Government

German airport rolls out ESS kiosks

Photo: Adobe Stock

February 9, 2026

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Germany's Berlin Brandenburg Airport has activated its new Entry/Exit System (EES) self-service kiosks, allowing non-EU travelers to pre-register passport and biometric data before reaching a border officer. The update marks the second phase of Germany's EES rollout, which began in December 2025 and must be completed nationwide by April 10, 2026, under EU law.

The EES replaces traditional passport stamping with a digital record that logs each non-EU national's entry and exit, storing a facial image and four fingerprints for up to three years, according to a VisaHQ report. By shifting document scanning and biometric capture to kiosks, BER expects to reduce average border processing times by about 30%, although Germany's Federal Police cautions that queues could temporarily grow as travelers adjust to the new process.

The change has practical implications for frequent travelers and corporate mobility teams. Overstays will now be calculated automatically, removing the informal flexibility that sometimes existed under manual passport stamping. Travel managers may need to adjust arrival-time guidance, particularly for visitors making tight domestic connections, and ensure travelers understand the new procedures before arrival.

Certain passengers, including children under 12 and those without biometric passports, must still complete registration at staffed counters, making advance document checks essential. Other major German airports, including Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf, are expected to activate similar kiosks by March. Once fully implemented across the EU, EES will integrate with the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), planned for late 2026.

Government