European Union Countries’ Passport Control Nightmare

European Union Countries’ Passport Control Nightmare

Travel has become essential rather than a luxury for the masses, which is creating friction in many destinations, especially in Europe. There was a time when an American passport was golden throughout the world and there were very few countries requiring anything more than that document to enter. It was considered such a valuable booklet that a new passport came with a letter from the President of the United States. I quote:

The world has changed considerably and sadly, some no longer agree or recognize that we still represent the most powerful country in the world, nor are we considered “friends” by some few nations. Additionally, many of us take our passports for granted and have forgotten about the part of Eisenhower’s powerful letter about us representing the United States in a favorable light. In January 2009, our country implemented an entry document for foreign visitors. The fee was $14. Today, an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is $40.27.

Presently, Europe is struggling with over-tourism in most major tourist hubs. Cruise lines are banned from Venice. Amsterdam and Barcelona are contemplating such measures as well. It seems logical that eventually Europe would follow suit by also requiring an entry document and it is amazing it has taken them so long. Retaliation perhaps?

Back in 1985, the so-called “Schengen Agreement” was signed between European countries to open the borders between member states without border control. Today, there are 29 members of the Schengen area. That is 25 members of the European Union plus Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland. Bulgaria and Romania will join shortly. It is named after the small wine-producing village of Schengen in Luxembourg, which borders Germany and France. The actual document was signed aboard the MS Princess Marie-Astrid riverboat on the Moselle River.

In 2016, the European Commission began forming its answer to our ESTA with the development of Border Control and electronic security under the codes EES (Entry/Exit System)and ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System). After multiple delays, the first installation of the system went into effect on October 25 last year and became fully operational on April 10 of this year. It replaces stamping passports with a digital system registering your entry, or refusing it, and your exit. For us, it means we stand in front of a camera, show our face and passport. All US passports issued after 2007 have a biometric chip in them.

This is displayed by the small camera-like logo on the front of the passport under the country name. The system compares your facial data with the chip in your passport.

Once you are allowed in, you can stay up to 90 days in Schengen countries, travel between member states, go out of one country and come back to another for the next three years, or when your passport expires. The total time spent in increments cannot exceed 180 days.

However, just recently we experienced numerous problems with the new procedure. As countries are struggling with the implementation of the system and problems with the electronic machines, our passports were not even asked for on the Portuguese island of Madeira. In Amsterdam, The Netherlands, they were stamped the old way after 45 minutes in line. We flew from there to Portugal without any form of control.

But departing from Portugal to return home was a major issue. The line for passport control was an endless line of humanity snaking out of Terminal One into Terminal Two. After nearly two hours, we managed to get through the entry gate where all the brand-new electronic machines were standing idle and people were being processed by the old-fashioned control with officers stamping passports. Neither system worked properly anymore. The automated system did not provide for personnel, so some officers had been rushed in to help. We luckily made it to our flight because we had checked in more than three hours in advance, but many passengers obviously missed their flights. In the first weeks, 66 million passengers attempted to enter and 32,000 were considered inadmissible.

If you travel this summer to Sweden or Portugal only, you can possibly speed up the process by registering online at the temporary app from the app store: “Travel To Europe.” Other countries are expected to be added soon.

In my opinion, the European Union could have saved themselves some headaches by following the lead of the United Kingdom. The U.K., no longer a member of the European Union, introduced a similar system for their own country at the beginning of 2025. There were also some delays, but that was soon taken care of. Once you answer the questions on the UK ETA App, normally the approval is instant, but it could also take a couple of days. Make sure you are on the correct app as there are many offering the service for extra money and looking very official. See the photo with this story. The cost is 10 UK pounds or about $14 at the present rate of exchange and is valid for two years. Arriving in the UK, the system is supposed to recognize your passport, and it worked perfectly for us last year. However, I highly recommend making a screenshot of your approval and the validity date. In the event of a glitch, you can show proof from your photo.

Presently, there is no fee for the European EES, but that is scheduled to change with the ETIAS by this fall, with a 20 Euro cost, or about $23 at present. The online forms must be completed at the official ETIAS website in advance of travel. Seniors over seventy years of age are exempt but still must do the online registration. The questions are simple. Approval could take as little as a few minutes or up to four days.

It does not guarantee entry, as border guards still need to approve it. They may also request to see a copy of your return flight ticket as well as travel and health insurance.

Strangely enough, the allowance for entry by border guards seems unequal in the different countries. For example, the island of Malta has the dubious distinction of the lowest approval rate with a whopping rejection rate of 38.5%. That means if you plan to enter through an “easy” country, you will then be allowed to travel to Malta without any problem. Those “easy” countries are Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Iceland.

In the last few months, I have received so many questions about the new entry system, so I hope this story makes the situation clearer. However, we know from experience that rules, rates, and decisions can change, so don’t take my word for it and do check again if and when you travel to Europe. Or take a vacation to beautiful green Ireland. The country is not a member of the European Union and consequently also has no part in the Schengen Agreement. At present, you will receive a hearty welcome in Ireland with your U.S. passport.

Last but not least, a few more tips for travel outside the USA.

1. Put a photocopy of your passport in each piece of luggage.
2. When on excursions and returning to the same hotel, or cruise ship, leave your passport in your room safe and carry a photocopy instead, plus your driver’s license.
3. Most European countries are very credit card-friendly, especially with Visa and Mastercard. Even public buses take credit cards. Personally, I prefer American Express because of its service, but acceptance is limited. In many cases, you will be offered to be charged on your credit card in Euros or dollars.
4. Always choose Euros because otherwise you are hit with an unfavorable exchange rate and hidden fees.
5. In view of the above, carry limited cash on you and buy it in advance in the country’s currency at your American bank. In most cases, that will be Euros.
6. Some countries allow a validity of three months for US passports beyond return to the U.S. However, the majority of countries require a validity of at least six months.

Enjoy your travels this summer.