As of 12 October 2025, Europe will begin introducing the Entry-Exit System (EES), a new digital border control system for non-EU (third-country) travellers entering or leaving the Schengen area. The system will record passport, fingerprint, facial image, and entry/exit data, managed by national authorities such as Belgium’s Federal Police, with full EU-wide implementation by April 2026.
To support the rollout, Brussels Airport has installed 12 new border control boxes, 33 cameras, 61 self-service registration kiosks, and 36 new e-gates. The airport will also deploy extra staff to guide passengers.
Due to the EES, non-Schengen passengers can no longer use e-gates at departure, though the airport urges that eligible third-country nationals be allowed to use them soon to ease congestion.
Belgian and EU travellers are unaffected by the change and can continue using e-gates without any additional registration.
I passed through Brussels Airport this morning 13th and the non-eu queue was the whole length of the arrivals hall from the gates. I imagine people were there for hours. There were a number of arrivals from UK, America, Hong Kong.
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