With the European Union’s biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) set to become fully operational by 10 April 2026, Brussels Airport has begun the final phase of infrastructure upgrades to keep border queues in check. In a statement on 15 January the airport confirmed the installation of 12 additional manned border-control booths in arrivals and 61 self-service pre-registration kiosks for non-EU passengers.
All 33 border counters have now been fitted with facial-recognition cameras, and 36 new e-gates stand ready once Belgian Federal Police authorise their use by certain ‘trusted’ third-country nationals. Under EU rules, Schengen citizens will continue to use existing e-gates without extra formalities, but visitors from outside the bloc will have to provide fingerprints and a live facial image on first entry.
For travellers who want extra clarity on how the new EES requirements could impact their journeys, VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) compiles real-time updates on biometric enrolment rules, visa options and permissible lengths of stay. The service can also arrange courier passport handling and expedited Schengen visa processing, helping passengers and corporates stay compliant while the system beds in.
![Brussels Airport installs new kiosks and e-gates ahead of EU Entry/Exit System rollout]()
The airport operator is also hiring extra staff to direct travellers into the correct lanes and to troubleshoot kiosk errors—a key concern for airlines that worry about missed connections if enrolment times exceed the targeted two minutes per passenger. Carriers have been invited to test the system during off-peak windows in February.
For corporates the main takeaway is the need to brief business travellers and assignees who are third-country nationals that passport stamping is ending. Repeat visitors should keep track of their authorised stay electronically via the forthcoming EES mobile portal. Employers sponsoring short-term projects may need to factor in slightly longer connection times at Brussels before the system settles.
Industry bodies such as the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) have welcomed Belgium’s proactive stance, noting that some EU airports have yet to begin major works. Successful early adoption should reduce teething problems when the EES goes live EU-wide later this year.
All 33 border counters have now been fitted with facial-recognition cameras, and 36 new e-gates stand ready once Belgian Federal Police authorise their use by certain ‘trusted’ third-country nationals. Under EU rules, Schengen citizens will continue to use existing e-gates without extra formalities, but visitors from outside the bloc will have to provide fingerprints and a live facial image on first entry.
For travellers who want extra clarity on how the new EES requirements could impact their journeys, VisaHQ’s Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) compiles real-time updates on biometric enrolment rules, visa options and permissible lengths of stay. The service can also arrange courier passport handling and expedited Schengen visa processing, helping passengers and corporates stay compliant while the system beds in.
The airport operator is also hiring extra staff to direct travellers into the correct lanes and to troubleshoot kiosk errors—a key concern for airlines that worry about missed connections if enrolment times exceed the targeted two minutes per passenger. Carriers have been invited to test the system during off-peak windows in February.
For corporates the main takeaway is the need to brief business travellers and assignees who are third-country nationals that passport stamping is ending. Repeat visitors should keep track of their authorised stay electronically via the forthcoming EES mobile portal. Employers sponsoring short-term projects may need to factor in slightly longer connection times at Brussels before the system settles.
Industry bodies such as the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) have welcomed Belgium’s proactive stance, noting that some EU airports have yet to begin major works. Successful early adoption should reduce teething problems when the EES goes live EU-wide later this year.
