44,000 travelers have been denied entry to Europe with the new EES system: here’s what you need to enter

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Since the massive rollout of the new digital border control system, almost 44,000 travelers have been refused entry to the European Union. It sounds like a total nightmare scenario for anyone packing their bags for a summer vacation across the pond. The idea of ​​flying all the way to Paris or Rome only to receive a denial form and board the next plane home is enough to cause serious anxiety.

But before you panic and cancel your flights, let’s look at what’s actually happening at the border. The truth is that American travelers who follow the rules are not arbitrarily turned away. The new Entry/Exit system, commonly known as the EES, will drastically change the way you enter Europe, but it won’t target tourists.

Here you will find the exact breakdown why people are rejectedwhat is actually causing the chaos at the airports, and exactly what you need to do to ensure a smooth entry into Europe.

Also, keep an eye on the bottom of the article for an interactive checklist for easy entry!

Why are people rejected?

The European Commission has released the hard data on why exactly people are being rejected, and that’s what it all comes down to fundamental immigration mistakes. You can easily avoid any of these traps.

First, more than 16,000 travelers were denied entry simply because they did couldn’t prove why they were visiting. Upon arrival you must show that you are ultimately going home. These travelers could not provide a standard return flight ticket or even a valid hotel reservation to prove where they stayed.

Second, about 8,700 people were flagged because of the new database caught them too long. Europe has a strict rule that allows people to stay for 90 days within a 180-day period. Because the system is now completely digital, you cannot hide your previous trips. If you have already used up your 90 days, the computer will immediately alert the agent and you will be packed up.

The remaining rejections were simply due to expired passports or people using completely fraudulent paperwork to try to sneak in. The system also successfully flagged up to a thousand individuals identified as actual security threats.

What you actually need to enter Europe now

If you are going to Europe for a standard vacation or a quick business trip of less than 90 days, crossing the border is very easy. You just need to get your house in order before you land.

You must have a valid passport, and it must be valid for at least three full months after the date you plan to leave Europe. Don’t cut so close. If your passport expires in two months, you won’t get on the plane.

Then prepare for the new biometric registration. Gone are the days when you simply had to hand your passport to an agent for a quick stamp. When you arrive at your first European point of entry, you will be directed to a self-service kiosk. You will need to scan your passport, take a digital facial photo and scan four of your fingerprints.

Once the kiosk has created your digital profile, head towards the automated e-gates or a border control desk. If your file is clean, you can breeze through it. However, if the system flags you for any reason, you will be set aside for secondary inspection by a human border agent. This is exactly when You will be asked to prove your travel plans. You have to you return flight itinerary and your hotel confirmations easily accessible on your phone or printed out in your bag. Don’t rely on airport WiFi to load your email. Make sure you have screenshots ready so you can show the border agent immediately if he asks.

From now on you no longer have to worry about visas prior to the trip. The coming one ETIAS travel authorization has been postponed, so no online waiver is required today.

The real nightmare is the wait time

While you don’t have to worry about being turned away if your paperwork is perfectly clean, you should definitely worry about the lines at the airport. Because this initial biometric registration takes a few minutes for each person, major border checkpoints are significantly delayed.

Huge airport hubs such as Frankfurt and Amsterdam Schiphol is taking a huge hit. During peak summer travel periods, passengers report peak queues of up to three to five hours to clean up the new digital kiosks. It causes total chaos for people trying to catch connecting flights.

If you book a trip that includes a stop at your first European stop, you’ll need to add a lot of space to your schedule. You must ensure that you have at least three hours to clear border control and reach your domestic connection.

There could be relief for summer travelers

The enormous lines have not gone unnoticed. Due to intense pressure from the aviation industry and major aviation associations, the European Union is looking for ways to speed things up. They currently offer Member States the flexibility to temporarily suspend heavy biometric collection during extreme passenger peaks.

This means that if the airport concourse becomes dangerously full this summer, border agents can pause fingerprint scans to get the lines moving and prevent people from missing their flights.

Regardless of whether they pause the scans or not, the best thing you can do is show up prepared. Have your passport ready, save your return tickets on your phone and pack a lot of patience. Europe is open for business this summer, you just need to know how to navigate the new digital front door.