The Netherlands will begin a phased introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) from October 12, 2025, alongside other Schengen countries. EES replaces most passport stamping for non-EU short-stay visitors with a digital check that records your passport details, a face photo and fingerprints at first entry. Full rollout across all Dutch border posts is planned by April 2026.
How the Dutch rollout will work
The justice ministry says the Netherlands will start at smaller border posts to keep queues under control, then add more locations. Schiphol will run a small-scale launch from November 3, with broader expansion from early December. Checks at the UK rail/sea terminals for Amsterdam and Rotterdam are expected to start in early 2026.
At your first Schengen entry after EES goes live, most non-EU travellers will need to scan their passport and register biometrics at a kiosk or with an officer, then pass border control as usual. Your EES record is valid for up to three years (or until your passport expires), so later trips should be faster. Children under 12 don’t give fingerprints.
Who is affected?
EES applies to non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals on short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). It does not apply to EU citizens, people with a Dutch/EU residence permit or long-stay visa, and a few other exempt groups (e.g., certain family members of EU citizens, some study/research transfers). Until EES is everywhere, passport stamping continues where EES is not yet active.
Photo Credits: G-R Mortez/Unsplash
Will there be queues?
Early weeks may be slower at busy crossings as people register for the first time. Operators are adding equipment to assist: Eurostar is installing 49 self-registration kiosks at London St Pancras (and 18 at Paris Gare du Nord) and states that full EES use for all travellers will be in place by 10 April 2026. Once registered, later crossings can benefit from quicker automated checks.
Privacy and data:
EES stores your biometrics and travel dates to verify stays and identify overstays. At Schiphol, the airport explains that your registration remains valid for up to three years and is reused for future entries. The EU states that the system is designed under EU data-protection rules and replaces manual stamps with a single, digital record of entries and exits.
If you travel to the Netherlands (or any Schengen country) on a non-EU passport after 12 October, allow extra time on your first trip to complete EES. Afterwards, crossings should be faster, and your 90/180-day allowance will be automatically tracked.
