EESQueue

César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport (ACE) — EES status & queues

San Bartolomé, Spain · Live

Typical first entry
~5 min
curated estimate
Returning traveller
~1 min
via e-gates
Worst on record
45 min
TravelON World, 2026 (traveler interviews)

No live report right now — these are typical estimates, and we never invent numbers. Compare all airports →

Current known issues: Some EES machines reported installed but not fully operational, with manual passport stamping used as the primary method during transition; Thursdays/Sundays flagged as worst days (up to 8 aircraft arriving within an hour); Terminal 1 overall has 26 manual checkpoints, 72 automated devices, and 48 ABC booths (total border equipment, not confirmed as EES-only kiosks); flagged by aviation bodies to Brussels as a concern alongside Fuerteventura, with warnings of possible 4-6hr peak-summer queues
Worst reported queue: 45 min — TravelON World, 2026 (traveler interviews).

Seen the EES queue? Report the wait

Help other travellers — your report feeds the live wait times above once verified.

EES live since
2026-04-10
Self-service kiosks
Not disclosed

EES has been live at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport since 2026-04-10. First-time registration — passport scan, four fingerprints and a facial image — takes roughly 5 minutes per traveller. Self-service kiosks handle biometric enrolment — use them rather than the staffed-booth queue where you can. Returning travellers already enrolled clear in about a minute via facial-recognition gates.

What happens at the EES kiosk

  1. Approach a self-service EES kiosk or booth. At most major Schengen airports, follow the signs for "Non-EU / EES Registration" after disembarking. Kiosks are typically placed before the staffed immigration booths.
  2. Scan your passport. Place your passport photo page down on the reader. The kiosk scans the MRZ (machine-readable zone) and confirms your identity. Make sure your chipped biometric passport is intact — damaged chips trigger a manual fallback.
  3. Provide fingerprints. Place four fingers (excluding the thumb) flat on the scanner when prompted, first right hand then left. Children under 12 skip this step.
  4. Capture facial image. Look straight at the camera with no hat, sunglasses, or face covering. Neutral expression. The kiosk validates the image against your passport photo.
  5. Answer any border questions. Most travelers are waved through. Some are directed to a staffed booth for standard purpose-of-visit and length-of-stay questions. Have proof of onward travel and accommodation ready.
  6. Collect receipt and proceed — no passport stamp. The kiosk prints a small entry receipt. Your entry is now recorded digitally; no physical stamp is added to your passport. Keep the receipt for your records until you exit the Schengen Area.

Tips for San Bartolomé

Use self-service kiosks when available

Self-service EES kiosks are almost always faster than the staffed booth queue. Major hubs have 20+ kiosks per terminal; use them unless directed otherwise.

Keep your biometric passport chip intact

EES relies on the biometric chip embedded in your passport. A damaged chip triggers a slower manual fallback and may cause you to be sent to a staffed booth.

Use family lanes with children under 12

Most large airports (CDG, FRA, AMS, FCO, MAD, BCN) have dedicated family lanes to simplify the process for parents. Children still need a facial image but skip fingerprinting.

Allow extra connection time

If you are connecting through a Schengen hub (AMS, CDG, FRA, MUC) onto an intra-Schengen flight, build in an extra 60–90 minutes for EES enrolment on your first trip.

Planning multiple trips? Make sure you stay inside 90 days per 180 with the Schengen 90/180 calculator. See also the Spain EES guide.

Other EES airports in Spain

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) · Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN) · Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) · Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) · Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC) · Tenerife Sur Airport (TFS) · Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) · Ibiza Airport (IBZ)

EES FAQ

What is EES?

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU-wide digital border system that replaces passport stamping for non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area for short stays. It records each traveler’s name, passport data, date and place of entry and exit, and biometric data (four fingerprints plus a facial image) at a self-service kiosk or staffed booth on first entry.

Do I need to use the kiosk every time I enter?

Yes for the biographic and exit check — but only the first entry requires full biometric enrolment. On subsequent entries within the 3-year retention window, the system reuses your stored biometrics; most airports use facial recognition at a fast lane, which typically completes in 30–60 seconds.

How long does first-entry EES registration take?

Typically 3 to 7 minutes per traveler on first entry, depending on the airport, kiosk availability, and language selection. Families and groups should expect longer total times. Airports with pre-registration apps (Finland, Netherlands, some French terminals) can shorten this to under 2 minutes.

What about returning travelers?

Returning travelers who have already been enrolled typically spend 30 seconds to 1 minute at the border. Most Schengen airports now route returning EES travelers through dedicated facial-recognition gates, which are faster than the old manual stamping queues.

Is EES the same as ETIAS?

No. EES is a border check: you complete biometric registration at a kiosk or booth on arrival at a Schengen airport, land crossing, or port. ETIAS (expected to start in late 2026, becoming mandatory in 2027) is a separate online travel authorization you apply for before your flight — similar to the US ESTA. Visa-exempt travelers will eventually need both: ETIAS approved in advance, and EES registration on arrival.

Last verified: 2026-07-12. Estimates are for planning only — verify with the airport and the official EU EES page before travel.