This guide forms part of our complete France Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across France.
As of April 10, 2026, the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational for non-EU travelers (including Canadians) entering the Schengen Area for short stays (90 days within 180 days).
It replaces manual passport stamping with digital registration of biometric data (fingerprints/photo) at kiosks, likely causing initial airport delays.
Migration and Home Affairs
Key EES Information for Travelers
• Target Population: Non-EU citizens visiting 29 European countries for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Not applicable for residents or long-stay visa holders.
• Procedure: Instead of stamping your passport, border agents will now collect: Fingerprints. Facial recognition (biometric photo). Entry/exit records stored digitally
• Validity: Once registered, data is stored for three years, meaning you don’t need to re-register upon every entry, making future border crossings faster.
• Voluntary Pre-registration: You can use the official “Travel to Europe” app to pre-register your data 72 hours before arrival to save time.
• Overstays: The digital system automatically flags overstays, leading to possible fines, deportation, or future bans.
• Important Check: Ensure you are aware of which countries are in the Schengen area to understand where this applies. What to Expect (April 2026)
• Delays: Widespread delays are anticipated at airports and border crossings during the initial months of implementation.
• Implementation: While officially live, some countries may temporarily use manual backups during technical issues.
• Countries using EES (Schengen Area): France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Croatia, plus associated states: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein
• Exceptions: Ireland and Cyprus are currently not part of the EES system.
**Note: The EES is different from the upcoming ETIAS authorization, which is a pre-travel authorization for visa-exempt travellers. Instead of stamping your passport, border agents will now collect:
Fingerprints, Facial recognition (biometric photo), Entry/exit records stored digitally.
📍 Who it affects:
Travellers from outside the EU/Schengen Zone (including Canadians, Americans, UK travellers)
🌍 Countries using EES (Schengen Area):
France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Croatia, plus associated states: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein
🚫 Not included:
Ireland and Cyprus (for now)
⚠️ What to expect right now:
Longer queues at airports and land borders
First-time registration delays (biometrics take time)
Phased rollout; some borders may still stamp passports temporarily
💡 Once registered, future entries should be faster, but the first trip? Plan extra time.
