New EU travel rules for UK citizens will commence from 12 October 2025 under the Entry/Exit System (EES), which acts as a digital replacement for passport stamping, in one of the most significant updates to Schengen travel rules in years.
New EU Travel Rules 2025
At your first arrival in a Schengen country after 12 October, border officers will collect biometric data. This includes a facial image and four fingerprints, alongside passport details. The information is stored securely for three years and will make future entries faster, as travellers are simply verified against their existing record.
The EES will digitally record the time and place of entry and exit for non-EU nationals, including British, American, Canadian, Australian and Japanese citizens. The aim is to improve security, reduce overstays and modernise border control across the Schengen Area. ETIAS and the EES will also apply in non-EU countries that are part of the Schengen Area, including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
During the six-month rollout, until to April 2026, you may still receive manual passport stamps and should budget extra time for possible delays at airports, ports and Eurostar terminals while border guards and passengers adjust to the new process.
ETIAS Application
Running separately from EES is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), due to launch in mid-2026. Unlike EES, which takes place at the border, ETIAS requires non-EU visitors from visa-exempt countries to complete an online form before travelling. Under-18s and over-70s do not have to pay the fee, but they do have to apply for the ETIAS
It will cost €20 to apply for your ETIAS via an official ETIAS application form. Originally it was to be €7, but the proposed price was hiked in July 2025.
It grants permission to board transport and enter the Schengen border for short stay across multiple visits over a duration of three years, similar to the US ESTA scheme. If you are on a cruise that stops in the Schengen area you will need an ETIAS, even if you sail to and from UK.
ETIAS is not a visa. It does not allow stays longer than 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, nor does it permit you to work or have a long-term residency. For stays beyond 90 days, you need to apply for a national visa or residence permit in the country where you plan to stay.
What It Means for You
For those over 40 who may be more familiar with Europe’s traditional border checks, the new EU travel rules 2025 will feel like a significant shift, especially during peak periods when many UK visitors travel to Spain, France and Italy. Although the changes are designed to streamline travel in the long term, the initial rollout could bring queues and confusion.
Travellers are advised to allow extra time at border crossings during the first months of the EES. Once biometric data has been registered on the first trip, subsequent journeys should be quicker and easier. By 2026, ETIAS will add an additional step before travel, requiring online authorisation prior to departure.
The changes mark a new post-Brexit digital era for European travel, and while the adjustment period may test patience, the systems are ultimately intended to make border crossings more efficient and secure for years to come. Fingers crossed!
