# EES Registration: Can You Apply for EES Now? (No - Here's Why) | EESQueue > There is no EES application, form or fee - registration happens free at the border on first entry. What to expect at the kiosk, optional pre-enrolment, and the scam sites to avoid. Source: https://eesqueue.com/ees-registration Nothing to apply for — no form, no fee # EES registration — how it actually works Searching for an EES application form? Stop — **there isn't one**. Registration in the EU Entry/Exit System happens automatically at the border on your first entry. Here's exactly what to expect, what's optional, and how to spot the scam sites. [Check live border queues →](https://eesqueue.com/ees-wait-times) - [Home](https://eesqueue.com/) - [EES](https://eesqueue.com/what-is-ees) - EES registration **⚠️ Scam warning.** EES registration is **free** and only happens **at the border**. Websites offering to "register you for EES" or "process your EES application" for a fee are fraudulent — the EU does not accept EES applications online. (ETIAS, a separate €20 authorisation, is [a different system](https://eesqueue.com/ees-vs-etias) and isn't open yet either.) ## What "registering for EES" really means On your first entry to the Schengen Area, a self-service kiosk or border officer records your passport data, four fingerprints and a facial image. That's the entire registration: - **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. It takes about **3–7 minutes** once, then your record is reused for **3 years** — returning trips clear in 30–60 seconds. See [the full EES guide](https://eesqueue.com/what-is-ees) for who it applies to and [check whether you need EES at all](https://eesqueue.com/do-i-need-ees). ## What you *can* do in advance (all optional) - **The official EES app** — "Travel to Europe" lets you pre-submit passport data and a facial image at participating airports. [How the app works →](https://eesqueue.com/ees-app) - **Pre-registration kiosks** — Eurostar (St Pancras), Eurotunnel (Folkestone) and the Port of Dover run kiosks before departure. [Land & sea crossings →](https://eesqueue.com/ees-land-borders) - **Check the queue before you fly** — our [live wait times](https://eesqueue.com/ees-wait-times) show current kiosk queues by airport. - **Count your days** — EES enforces the 90/180 rule automatically, so plan with the [Schengen calculator](https://eesqueue.com/schengen-calculator). ## EES registration FAQ ### Can I apply for EES now? No - and you never will. There is no EES application, form or fee. EES registration happens automatically at the border the first time you enter the Schengen Area: a kiosk or officer scans your passport and captures four fingerprints and a facial image. Any website offering to "apply for EES" for a fee is a scam. ### Do I need to register for EES before I travel? No. There is nothing to do before you travel. Some airports and the cross-Channel routes offer optional pre-enrolment kiosks or the official EES app to speed things up on the day, but skipping them costs you nothing except a few extra minutes at the border. ### How much does EES registration cost? EES is completely free. Do not confuse it with ETIAS, the separate online travel authorisation expected to cost €20 when it launches - and even ETIAS is not open for applications yet. ### How long does EES registration take? First-entry enrolment typically takes 3-7 minutes at a self-service kiosk. On later trips your stored biometrics are reused and crossing usually takes 30-60 seconds. ### How long does my EES registration last? Your biometric record stays valid for 3 years from your last exit (5 years for visa holders). Travel again within that window and you skip full enrolment; let it lapse and you simply enrol again on your next first entry. ### Can I pre-register in the EES app? Partially, where supported. The official "Travel to Europe" app lets you pre-submit passport data and a facial image for participating airports (and Eurostar/Eurotunnel/Dover run pre-registration kiosks), but fingerprints can only be captured in person, so a short border step always remains. [All EES questions →](https://eesqueue.com/ees-faq)