Before you leave
- Check your passport: valid for at least three months after you plan to leave Europe and issued less than ten years ago.
- Some countries offer an official pre-registration app for your passport data. Check the official EU site for your entry country.
- Keep your return ticket and accommodation details at hand, offline too.
At the airport
- Plan 30 to 60 minutes of extra time on your first entry, more in summer and on holidays.
- Book a longer layover if you connect onward from your first Schengen airport.
- Remove glasses and hats for the facial image. Clean, dry fingers scan faster.
Travelling with children
Children under 12 are not fingerprinted, but they are photographed and registered. Stay with them at the kiosk.
Ferries, trains and cars
At land borders and ports, everyone in the car must register, usually in a separate lane or at a kiosk. For UK departures via Dover, Folkestone or Eurostar, checks happen before you leave the UK, so arrive early.
Cruises
Cruise passengers are registered at the first Schengen port of call. Follow the cruise line’s instructions: they often organise the process on board or in the terminal.