I flew to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport (AMS) from London Heathrow (LHR) for business recently, and this is my experience of EES 1st Registration.
Nothing extra going out to AMS from LHR. My flight was 06:30 departure, the second flight out in the morning.
On arrival at AMS, those with biometric passports such as my UK passport were informed to register for EES at special terminals.
I had difficulties registering my fingerprints, and when the screen eventually instructed me to take my passport, I thought I had successfully registered.
Proceeded to go downstairs for immigration clearance, and had to queue to go down. I asked why others could go down and I and others behind me could not, and was informed the queue for non-biometric passport was a lot longer and the hall was packed.
Eventually I was allowed to go downstairs and queue to go through immigration using eGate for non-EU biometric passport holders. The queue was not as long as the one for non-biometric passports, and was faster moving too.
However, the eGate did not let me through , and I had to be escorted to join the queue for non-biometric passport holders. Luckily, I was allowed to fast-track and joined a small queue, and did not have to join right at the end of a much long queue!
It transpired my fingerprints failed to register properly as informed to me by the next young gentleman immigration officer.
The total time required for queuing 3 times was just over an hour, compared with about 15min using eGates in the past.
Definitely need to press hard when registering the fingerprints, and to allow plenty of time for queuing!
Hopefully, I am all set for my EU trip in June 2026 via the Tunnel, just need the passport and fingerprints to be verified. I shall still allow plenty of time in case of any issues, and have booked to stay overnight near Folkstone so that I could have an early start.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Eurostar a couple of weeks ago it took me a couple of goes to get the fingerprints, you do need to press very hard. Still not sure what status we have as passport was stamped as well......
No doubt we will find out in another couple of weeks when we use the Shuttle with the 'van.
Oh dear, that doesn't bode well for me if/when I need to be processed next time in EU!
My fingerprints are usually all but worn away and/or 'damaged' by cuts and abrasions by my 'lifestyle' which is very hands on DIY, engineering, repairing things, harsh chemicals etc.!
Just to compound that, I have Dupuytren's contracture on one hand, which means I can't lay my hand flat on any scanner plate!
Fingerprint scanners on my laptop computer, phone etc. frequently refuse me because they cannot recognise my prints!
I await the long queues with no enthusiasm whatsoever!
I am flying out in July and I have difficulty laying my right hand flat and the fingers are a bit wonky. Will they allow left hand? My Irish citizenship process is still ongoing.
Came through Béziers airport on Monday, back to Manchester on Friday. Queue not too bad both ways; small airport, Manchester flight only one at that time & not full. On arrival, photo taken, asked to remove glasses (husband wasn’t!) & fingerprints done, as said, press hard. After discussion behind the desk off I went, passport not stamped🤷🏻♀️. Process repeated going home🤨however glasses left on, finger prints worked after machine cleaned & I wiped my hand! Passport not stamped. Glad we were at Beziers, see what happens at Eurotunnel on the 7th May!
Fiona
We crossed from Portsmouth to Cherbourg yesterday. Nothing any different from usual, ferry quiet, passport checked and stamped as usual, and on our way within 5 minutes of leaving the ferry.
There are reports that certain countries such as Spain might halt EES for concerns of over-crowding that could result in travellers missing their flights, leading to compensation from the airports, etc. etc...
There was a report about a flight departing an European airport without some of the passengers as they were being held up by EES, and the airline refused compensation as it was not their fault but the fault of the airport; etc., etc...
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We flew into Schiphol on the 11th on route to Prague. No problem getting through although you do have to press your hand hard. After EES gate we had to go to a booth where the passports were stamped🥴
On return we flew Berlin to Frankfurt where you were supposed to register at the EES .
They weren't working so we were directed to booths where the passports were scanned, they also had the cameras which scanned your face.
exit stamp and on to flight to Birmingham.
E gates there worked very quickly
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I wonder how we will get on then when we fly out to Copenhagen shortly. We haven't been out of the country since early last year and have yet to go through the EES process.
It seems the United States of Europe is not so united yet again in it's policies! I've seen reports Spain is waiving EES for families with children and vulnerable travelers if the queues exceed 25 mins!
Greece suspends biometric checks entirely to protect its tourism sector.
For the donkeys years in the making, and the umpteen false starts and delays in introduction, surely there was amply time to think it through that a sudden implementation was going to cause chaotic delays with ongoing consequences to flying/sailing schedules and ticketed passengers! Aircraft departure/landing slots are near cast in stone, there's little scope for delayed passengers beyond the airlines control, same for ferry sailings!
I suppose once the initial data gathering is done for the masses it will ease somewhat. But I'm not over confident about automated systems, last time I went to Spain, the auto reader accepted my passport, but a friend's perpetually failed and manual intervention was required to get them through, with significant delay! Can't see EES being any more reliable.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: My Experience with EES 1st Registration
, and I had to be escorted to join the queue for non-biometric passport holders. Luckily, I was allowed to fast-track and joined a small queue, and did not have to join right at the end of a much long queue!
via mobile 25/4/2026 at 7:38pm
