New entry system into the European Union causes queues of up to 3 hours; see how it works and how to speed it up

How the new entry system into the European Union works The electronic system that replaced the stamp in the passport and became mandatory to enter most European Union countries (see which ones below) on Thursday (9) has caused queues of up to three hours at airports. Called the Entry/Exit System (EES), it is mandatory for travelers from outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, – such as Brazilians – who enter the bloc to stay for up to 90 days every 180 days. The system, which has no cost for travelers, records biometric data, such as facial photos and fingerprints. The collection of this information, however, has caused slowness in border controls. According to the Airports Council International (ACI), passengers in at least 15 countries — including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Greece — reported delays of up to three hours since the start of the operation. Problems had already been recorded at the beginning of implementation, in October 2025. At Humberto Delgado Airport, in Lisbon, the system was suspended for three months after generating long queues. Reports from passengers also show the impact. “My mother, almost 70 years old, has been in line at passport control at Lisbon Airport for 6 hours. No food, no water, no bathroom, along with hundreds of others, including elderly people and children,” said an X user on December 28. Despite the criticism, the World Tourism Organization assesses that the system should bring benefits in the long term. According to the entity, the EES tends to speed up the process, as the data is stored, and increase security, by ensuring that the traveler corresponds to the document presented. But did you know that it is possible to download an app to speed up the sending of data? See below how EES works and how to use the application to speed up the sending of this information. ⚠️​It is important to remember that this new system is not the European Travel Information and Authorization System (Etias), the electronic travel authorization, which should only be implemented at the end of 2026. Unsplash passport stamp/ Kit (formerly ConvertKit) 📱 How to advance the process Travelers who are entering Europe for the first time since the system was implemented will have to provide personal data, such as facial image, fingerprints and passport. To register, it is mandatory to go through immigration control. ⏱️But it is possible to advance this process if the traveler has a biometric passport. This can be done by: self-service systems (when available) “Travel Europe” application, which allows the advance registration of some data, such as photo and entry questionnaire. The app allows you to pre-register information such as passport, photo and entry questionnaire up to 72 hours before the trip. Use is optional. The app is currently only available in English and is offered by: Sweden (passport data, photo and questionnaire submission); Portugal (just filling out the questionnaire). 📱​How to use the Travel Europe app Download the app from the App Store or Google Play; Select the option to “create a new trip”, selecting the European country of entry or exit; Choose the border control post and expected arrival time; Scan the passport data page and chip; Take a selfie to confirm your identity; Answer some questions about the trip; (Optional) Add other people traveling with you; Send the information; Wait for registration confirmation; Upon arrival, follow the border agents’ instructions. ➡️How EES works for those who have already used the system Travelers who have already been through EES do not need to redo the complete registration. In these cases, it will only be necessary to verify the data already registered. This can be done either by passport control people or by automatic attendance systems (when available). In the case of totems, the traveler must have a biometric passport. ⚠️ Still, the agent can request a new data collection, if deemed necessary. European countries that require the EES: Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Czechia Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland See more: Rules for taking liquids on international flights Without economy class: how much does it cost to take the longest flight in the world?

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