Originally Posted by edo01

I’ve only entered the EU through Italy since the introduction of the new EES. More specifically, I’ve been to VCE, FCO and MXP (the three biggest international gateways in Italy). I was traveling with my GF who holds a US passport (I hold an Italian one, but I joined her in the non-EU route since it was always quicker than the EU channels).

Since the introduction of the EES, citizens of countries allowed to use the eGates cannot go directly to an available eGate, everyone must visit a kiosk for the pre-registration.


STEP 1: Kiosk registration for everyone aged 12 and over with an ePassport. Those holding visas and residence permits are sent directly to staffed desks.
Returning travelers are also required to use the kiosk.
Apart from scanning the passport, taking photos and fingerprints, there’re also a couple of questions to answer.

- what is the purpose of your visit?
- how long will be staying in the Schengen area?
- where are you staying? (hotel/friend’s house, etc.)
- how much money do you have with you?
- where do you have this amount of money? (credit card/cash/bank account)
- do you have a travel insurance?

Please note that this is an official form, and you should answer truthfully (lying on an official form in Italy is a felony and you could be sentenced to jail and/or being denied entry).


STEP 2: if you hold a passport eligible to eGates, the kiosk screen will tell you, at the end of the registration process, to use an eGate. If not, you’ll have to see an officer at the desk.

Only at FCO, you’ll get an EES sticker on the back of your passport, since the kiosk are located in multiple areas of the arrival concourse and only those with a sticker are allowed to join the express lanes to the passport control area,

At the eGate, you’ll have to re-scan your passport, have a picture re-taken and your fingerprints re-scanned. Past the gate, there’s an officer who stamps the passport.

For those referred to the desks, there’s no dedicated queue (aside from FCO). Your fingerprints and photos will be taken again at the booth. You may be asked to show return tickets and proof of accommodation to the officer like in the past.




You’ll always have to visit a kiosk when entering the Schengen area, since each time you need to fill a new arrival form digitally via a kiosk. This form may be “filled” orally to an officer if the border post does not have kiosks available, or via the Travel to Europe app in the future.