Moving

EES at Copenhagen Airport, the border just got biometric

Updated July 2026Reviewed July 2026
The one-line versionThe EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is live at Copenhagen Airport as of 10 April 2026. If you are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss traveller on a short stay, your first crossing now means a photo and fingerprints instead of a passport stamp. Residents with a Danish permit are exempt - just carry your residence card.

What EES is

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU-wide automated border system that records every time a non-EU national enters or leaves the Schengen Area for a short stay. It replaces the manual passport stamp with a digital file holding your name, travel-document data, dates and places of entry and exit, and your biometrics - a facial image and four fingerprints. It went fully operational on 10 April 2026 after a phased rollout that began on 12 October 2025.

Denmark is a full Schengen member, so EES applies at every Danish airport, seaport and land border handling arrivals from outside the zone. Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup), Denmark’s busiest hub, was the last Danish airport to complete its rollout, finishing on the morning of 10 April 2026.

Who it affects - and who is exempt

EES applies to third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens) visiting for a short stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, who are not resident in Denmark or another Schengen country.

GroupEES?
Non-EU short-stay visitors (incl. UK, US, etc.)Yes - biometric registration
EU/EEA and Swiss citizensExempt
Non-EU with a Danish/Schengen residence permitExempt - carry your residence card
Children under 12Registered, but no fingerprints
Long-stay (Type D) visa holdersExempt
UK travellers are in scopeSince Brexit, UK passport holders are third-country nationals under EU law, so EES applies to you in full when flying to or from Copenhagen. Separately, a pre-travel authorisation called ETIAS is expected to launch later in 2026 - similar to the US ESTA, applied for online before you fly. It is not the same as EES.

What happens at the border

On your first crossing after 10 April 2026, at Copenhagen’s non-Schengen passport control:

  • Your passport is scanned and a digital EES file is created.
  • You give a facial photo and four fingerprints.
  • The officer confirms your entry conditions and logs the entry.

On later trips the kiosk or gate recognises you from your face and passport - usually no fingerprints again - and logs you in seconds. Your data is kept for three years, then deleted. If you have a biometric passport you can use the faster self-service kiosks (SSKs); a standard passport means a staffed booth for the first registration.

The Travel to Europe app can save timeAn official EU app, Travel to Europe, lets some travellers pre-register their photo and passport data up to 72 hours before arrival, speeding up the border. It is rolling out gradually (available in some countries first) and does not replace the border interview - but it is worth checking before you fly.

The queues - and how to beat them

Since the rollout, Copenhagen has seen passport-control waits well over an hour at peak times, and the UK FCDO has advised travellers to allow extra time. Airport bodies suggest arriving around 1.5 to 2 hours earlier than usual for departures during the busy initial period. Delays should ease as the system beds in.

  • Have your documents ready - passport, and residence card if you hold one.
  • Use a biometric passport where possible, to access the self-service kiosks.
  • Flag special needs early - mobility, young families or tight connections; staff can help.
  • Do not book tight connections through Copenhagen in summer 2026 if you can avoid it.

The 90/180 rule now bites

Because entries and exits are recorded automatically, overstays are trivial to detect. If you leave Schengen after day 91 in a rolling 180-day window, the system flags it immediately. Consequences range from a warning to fines, entry bans of one to five years, and trouble with future visas or ETIAS. The upside: you (and the officer) can see exactly how many of your 90 days remain, and a free 90/180 calculator helps you plan.

If your Danish permit expires while you are hereIf you hold a Danish residence permit that lapses while you are in the country and you want to stay or travel briefly in Schengen afterwards, immigration authorities suggest proactively having an EES file created (generally possible for visa-free nationals) to avoid a slow registration on departure. And if you are a visitor who later gets a permit, SIRI or the Danish Immigration Service deletes your EES file - you are no longer a short-stay traveller.

Common questions

Do I need to do anything before flying to Copenhagen?
For EES itself, no advance step is required - registration happens at the border. Just bring a valid passport (biometric if possible) and, if you are a resident, your residence card. ETIAS, a separate pre-travel authorisation, is expected later in 2026.
I live in Denmark on a residence permit - does EES apply to me?
No. Residents are exempt from biometric registration; simply show your residence card alongside your passport at the border.
Will I be fingerprinted every time?
No - only on your first crossing. After that the system recognises your face and passport, so future entries and exits are much quicker.
How much extra time should I allow at Copenhagen Airport?
During the busy initial period, allow roughly 1.5 to 2 hours more than usual, especially in summer 2026. Waits have exceeded an hour at peak times.
Does EES apply to children?
Children under 12 are registered in the system but are not fingerprinted. Everyone else in scope gives fingerprints on their first crossing.

Verified July 2026 against official sources: the European Commission (home-affairs.ec.europa.eu), Danish police statements, and Copenhagen Airport guidance. EES became fully operational on 10 April 2026; ETIAS is expected later in 2026. Rules and rollout details can change - check the official EU and Copenhagen Airport pages before you travel. General information, not legal advice.