Trav
el Update: New EU Entry and Exit System (EES)
U.S. citizens do not need a visa to visit Germany for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This includes GAPP group exchange trips.
Beginning October 2025, the European Union will launch a new Entry and Exit System (EES) for travelers from non-EU countries visiting any of the participating European nations, including Germany. The EES replaces passport stamping with a digital record of your travel. Upon entry, border authorities will collect and store your fingerprints, facial image, passport details, entry and exit dates
Germany will begin introducing the system at select airports in October 2025. Full implementation across all external border crossings is expected by April 2026.
During the rollout period, travelers may encounter longer border-control processing times as systems are phased in. We recommend allowing extra time when entering or leaving the Schengen Area.
Detailed information can be found
here.