The Entry/Exit System (EES) remains fully operational across Schengen, but the 8 October status report by tracker Viaryo shows that the temporary waiver allowing border posts to skip fingerprint and facial-image capture during peak congestion lapsed on 6 September without renewal. Nine member states—including France—had formally asked the European Commission to extend the flexibility; the request was declined. At Paris-CDG, Orly and major land crossings, first-time third-country entrants must therefore complete the full biometric enrolment, a process that can take up to 90 seconds per passenger. During summer, waits of up to five hours were documented at several EU airports. While autumn volumes are lower, the report warns of renewed pressure during the Toussaint holidays and the Christmas peak. France’s unresolved Dover rollout illustrates the patchy implementation: coach passengers and foot travellers are enrolled, but car passengers still await a launch date, prolonging uncertainty for the vital freight and tourist corridor. The Interior Ministry’s self-imposed deadline of 6 September for a “stable system” passed silently. For global-mobility teams the message is clear: advise travellers to arrive earlier than pre-2025 norms, especially if they have never been registered. Crew rotation schedules should also build in buffer time. The EES record replaces passport stamping, so overstays will now trigger automated alerts—making strict day-count tracking essential.
Source: Viaryo EES Status
