Most U.S. citizens traveling to Germany will soon be subject to new border procedures as the European Union implements its Entry/Exit System (EES). Beginning October 12, 2025, travelers should expect their biometric data, such as fingerprints and facial images, to be digitally collected when entering and leaving Germany. The EES rollout will occur over six months.
More details about the EES can be found on the European Union’s website at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees.
The U.S. Mission in Germany advises American citizens traveling to or living in Germany to register for safety and security alerts from the embassy or consulate by signing up at step.state.gov. For travel-specific information related to Germany, travelers are encouraged to visit travel.state.gov/destination.
For emergency assistance, U.S. citizens can contact the U.S. Embassy in Berlin or the Consulates General in Frankfurt and Munich using the provided phone numbers and email addresses. Additional support is available through State Department – Consular Affairs at +1 888-407-4747 or +1 202-501-4444.
Travelers are also encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for security updates and follow the U.S. Mission on Facebook and X.