what bisonrav describes at DUS doesn't sound any worse than i have experienced elsewhere in europe, so i am not sure it is just a matter of the "Germans being bureaucratic".

perhaps this will settle down after it is completely rolled out - which is supposed to be by april 2026. however, fundamentally as noted they have gone for an overly complicated system. i also do not understand why having used the ees machine once - and presumably registered my biometrics - i still have to keep using the ees machine on subsequent visits, perhaps i won't need to post april. for now there still seem to be some horror stories regularly appearing on social media for some airports across the EU, despite having years to prepare.

[edit: as an added note, the travel to europe app sounds great as a way of bypassing the ees machines by allowing you to do most of the steps before you arrive. shame that despite the lengthy delays for implementing ees it seems the full country list of where you can use the app is: Sweden - that's it!]

edo01 - noting your generally positive posts on ees, can i ask what your experiences have been like entering the schengen area with a non EU passport?