new travel rules uk to europe

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Travelling to the EU and Schengen area

You do not need a visa for short trips to the EU or countries in the Schengen area if both of the following apply:

• you’re staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period
• you’re visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons

Other reasons include:

• studying a short course
• getting medical treatment
• travelling for business for your UK employer, for example to attend a business meeting or conference
• journalism or other media activities

Check the entry requirements of the country you’re visiting to find out what you can and cannot do during your stay.

These rules do not apply to travelling and working in Ireland .

Travelling to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in a 180-day period

You can travel to more than one country in a 180-day period. How long you can stay in each country depends on whether or not it’s in the Schengen area.

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.

Your total stay in the Schengen area must be no more than 90 days in every 180 days. It does not matter how many countries you visit. The 180-day period keeps ‘rolling’.

To work out if your stay is within the 90 day limit, use the following steps.

Check the date you plan to leave the Schengen area on your next trip.

Count back 180 days from that date to get the start of the 180-day period.

Add up the number of days you have already spent in the Schengen area in that 180-day period (you can use the dates stamped in your passport showing when you entered and left a country).

Work out how many days you will spend in the Schengen area on your next trip. Add this number to the number of days you worked out in step 3.

Check that the total number of days is not more than 90.

Travelling to Cyprus

Cyprus is not in the Schengen area. You can stay up to 90 days in a 180-day period in Cyprus without a visa.

Any time you spend in the Schengen area does not affect the number of days you can spend in Cyprus.

When you may need a visa

​​You may need a visa or permit if you want to either:

• stay for more than 90 days

If you’re travelling for work, check the rules for the country you’re visiting .

If you’re travelling for another reason or staying longer than 90 days, check the entry requirements for the country you’re visiting .

Changes to travel to the Schengen area from November 2024

From November 2024, you’ll get your fingerprints and photo taken when entering the Schengen area. You’ll get either your fingerprints or photo taken when you leave. You will not get a stamp in your passport.

Queues at borders may be longer when these changes begin.

If you enter the Schengen area through Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, your fingerprints and photo will be taken before you leave the UK.

Read more about the new EU Entry/Exit System .

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Welcome page

System for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay in 29 European countries (starting in the second half of 2024)

Travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries (starting in the first half of 2025)

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When will EES start? Full guide to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System

A new digital system is set to be introduced at border crossings in the schengen. here’s what you need to know.

T he launch of the EU’s automated system to track border crossings by visitors from non-EU countries — which was slated for November 10, 2024 — has been delayed and may not take place until later in the year or 2025.

Minutes of a European Council committee meeting held on Thursday, October 10, said that the European Commission now plans to roll out the Entry/Exit System (EES) “in a phased manner” and that “details of this approach will be established in the coming weeks”. Sources said that the planned launch date would not be met and that the commission was looking at an “ultra-soft launch” on a later date.

Precise details about how the system will work are still being finalised, but it will require travellers to register their passport details and biometric information at European borders as a digital record before entry. The EES is meant to make entering and leaving EU countries more efficient by replacing the time-consuming manual checks with automated scanners.

Here’s everything you need to know.

What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?

The EES will track the entry and exit of “third-country nationals” into and out of the Schengen area, replacing the need for passport stamps. At present, eligible non-EU citizens are allowed to spend 90 days in any 180-day period in the EU without a visa; the EES will digitise travel records to ensure that this limit is not breached, while increasing border security.

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What it means in practice is that when travellers visit any of the 29 countries where the EES will be in place — 25 of the 27 EU nations plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland — for the first time, they will need to register their passport information and biometric data. The original proposal was that the system would require both fingerprints and a photograph, but this appears to have been watered down, with the commission saying in October 2024 that “border officers will scan the fingerprints or take a photo of those crossing the border for the first time”.

Data will normally be stored on file for three years. If you refuse to supply it, you will be denied entry.

On subsequent visits, travellers’ information will be checked at the point of entry and exit against these details, including one piece of biometric data, likely a facial scan. Only in rare cases, says the EU, will data be collected again. Note that the EES will not be used in Ireland or Cyprus, where manual checks will continue to take place.

This process will happen at EU borders, which for most travellers will be on arrival at an airport. However there are a handful of places on British soil where “juxtaposed” EU controls apply; these are the Dover ferry port, London St Pancras for Eurostar passengers and Folkestone for LeShuttle services. Passengers travelling through these ports will register their details through the EES before departure.

An app being developed by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency will allow travellers to register their details before departure, though fingerprints will still need to be taken at EU borders. The app is not expected to be rolled out before the prospective EES launch date.

When is the EES start date?

The planned launch date of November 10, 2024, has been delayed and a new date is uncertain. It could be later in 2024 or in 2025.

Where is the EES required?

The EES will be in place for 25 of the 27 EU member states — Ireland and Cyprus will continue with manual checks — as well as Iceland , Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland , as they’re part of the border-free Schengen Area.

Within the UK, EES gates will be installed at the Port of Dover, and Eurostar and LeShuttle terminals where passports are checked prior to travel.

What does EES mean for my travel?

In theory, it should eventually speed things up at border crossings and make entry into and exit from EU countries much easier. For regular travellers, it should also mean more space in their passports as it won’t be stamped each time they make a border crossing. However, initially, there could be extra delays as passengers using the EES for the first time will need to supply fingerprints and have their photo taken.

Where might the worst delays be when EES launches?

The border checks at the Port of Dover, and Eurostar and LeShuttle terminals, have the biggest potential for delays — an issue raised by the operators. On August 27, 2024, the UK government announced that it had allocated £10.5 million to help the Port of Dover, Eurostar and LeShuttle to prepare for the EES. Each port will receive a £3.5 million funding boost, which will assist with the installation of EES infrastructure.

What will happen at Dover?

There is no separate registration area at Dover. Passengers will queue as normal and agents will approach cars and coaches with tablets on which to register non-EU citizens and collect biometrics. Passengers will remain in their vehicles. The chief executive of the port previously warned that it could take up to ten minutes to process each car after the EES comes into force (up from 40 to 90 seconds). Sites near Dover have been secured to act as overspill areas in the event of gridlock when the new process is introduced, as it is very likely that there will be long queues, particularly during busy periods.

What will happen at London St Pancras?

Eurostar is expanding its check-in space and will have three locations around the station with a total of 49 registration booths, where passengers will need to register their passport information and biometric data before continuing to departures. Eurostar is also adding nine more manual checking booths (bringing the total to 18) and e-gates, as well as extra staff to help with the EES registrations. Once registered, passengers will visit the booths before each subsequent trip to Europe to verify their details and undergo facial recognition. Eurostar has said that this new process won’t add to journey times. At Paris Gare du Nord and Brussels Midi, which have juxtaposed UK borders, Eurostar is adding new kiosks and manual checking desks where passengers will need to verify their details when leaving Europe.

What will happen at Folkestone?

Cars carrying LeShuttle passengers will be directed to a bay in a separate drive-through zone that is big enough for 53 cars at a time and has more than 100 EES registration booths. Passengers will register their details here before continuing to the queue for their service. On subsequent trips, passengers will still need to visit the booths, but only one piece of biometric information will be taken. Getlink, the owner of LeShuttle, says that it can handle 700 cars and 2,000 passengers an hour and the EES checks will mean each car takes five minutes to process. A similar zone has been set up at Coquelles, on the French side.

What will happen at European airports?

According to the Foreign Office, travellers will also submit their details at dedicated booths on arrival at European airports before continuing through immigration. In theory it should be a smoother process at airports as the technology to process biometric data is already in place at many large terminals. However, not all airports — particularly smaller European hubs — will have the capacity to deal with longer queues.

Is the EES linked to the planned EU visa-waiver scheme?

The EES will work in conjunction with visa waivers under the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias), which is scheduled to come into effect in May 2025. An Etias waiver for eligible non-EU nationals will cost £6, be valid for three years or until passport expiry (whichever is sooner), and should be applied for at least three days before travel.

• Etias: when does it start? • When will airports lift the 100ml liquid rule?

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Upcoming changes for travel to Europe

Advice for travellers on two upcoming changes to travel to Europe – the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).  

Updated 11 October 2024

The European Union is introducing two important changes for travel to Europe. These are:

• EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
• European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)

The introduction dates for when these two systems will be launched is yet to be confirmed. EES will launch before ETIAS. 

However, if you are planning to travel later this year or next year, we’ve provided some guidance on what you need to know about the upcoming changes. 

EU Entry/Exit Scheme (EES)

The EU Entry/Exit system is a new electronic system that will replace the physical stamping of passports when you go through passport control when arriving in and departing from your destination. It will register all entries and exits to and from the participating European countries, which basically means it will register your movements every time you cross a border in or out of the EU/Schengen area.

Once the new system is live, when you go through passport control on your arrival to, and departure from your destination, as well as providing your passport you will also need to have a photo of your face taken, and your fingerprints scanned. 

When will it apply?

The launch of EES had initially been planned for the end of 2024, however this has been delayed and the EU has yet to confirm the new date. 

Who will it apply to?

It will apply to those travelling for a short stay, from what the EU call a ‘third country’.  This is people who are not an EU citizen or a citizen of the Schengen area. So it will apply to most people travelling from the UK.

A short stay refers to visits, holidays or business trips that have a duration of up to 90 days and are taken within a 180 day period. The vast majority of travel between the UK and Europe will be classed as a short stay. 

Irish passport holders are exempt from EES. If you are a British passport holder but have EU residency, you are also exempt from EES.

People of all ages will need to go through the EES checks, however children under 12 will not need to provide fingerprints but they will need to have a facial scan taken.

Which countries will it apply to?

When EES comes in, these are the countries that will be using it:

In Cyprus and Ireland, despite being countries of the European Union, passports are still stamped manually.

Travelling via the Port of Dover or international train (London St Pancras and Folkestone)

In most cases, the EES checks will take place in Europe – when you arrive at your destination airport or port, and when you leave at the end of your trip.

However, if you are departing via the Port of Dover or via international train from the UK (London St Pancras and Folkestone), then these checks will happen when going through the passport control in the UK, on your departure. 

This is because there is a dual border – both British and French borders – at these locations. 

However, you won’t need to do these checks again when you arrive on the other side.

Travelling on a cruise

If you are travelling on a cruise and stopping at any of the European countries involved in EES, whether you need to go through the EES system will depend on your where your cruise starts and where the itinerary ends.  

If the cruise departure is from a UK port and returns to a UK port, you will not need to complete the EES registration.

Passengers travelling on a cruise will not need to do EES entry or exit checks for EU day trips that are part their itinerary.

If you are flying to a European country to pick up a cruise, you will complete the EES process at your arrival airport. If your cruise ends in an EU country, your exit information will be captured at the border check of the country you are flying home from.

More information on EES can be found here - EES - European Union (europa.eu) , and here - EES GOV.UK - (Gov.uk)

European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) 

ETIAS is the EU’s new travel authorisation which you will need to apply for ahead of your travels to the 30 European countries listed below once the system is introduced. It is a similar concept to the USA’s ESTA and the UK’s ETA scheme .

There is not yet an exact date as to when it will come into force, which means you do not need to have a ETIAS for travel to Europe at the moment. 

When implemented, travellers will be able to apply for an ETIAS by the official website – www.europa.eu/etias .

As the system is not live, the website itself is not live or taking applications, so you cannot yet get an official ETIAS. Any websites claiming to offer this are false.

When the system is up and running, visa-exempt travellers from third countries will need to apply for an ETIAS. Put simply, if you are travelling to the EU for a short stay and are not a citizen of an EU or Schengen country, then you will need an ETIAS.  If you are travelling on a non-UK passport you will need to check if you require an ETIAS or a visa to go to Europe. 

A short stay refers to visits, holidays or business trips that have a duration of up to 90 days and are taken within a 180 day period. 

If you are travelling on a visa, you don’t need an ETIAS. 

Irish passport holders are exempt from ETIAS. If you are a British passport holder but have EU residency you also don’t need an ETIAS.

These are the countries that travellers will need an ETIAS to enter, once ETIAS comes in:

How much will an ETIAS cost?

ETIAS will only cost €7 (equivalent to around £6). ETIAS is free for those under the age of 18 and aged 71 and over. Once ETIAS is live, certain travellers may be exempt. You can find the list of exemptions here .

How long will it be valid for?

ETIAS lasts for three years. You will be able to travel on multiple trips during this period using the same ETIAS.

However, if your passport expires during the ETIAS validity period, you will need to apply for a new ETIAS. 

It will also not be valid if it expires during your stay, in these cases you would need to apply for a new ETIAS in advance of your travels, to cover the duration of your stay. 

How to apply

There is one official website to apply for an ETIAS which is – www.europa.eu/etias . However, as ETIAS is not currently operational, applications via the website are not yet live.

You will need to do one application for each traveller, so if you are a parent applying for a child, they would need a separate application to your own.

You do have the option for someone to make an application on your behalf. If you want to do that, you will need to submit a form to show you give permission. More information will be available here – Applying on behalf of others - European Union (europa.eu)

What information do I need to provide?

For each application you will need to provide:

• Personal information including name(s), date and place of birth, sex, nationality, home address, email address and phone number(s); Parents’ first name(s);
• Passport/travel document details;
• Level of education and current occupation;
• Details about your intended travel and stay in any of the countries requiring ETIAS; 
• Details about any past criminal convictions, past travels to war or conflict zones, and whether you have recently been the subject of an extradition.

You should make sure that the details on your ETIAS match that of your passport, if they don’t your ETIAS will not be valid and you will not be able to travel. If you are applying on behalf of someone else, then there may be additional information you need to provide. 

Fake websites offering ETIAS

There are currently more than 60 unofficial websites offering ETIAS, despite the system not yet being live. Don’t use an unofficial website: there’s the risk that you will be overcharged, that you won’t get an ETIAS and that your personal information could be stolen. 

The official ETIAS website is www.europa.eu/etias  

More information on ETIAS can be found here – ETIAS – European Union (europa.eu)