eGates automatically process passengers through passport control. They use facial recognition technology and your e-passport to check your identity. It is quick and secure.
Find eGates
There are 78 eGates at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. They are located in the arrival, departure and transfer areas.
Eligible passengers
You can use the eGates if you are 14 years or older and have an e-passport from an eligible country. Your passport is an e-passport if it has a small camera symbol at the bottom of the front cover.
Those travelling with ID cards cannot use the eGates.
Eligible countries
Connecting flights
For connecting flights at Schiphol, who can use eGates depends on where you come from and where you go next. If you arrive from a country outside the Schengen area and your next flight is to a Schengen country, you can use eGates if your country is on the 'Arriving into the Netherlands' list. If you come from a Schengen country and go to a country outside the Schengen area, check the 'Departing from the Netherlands' list to see if you can use eGates.
How to use eGates
- As you approach the eGates, remove your passport from any cover and open it to the picture page, place it face down on the scanner so it can scan the picture and read the key information. This could take a few seconds;
- Remove anything that could obscure your face and make it difficult to compare you with your passport photograph like some types of glasses, hats or scarves;
- Stand on the footprints and look into the camera. Stay still until the system confirms your image capture;
- The exit doors will automatically open and you have been successfully cleared. You may now proceed onwards with your journey. If for any reason you are not allowed to proceed through the eGates, a Marechaussee officer will manually process you.
Why are eGates closed?
There are occasions when we need to temporarily close one or some of the eGates. We may do this for a number of reasons including:
- In quieter times, such as late night or early mornings, when it is more efficient for arriving passengers to be checked by officers;
- If a gate may need an IT or system update;
- When a large number of arriving passengers, who cannot use the gates are expected and officers need to be available to carry out manual checks.
Privacy
Personal data are kept for a maximum of 24 hours after crossing the border. In the event of a criminal investigation or other police involvement, the Marechaussee may keep the data for more than 24 hours. Read more about this in our privacy statement.