The European Union is set to introduce two major changes impacting travel to Europe in the coming weeks: the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), launching on November 10, 2024, and the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), expected in mid-2025.
In light of these changes, the UK-based Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has issued guidance for travelers preparing for upcoming trips.
The EES is a new electronic system designed to replace the traditional passport stamping process at border control. This system will track entries and exits from participating European countries, effectively recording an individual’s movements each time they cross a border within the EU/Schengen area. Upon arrival and departure, travelers will be required to present their passport, have a facial photograph taken, and provide fingerprints.
The new regulations will particularly affect travelers from “third countries,” which include non-EU and non-Schengen citizens—this primarily concerns most travelers from the UK. ABTA defines a short stay as visits, holidays, or business trips lasting up to 90 days within a 180-day period, a classification that will encompass the majority of UK-EU travel. Notably, Irish passport holders and British citizens with EU residency will be exempt from the EES.
While the EES checks will generally take place upon arrival at airports or ports in Europe, those departing from the Port of Dover or international train stations (London St Pancras and Folkestone) will undergo these checks in the UK due to dual border controls. Travelers will not need to repeat the checks upon arrival in France.
In addition to the EES, the upcoming ETIAS will require travelers to obtain prior authorization to enter approximately 30 European countries. Similar to the USA’s ESTA and the UK’s ETA schemes, ETIAS is set to be introduced in mid-2025, though no specific launch date has been provided yet. For now, travelers do not need to apply for ETIAS to visit Europe.
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