What's Changing for UK Travellers to Europe?
UK citizens travelling to Europe will see new border controls introduced under two systems: the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). The EES will replace the traditional passport‐stamping practice with digital registration of entry and exit across the Schengen area – including scans of passports, facial images and fingerprints – and will be phased in fully by April 2026. Meanwhile ETIAS will impose a pre‐travel authorisation requirement, similar to the US ESTA, set to launch in late 2026. Together, the changes aim to streamline travel, improve security, and better enforce rules like the 90-days in any 180-day limit for non-EU visitors.
EES Starts in October 2025
From 12 October 2025, the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) will begin. This is a new digital border system that will change requirements for British citizens travelling to the Schengen area*.
The introduction of this new system will mean most non-EU citizens, including British citizens, will need to register their biometric details – providing fingerprints and having their photo taken – when they enter or exit the Schengen area. Travellers do not need to provide information in advance of travel – this will all be done at the border point. This should only take a few minutes for each person to do and will eventually replace manual stamping of passports.
In addition, you may be asked up to seven questions: What is the purpose of your visit? How long will you stay? Which countries will you visit? Where will you be staying? Do you have enough money for your trip? Do you have a return or onward ticket? Do you have valid travel or medical insurance?
*The countries in the Schengen area are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
The Republic of Ireland and Cyprus are not within the Schengen area, and therefore EES is not applicable when travelling to either of these countries.
For further information on the new EES system, please click the links below or call us on 0121 374 0196.
UK Government site: www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-entryexit-system
EU Official EES site: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en
ETIAS is Coming in 2026
The new ETIAS travel authorisation will start in the last quarter of 2026, and there will be a transactional period of at least six months after the launch. ETIAS is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the 30 specified European countries*. It is linked to a traveller’s passport and is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.
With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.
You can fill in the ETIAS application form using either the official ETIAS website or the ETIAS mobile application. Applying for the ETIAS travel authorisation costs EUR 20, with exemptions for certain qualifying travellers – full details from ETIAS.
*The 30 countries requiring an ETIAS are the Schengen Area countries plus Cyprus, and they include Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
For further information on the new ETIAS system, please click the links below or call us on 0121 374 0196.
EU Official ETIAS site: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en
