On your first entry to the Schengen Area since the EES started, the officer (or a self-service kiosk) scans your passport, takes a photo and 4 fingerprints and logs the date. On later trips they just check it's you. There's nothing to pay or apply for in advance.
Step by step
- Join the "all passports" or "non-EU" line (not the EU one).
- If there are self-service kiosks and you have a biometric passport, scan it, look at the camera and place your fingers on the reader.
- Go to the booth: the officer already has your data, checks your identity and may ask questions (purpose of trip, accommodation, money, return).
- If there are no kiosks, the officer does everything at the booth.
- Your passport isn't stamped: your entry is recorded electronically.
Children and special cases
- Children under 12 aren't fingerprinted, but they are photographed.
- If you travel on a Schengen visa, only your photo is taken: your fingerprints are already in the visa system.
- Family members of EU citizens traveling with them have specific rules.
Tips to get through faster
- Allow extra time on your first trip since the EES started.
- Have your accommodation booking and return ticket handy.
- Take off sunglasses and hats for the photo.
- Check whether your destination offers the Travel to Europe app to pre-register.
Self-service kiosks: what they do
Where available, kiosks let you register your passport data, photo and fingerprints and answer a few questions before reaching the officer, who then already has your data, the checks against databases and your remaining days. They require a biometric passport. Without one, you simply go straight to the booth: non-biometric passports are still accepted at the border.
If you travel with a Schengen visa
Visa holders only have their photo taken by the EES, because their fingerprints were already collected for the visa. The officer also checks the visa's validity and remaining entries.
Frequently asked questions
Am I registered when I leave too?
Yes, your exit date is recorded. On exit they usually just verify your identity.
Can I check how many days I have left?
Yes: the border officer can tell you and the EU has an official online tool. You can also use our 90/180 calculator.
Do children have to give fingerprints for the EES?
No. Children under 12 only have their photo taken.
What if I can't give fingerprints?
Tell the border officer. People who physically can't provide fingerprints are exempt from that step; the officer records the reason.
Will I be refused if my passport isn't biometric?
No. Valid non-biometric passports are accepted; you just can't use the kiosks.
Keep reading
Sources
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.