# EES at Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône (LYS) — Status & Wait Times | EESQueue

> Is EES live at Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône (LYS)? Current status, kiosk info, first-entry wait estimates and known issues for Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport, France

Source: https://eesqueue.com/airport/lyon-saint-exupery-airport

- [Home](https://eesqueue.com/)
- [Airports](https://eesqueue.com/ees-airports)
- Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS)

# Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS) — EES status & queues

Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône, France · Live

Typical first entry

~5 min

curated estimate

Returning traveller

~1 min

via e-gates

No live report right now — these are typical estimates, and we never invent numbers. [Compare all airports →](https://eesqueue.com/ees-wait-times)

**Current known issues:** Deployed eGates and kiosks via a >€13M contract (CITY ONE, tendered 30 Oct 2024) plus the MONA biometric system ahead of the 10 Apr 2026 EES go-live, reportedly avoiding the kiosk scramble seen at other French airports

🛂 France has activated "flex mode": officers may revert to faster manual passport stamping when queues get long. A stamp issued under flex mode is a valid entry record.

EES live since

2026-04-10

Self-service kiosks

Not disclosed

**EES has been live at Lyon Saint-Exupéry 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

- **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.
- **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.
- **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.
- **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.
- **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.
- **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 Colombier-Saugnieu, Rhône

### EES is at the border, not at domestic transit

Once inside Schengen, moving between member states (e.g. Paris to Rome) does not trigger a new EES check. EES only applies at external Schengen borders.

### EES applies even if your airline did not brief you

Some airlines still show outdated pre-EES information during check-in. Plan around EES yourself — your airline’s guidance is not the final word on what happens at the border.

### Your first entry takes the longest

First-entry biometric enrolment typically runs 3–7 minutes. Returning entries within your 3-year record drop to 30–60 seconds. Plan your first post-April-2026 trip with extra buffer.

### 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.

Planning multiple trips? Make sure you stay inside 90 days per 180 with the [Schengen 90/180 calculator](https://eesqueue.com/schengen-calculator). See also the [France EES guide](https://eesqueue.com/france-ees-guide).

## Other EES airports in France

[Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)](https://eesqueue.com/airport/paris-charles-de-gaulle-airport) · [Paris-Orly Airport (ORY)](https://eesqueue.com/airport/paris-orly-airport) · [Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE)](https://eesqueue.com/airport/nice-cte-dazur-airport) · [Marseille Provence Airport (MRS)](https://eesqueue.com/airport/marseille-provence-airport) · [Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS)](https://eesqueue.com/airport/toulouse-blagnac-airport) · [Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD)](https://eesqueue.com/airport/bordeaux-merignac-airport) · [Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE)](https://eesqueue.com/airport/nantes-atlantique-airport) · [EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL)](https://eesqueue.com/airport/euroairport-basel-mulhouse-freiburg)

## 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](https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en) before travel.