Traveling to Europe? Everything Families Need to Know about EES

If you have a European family vacation in the coming months, you'll want to get all the details about the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES). Gone are the days when we gathered passport stamps each time we entered a new country. The EES is a new digital border system that requires non-EU citizens to provide fingerprints and a facial scan upon entry and exit. 

While the process is designed to improve border security and streamline future travel, it also means families should expect a few changes the first time they visit under the new system. Here's what parents need to know before traveling to the Schengen region. 

What is the Entry/Exit System?

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new automated border management system that will replace the manual passport stamps travelers are used to receiving when entering and leaving participating European countries. 

Instead of stamping passports, border officials will create a digital record of each traveler's entry and exit. The system tracks how long visitors stay within the Schengen Area, helping authorities monitor the 90-days-in-180-days rule that applies to many non-European visitors. 

The EES applies to travelers from visa-exempt countries—including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many others—who are visiting participating countries for short stays. Currently, 29 Schengen Area countries participate in the program, including France, Italy, and Spain, as well as other popular tourist destinations. 

What will families have to do? 

For most families, the biggest change comes during the first trip after the EES begins. The first time each traveler enters a participating country, border officials will collect: 

• passport information

• a facial photograph

• fingerprints (for travelers aged 12 and up)

Every traveler has their own digital record, including children. This biometric information is securely stored so it can be used during future visits, making later border crossings faster and reducing the need for repeated data collection. 

Do children have to register? 

Yes. Children are included in the Entry/Exit System, but the process varies by age. Every child needs their own valid passport and individual EES record. Border officers will take a facial image for children as part of the registration process. Fingerprints are only required for children aged 12 and up. 

Can children use self-service EES kiosks?

Some airports offer self-service EES kiosks that allow travelers to scan their own passports and collect their biometric data. Children under age 12 cannot use the self-service EES kiosks; they must be processed by a border officer at a staffed booth. Families with children under age 12 should plan to stay together to be processed by the border patrol officer. Keep an eye out for special family queues to speed up the process. 

What should families do before traveling? 

The new system doesn't require travelers to fill out additional paperwork prior to departure, but a little preparation can make arrival much smoother. 

Before you leave: 

• Check that every family member has a passport with enough remaining validity for your destination. (Note: Some destinations require you to have at least six months remaining on your passport to enter.)

• Review the latest entry requirements for the countries you'll visit. 

• Explain the process to young children so they know a border officer will take their picture or ask them to place their fingers on a scanner if they're old enough.

• Pack your patience in case immigration lines are longer than expected. 

The bottom line

For most families, the Entry/Exit System won't dramatically change a European vacation. The biggest difference is simply that the first border crossing may take a little longer while each traveler is enrolled in the new system.