Official confirmation: EES (electronic entry exit system) soft launches 12th Oct 2025
Nov 4, 2025 | 2:41 am
#91
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+, BAC Silver (until 2026)
Posts: 4,119
Dover Port suspended plans to start EES last Saturday for car traffic. Apparently the French are not ready. It is being used for coach and truck passengers. I passed though an hour ago with no delays (by car).
Edit: EES now postponed at Dover until next year!
Edit: EES now postponed at Dover until next year!
Last edited by DaveS; Nov 7, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Nov 4, 2025 | 9:11 am
#92
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA silver /AY Basic / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Hilton Gold/ Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,997
Thats because its only been in place a couple of days and its not being implemented yet at major airports like AMS and FRA.
Today a Dutch friend posted on Facebook a time out article saying EES was causing 4 hour delays at AMS, FRA and CDG.
EES cant cause delays at airports where it hasnt even started yet, AMS isnt starting until November and itll be a slow start and will ramp up over a month or so.
Today a Dutch friend posted on Facebook a time out article saying EES was causing 4 hour delays at AMS, FRA and CDG.
EES cant cause delays at airports where it hasnt even started yet, AMS isnt starting until November and itll be a slow start and will ramp up over a month or so.
Also and rather oddly, everyone had to have hold and cabin baggage x rayed as they exited customs. Very slow at 3pm
Just one of 6 banks of machines at CDG that were not working 4/11/25
Last edited by binman; Nov 4, 2025 at 9:38 pm
Nov 6, 2025 | 10:46 am
#93
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Cotswolds, UK
Programs: BA GGL, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 172
My last flight into the EU was 24th Sept and I'm flying to Barcelona this Sunday. Despite reading up on the official website, I'm confused as to whether I need to take any action prior to flying? Or is it a bit like when you first go to the US and the border control officer takes your photo and fingerprints, then after that they just ask you to look into the camera on next visit? Any tips appreciated!
Nov 6, 2025 | 11:51 am
#94
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 318
My last flight into the EU was 24th Sept and I'm flying to Barcelona this Sunday. Despite reading up on the official website, I'm confused as to whether I need to take any action prior to flying? Or is it a bit like when you first go to the US and the border control officer takes your photo and fingerprints, then after that they just ask you to look into the camera on next visit? Any tips appreciated!
Nov 7, 2025 | 2:38 am
#95
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA silver /AY Basic / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Hilton Gold/ Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,997
Travel to Europe App
The EU have launched an app which in the future should allow non EU citizens to pre register their details ahead of travel. It is of very limited use at present only and is only valid if arriving in Sweden. It says it will be extended to other entry points in due course.
google Travel to Europe App. I got it on the App Store
google Travel to Europe App. I got it on the App Store
Nov 7, 2025 | 9:41 am
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, Marriott Tit
Posts: 18,397
WHOA! Was it T1 or T2 arrivals? I've never experienced this at T1. Have you seen this before? Could it be that there were some arrivals from a specific location?
Nov 7, 2025 | 10:18 am
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Gold, M&M*G, HH Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,875
The EU have launched an app which in the future should allow non EU citizens to pre register their details ahead of travel. It is of very limited use at present only and is only valid if arriving in Sweden. It says it will be extended to other entry points in due course.
google Travel to Europe App. I got it on the App Store
google Travel to Europe App. I got it on the App Store
Nov 7, 2025 | 12:27 pm
#98
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: AA LT EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 293
I looked at the app.
It appears to be a tool similar to the Visit Japan Web which collects in advance the traveler's trip information to help reduce the time at the actual process at the arrival airport. Visit Japan Web collects information such as flight number, hotel, duration of stay, answers to customs' questions... Then upon landing in Japan, you will still go through the immigration process for fingerprint collection/photo taking and the customs process.
Just my initial guess without actually using this app.
Looks like it is rolled out for use in Sweden only at this time.
It appears to be a tool similar to the Visit Japan Web which collects in advance the traveler's trip information to help reduce the time at the actual process at the arrival airport. Visit Japan Web collects information such as flight number, hotel, duration of stay, answers to customs' questions... Then upon landing in Japan, you will still go through the immigration process for fingerprint collection/photo taking and the customs process.
Just my initial guess without actually using this app.
Looks like it is rolled out for use in Sweden only at this time.
Nov 8, 2025 | 10:59 pm
#99
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 3,230
The EU have launched an app which in the future should allow non EU citizens to pre register their details ahead of travel. It is of very limited use at present only and is only valid if arriving in Sweden. It says it will be extended to other entry points in due course.
google Travel to Europe App. I got it on the App Store
google Travel to Europe App. I got it on the App Store
Nov 9, 2025 | 4:24 am
#100
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: London (ne Melbourne)
Programs: Qantas Platinum (Oneworld Emerald)
Posts: 1,329
It’s much slower now at some airports that we could previously use combined EU + third country eGates and then just hand our passport over for a stamp after walking through. Now back to being a separate non-EU queue and even though I had registered previously I had to have a new photo taken and 4 fingers again.
Nov 11, 2025 | 5:36 am
#101
Join Date: Feb 2021
Programs: BA Exec Club
Posts: 143
No machines operating on arrival at AGP yesterday.
Apparently AGP are still testing the mchaines by routing arrivals to them for only one hour each day. However even that caused chaos one day last week when it was taking arriving passengers over two hours to enter Spain. Some of the machines were malfunctioning apparently, so eventually they closed them all and routed passegers to the immigration desks for the usual passport swipe and stamp.
All European airports have until April to get their testing finished, but I predict total chaos for quite a long time after that unfortunately. And of course, in the meantime, visitors from Europe can continue to breeze through our Egates as if Brexit never happened.
Apparently AGP are still testing the mchaines by routing arrivals to them for only one hour each day. However even that caused chaos one day last week when it was taking arriving passengers over two hours to enter Spain. Some of the machines were malfunctioning apparently, so eventually they closed them all and routed passegers to the immigration desks for the usual passport swipe and stamp.
All European airports have until April to get their testing finished, but I predict total chaos for quite a long time after that unfortunately. And of course, in the meantime, visitors from Europe can continue to breeze through our Egates as if Brexit never happened.
Nov 18, 2025 | 7:10 am
#103
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LHR
Programs: VS Flying Club, UA Mileage Plus
Posts: 253
I can confirm that EES is NOT operational at AMS yet as I entered there on 14th November and it was the same as it was before EES as you just went and had your passport stamped alongsde some questions and it was the same when I departed on the 17th November, nothing new or different.
Dec 2, 2025 | 1:02 pm
#105
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 3,230
Another entry into Sweden at ARN: although I've been through once before have having registered with the EES app, it still took 10-15 minutes to get through. Those (non-EU) who had not registered seemed to just present their passport, have it stamped and on their way - I don't understand why the new system should be so time consuming! Will be interesting to see if it's the same faff trying to leave Sweden tomorrow... 