What is the EES (Entry/Exit System) at the Danish border?
Digital registration of short stays.
Short answer
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU IT system that registers non-EU nationals who come for a short stay at the external Schengen borders, including Danish airports and ports. It started step by step on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, when it replaced passport stamps. The system records your name, passport data, fingerprints, a facial image and the date and place of entry and exit. It also records refusals of entry and makes it easier to detect overstays.
Why
- EES replaces manual stamps in passports.
- It detects overstays automatically.
- It applies in 29 European countries.
Details
eu-LISA, the EU agency for large IT systems, develops and runs the EES.
Tip
Allow extra time at passport control on your first entry after April 2026, when your fingerprints and photo are taken.
What may differ
The procedure and the data recorded can change as the EU develops the system.
Common misconception
EES is the same as ETIAS.
What actually happens
EES registers you at the border; ETIAS is a separate travel authorisation that is not yet in operation.
People also ask
- Do I need ETIAS for Denmark?
- How are the 90 days counted?
- Do US citizens need a visa for Denmark?
Sources
This answer is for reference only. Entry and customs rules can change, so check the Danish Immigration Service, the Danish police and the Danish Customs Agency before you travel.
Planning and budgetRelated questions
-
Do you pay customs on gifts sent to Denmark from outside the EU?
A gift sent by a private person from outside the EU is free of duty and VAT if it is worth EUR 45 or less.
-
Can you bring medicine into Denmark?
Yes, from 1 January 2026 you may bring medicine into Denmark for personal use from any country, if it was sold legally in the country where you bought it.
-
Can you bring meat and milk into Denmark from outside the EU?
No, travellers coming from a country outside the EU may not bring any meat or dairy products, which includes sausages, cheese and milk.
-
Do you have to declare cash over EUR 10,000 when entering or leaving Denmark?
Yes, if you carry cash or other liquid assets worth EUR 10,000 (about 75,000 kr.) or more, you must declare them to Toldstyrelsen when you enter or leave Denmark.