Has been same location for many years (pre-COVID).

Yes it is definitely hidden. Federal Police Service Center is located Terminal 1 Level 3 between T1 main check-in area (Level 2) and the Skyline train (Level 4). From main check-in area, look for signs to the Skyline train to Terminal 2 and you take the stairs/escalators to go from Level 2 to Level 3. Make a hard right U-turn after the escalator/stairs. If you reached the Skyline train, you've gone too far and need to go back down to Level 3.

Frankfurt Airport map with navigation - Search for Federal Police. Select only result of Federal Police Service Center. Click Navigation.

My understanding is that its good for the life of the passport. However when I enrolled in FRA at the end of February 2025 (or very early March) they told me the same thing (only good for 1 year). Given both of our experiences were at FRA we could have had the same agent who is potentially misinformed or there will be a change when EES comes online. Regardless, it saved me at least 30 minutes in line this morning on a connection in FRA onto MAD.

I enrolled two weeks ago at DUS. No mention of only 1 year. Website still states for the life of the passport.

Previously enrolled my USA passport last year. Attempted to exit in the EastPass lane at FRA this morning and was declined. I'm assuming it was because I entered Schengen in France, but it was worth a shot. Fortunately, the passport lane was only five minutes. I will be entering Schengen in BER next month, so I'm hoping I will finally get some use of my enrollment.

Honestly, it feels like a waste of time for anyone not specifically flying in and out of Germany at least 2-3 times a year. Really wish they had something for Schengen. I would happily pay for the privilege.

In the end, the espace Schengen is 29 different countries and we haven't harmonised our entry exit systems yet.

CDG is great for that because various non-EU passeport holders can use the automated queues for entry and exit without registering, and I know AMS allows that on exit. The systems in Germany just never seem to work reliably; I'm a permanent resident and the EU queue never works for me so I go to manual queue, only to have the angry agent say "use the automated one" and me reply "it refuses my passport". :rolleyes: Thankfully I don't generally enter/exit Schengen in Germany.

Entering in France and exiting Germany has nothing to do with it. Pre-COVID, it worked on exit regardless of which country you enter.

It could be that the FRA agent mentioned earlier by another poster is correct that it is only valid for one year despite website indicating life of passport (and historically it was valid for life of passport). I too newly enrolled last year but didn't have an opportunity to use at all until this year. E-gate into Germany rejected it.

Can confirm that it worked at FRA exit last month for my wife (after entering Schengen in Spain)…

…. and her registration with the Bundespolizei was at least five years ago.

If it’s really just good for a year now, we won’t bother with it when the passport renews later this year.

Exit doesn't require any registration anymore. Everyone from certain countries (incl the US) above 12 with a biometric passport can use the egates to exit.

I registered my passport at MUC less than 12 months ago, so it was not a timeout issue. When I scanned the my passport at the EasyPass gate, I got an X on the screen. I attempted to ask the agent standing there if I was required to enter via Germany to use the exit gate, but the UK flag on his name badge apparently didn't actually mean that he speaks/understands English, so I gave up and entered the regular queue. FWIW, I entered Schengen via the Eurostar a week earlier.

Hmm, is that documented anywhere? Because the same gate that let my wife pass with her registered US passport rejected mine right afterwards (senior moment; not sure why I even tried it when I knew I had to use my EU passport).

I am registered and it rejected my fairly new biometric USA passport yesterday at T1 in FRA, so that is clearly not accurate. The signs at the E-gate very clearly indicated that they were only for EU/EEA residents.

It's available in MUC T1 &T2:

https://www.munich-airport.com/autom...ontrol-1028169

So confusing…

The only signs I remembered allowing exit out with US passport (or non-EU) was ex-FRA (this was pre COVID).

Two weeks ago, no sign indicating US passport (non-EU) are allowed at egates when exiting via transit at FRA. Also no sign listing US/non-EU allowed exiting at DUS.

Not really, this is in preparation for the new EU EES which will start in October 2025. Under the new system people will be able to leave the EU using the egates.

https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en