kiosk and scan passport - no finger prints or photo taken, just a message to proceed to the e-gate
Go to the e-gate where another photo is taken (there was a separate e-gate lane for authorised non-EU persons)
Proceed to the staffed booth where Señor stamps my passport

This was exactly the three step process we encountered landing at Lanzarote airport just over a week ago.

A slow, but moving, queue in the small arrivals hall that had been completely filled with zig-zagging temporary barriers. Exactly half an hour from joining the queue to having the passport stamped.

 

[Reliablebeam]

@Class73Electro Apologies for not closing the loop on this, I only had my work devices on this trip and could not log in here!

Basically, I registered my trip on the Entry to Europe app. I was in business and was one of the first to arrive at passport control on a sunday afternoon. The app doesn't seem to make any of the process easier, but the woman who served me said she could see my return ticket, and asked me what hotel I was staying at. She did not do the usual Swedish delay nonsense of asking to see hotel bookings or return flight but I noticed people who didn't use the Travel to Europe app did get harassed for this. You have to scan your right hand and selfie on entry.

On departure from Arlanda, they made me scan the fingerprints again and the selfie. Fortunately the queue was quite small but this feels like something that could go badly wrong if it was busy.

In summary, the worst of all worlds - register these biometrics, and have to talk to one of their useless passport officers - I've been in developing countries that do this better...

 

[Mojo]

Data point for Barcelona (T1) - kiosks out of service. Manned desks only, they were taking prints and photographs at the desks but we didn’t have to do anything it was just an instant stamp.

Upon departure was made to go to a kiosk but the kiosk just said to go straight to the gate. The e-passport gates were in use and took an age to process, easily 5 times the length of time it takes in the UK. After the gates stamps were issued but there was nobody looking at the photo page.

 

[Class73Electro]

@Class73Electro Apologies for not closing the loop on this, I only had my work devices on this trip and could not log in here!

Basically, I registered my trip on the Entry to Europe app. I was in business and was one of the first to arrive at passport control on a sunday afternoon. The app doesn't seem to make any of the process easier, but the woman who served me said she could see my return ticket, and asked me what hotel I was staying at. She did not do the usual Swedish delay nonsense of asking to see hotel bookings or return flight but I noticed people who didn't use the Travel to Europe app did get harassed for this. You have to scan your right hand and selfie on entry.

On departure from Arlanda, they made me scan the fingerprints again and the selfie. Fortunately the queue was quite small but this feels like something that could go badly wrong if it was busy.

In summary, the worst of all worlds - register these biometrics, and have to talk to one of their useless passport officers - I've been in developing countries that do this better...

Thanks! Sounds not much different to before there then!

 

[kje7812]

Pic and fingerprints taken just at St. Pancras. I'll report on the return procedure Rotterdam tomorrow.

 

[itfcfan]

Pic and fingerprints taken just at St. Pancras. I'll report on the return procedure Rotterdam tomorrow.

Thanks for the data point.

Was that at the normal French passport control? Or were the new kiosks open and working (I'd heard they might be made available to Business Premier class first)?

What was the queuing time like? Off-peak time, midweek in February is probably the quietest time possible, so given my recent experiences at St Pancras I'd hope to get through in 10~15mins (i.e. from ticket gates to the main departure lounge - the part before the ticket gates is pretty variable depending on how early before the cut-off you arrive). Hopefully the EES protocols don't add too much to that, although reports from various airports where its being implemented aren't too encouraging!

 

[kje7812]

Thanks for the data point.

Was that at the normal French passport control? Or were the new kiosks open and working (I'd heard they might be made available to Business Premier class first)?

What was the queuing time like? Off-peak time, midweek in February is probably the quietest time possible, so given my recent experiences at St Pancras I'd hope to get through in 10~15mins (i.e. from ticket gates to the main departure lounge - the part before the ticket gates is pretty variable depending on how early before the cut-off you arrive). Hopefully the EES protocols don't add too much to that, although reports from various airports where its being implemented aren't too encouraging!

Normal french passport control. Not much time added for the pic and fingerprints, maybe 5 mins extra as the queue was a little slow (they didn't have many lanes open). Biggest hold up was waiting for security scanner as it taking quite a while and the guy in front took up three trays against my single.
I entered the queue for ticket gates after 15.45 and had managed to get through security and passport, buy a hot chocolate and find a seat by 16.20.

~~
Rotterdam Eurostar 11/02/26:
No EES, though the fingerprint pads are there.

 

[adc82140]

Just been through Portsmouth, Caen (Ouistreham), Dieppe and Newhaven this week. Passport stamped, no sign of any infrastructure for EES.

 

[stadler]

Just been through Portsmouth, Caen (Ouistreham), Dieppe and Newhaven this week. Passport stamped, no sign of any infrastructure for EES.

Likewise i have been on the Newhaven to Dieppe ferry multiple times since the EES launch in October and there is still zero sign of it here. I highly doubt that the rollout will be complete by their April deadline. From what i have heard there are still dozens and dozens of smaller ferry ports and land crossings and smaller airports like this. It is very slow progress.

 

[Howardh]

Likewise i have been on the Newhaven to Dieppe ferry multiple times since the EES launch in October and there is still zero sign of it here. I highly doubt that the rollout will be complete by their April deadline. From what i have heard there are still dozens and dozens of smaller ferry ports and land crossings and smaller airports like this. It is very slow progress.

Even if there is, it's remarkably slow to register (thoughts of it being run by windows 95!) and already out of date. Thinking if it's all so poor yet expensive, unless the software can be upgraded cheaply and quickly to scan faster and more accurately (I learn that many get rejected and have to be processed manually?) it probably can't be replaced due to cost, so will end up being a monument of the worlds biggest white elephant as we go back to stamping and abandon the whole thing?
And the ETIAS hasn't even started and that's been delayed since...when, 22?

 

[Class73Electro]

Just been through Portsmouth, Caen (Ouistreham), Dieppe and Newhaven this week. Passport stamped, no sign of any infrastructure for EES.

I know there are some of the computer desk things in St Malo foot pax terminal, but seem to have been there for ages and never been on. A lot of work done at Dover, but the... "minor" ie less news worthy ports seem to have been forgotten

 

[kje7812]

No EES this morning at St Pancras. I used one of the lanes at the King's Cross end rather than the other end which is where I had my fingerprints and pic taken last week.
Fingerprints taken at Bruxelles Midi this afternoon via normal passport desk. No photo, though there are new camera towers next to the desks. In a room to the right of passport control, there were what I assume are self-service kiosks, all bagged over.

 

[Howardh]

No EES this morning at St Pancras. I used one of the lanes at the King's Cross end rather than the other end which is where I had my fingerprints and pic taken last week.
Fingerprints taken at Bruxelles Midi this afternoon via normal passport desk. No photo, though there are new camera towers next to the desks. In a room to the right of passport control, there were what I assume are self-service kiosks, all bagged over.

Hasn't EES been more-or-less abandoned everwhere until autumn - due to worries of overcrowding, queues etc??

 

[Cloud Strife]

Hasn't EES been more-or-less abandoned everwhere until autumn - due to worries of overcrowding, queues etc??

No, April 10th is still the target date.

 

[EyeKay]

Just been through Porto airport this weekend. There appeared to be lots of new shiny machines that were switched on but not in use. Traditional manual stamp process.

 

[Class73Electro]

Not quite related, but close... Was thinking, Passport Control is before baggage pick up. If the border control guars decide they don't like you and send you back, how do you get your luggage back?

To keep relatively on topic, heading to Arlanda tomorrow... could be interesting... have to explain to them I've arrived just so I can catch the ferry to Poland! Will report back!

 

[Elwyn]

Not quite related, but close... Was thinking, Passport Control is before baggage pick up. If the border control guars decide they don't like you and send you back, how do you get your luggage back?

To keep relatively on topic, heading to Arlanda tomorrow... could be interesting... have to explain to them I've arrived just so I can catch the ferry to Poland! Will report back!

You get escorted to the baggage area to identify and retrieve your luggage.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Not quite related, but close... Was thinking, Passport Control is before baggage pick up. If the border control guars decide they don't like you and send you back, how do you get your luggage back?

Interesting question! Usually if you're referred to a second line check, then you're escorted to collect your baggage first. They sometimes find documents in the baggage that confirm the reason for the refusal: it's particularly common for Africans for instance to carry a lot of documents.