The European Commission approved the exemption on June 27 after testing at Schiphol, Frankfurt and Charles de Gaulle airports showed high accuracy rates. US and Canadian citizens will now complete a one-time facial scan instead of fingerprints for the Entry/Exit System. The change applies to arrivals through December 2026 while full rollout continues for other nationalities.
Participating airports include Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris CDG, Madrid, Rome Fiumicino, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Stockholm and Helsinki. Automated gates will handle 70 percent of eligible passengers. The EU expects to process an extra 8 million North American visitors annually with fewer staff.
Background shows the EES system launched in 2025 to replace manual stamping and track overstays. Initial delays prompted complaints from airlines and tourism boards. The partial exemption addresses feedback from major source markets while maintaining security standards.
What this means for you
Register your passport details via the EU app before travel to speed up gate access. Choose flights arriving at participating airports when possible to avoid longer queues. Carry a printed copy of your return ticket as backup for the automated system.
Business travelers on short trips should note the 90-day limit still applies and is now tracked electronically. Families with children under 12 remain exempt from all biometric requirements at these gates.