Heading to Europe? What to Know About the New Entry/Exit System (EES)

Heading to Europe? Here's Something Worth Knowing Before You Go

The European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is now active, and if you have a Europe trip on the horizon, it’s worth knowing what that means before you land.

Instead of the familiar passport stamp, many arrivals now go through a digital border process. Non-EU travelers may be asked for biometric data at entry — a facial scan, fingerprints, and passport details — all recorded electronically through the new system.

The goal is stronger border security and smoother tracking over time, but right now the adjustment period is still creating delays in some places, especially at larger international airports and busy rail entry points.

What that means for your trip is simple: give yourself more time than you normally would.

If your itinerary includes a connecting flight within Europe, build in a comfortable buffer. A short layover that once felt manageable can become stressful quickly if border processing is backed up.

A few practical things to keep in mind:

• Avoid tight connections on your Europe arrival day

• If your trip has multiple flight legs, longer layovers are worth it right now

• Keep early-day plans flexible if possible

• Have your passport ready and expect your first entry to take longer than future crossings

Travel has always had moving parts. This is simply one more piece to plan around — and knowing it ahead of time makes the first day feel much easier.