EES &ETIAS information for travel to Europe

Travellers heading to Europe after 12 October 2025 will find there is a new requirement for entry to the EU. The good news is that this change is designed to make travel faster, safer and more efficient in the long run, although in the first instance you might find you need to allow slightly longer to complete the process.

Whether you're heading on a walking holiday to Spain, hiking in Italy or trekking in the Alps, here's what the EES is, and answers to some of the most important questions including how it works and how to navigate it at the border.

The EES is a new border control system being introduced across the Schengen Area, 29 countries including popular holiday destinations like France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Greece. In essence, it is a digital upgrade to the old passport stamping method, designed to be faster, more secure and less prone to error. In future, instead of getting a manual stamp in your passport when you enter or leave the EU, the EES will digitally record your movements. Each time you cross a Schengen border, the system will log:

The date & time of your entry or exit

The border crossing point

Your passport details

Your biometric data, including a facial photo and fingerprints

The EES will affect most non-EU nationals and people who are not a citizen of the Schengen Area, travelling for a short stay of up to 90 days that are taken within a 180 day period. So it will apply to most people travelling from the UK.

 However, UK residents in the EU with valid residency, and those with long-stay visas or EU residence permits won't need to register for EES. Irish passport holders are exempt from EES.

Since Brexit, UK travellers can visit Schengen Area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. The EES will automatically track your time in the EU, making it easier to stay within the rules.

At the border, instead of handing over your passport for a quick stamp, you will now go through a series of quick checks that use technology to make the process more secure. In the first instance, just as before, you will present your passport at  the kiosk or to a border official. Instead of getting a stamp, the system will read the details digitally and check against the EES database.

In a change to procedure, you will then be asked to place your fingers on a scanner to capture your fingerprints - it's a bit like using your fingerprint to unlock your mobile phone and is quick and easy. Next you will be asked to look into a camera for a photo, which will be matched to make sure you are the rightful holder of the passport. The system will store these biometric details for future use.

You may be required to answer a few quick questions about your trip, such as purpose of visit, where you will be staying, proof of return or onward travel and confirmation you have travel insurance. These are all routine enquiries.

Once the system has confirmed your details, your entry will be digitally recorded. There will no longer be a physical stamp in your passport as the record is recorded by the system for three years. You can then continue your journey.

The first time you travel to a Schengen Area country after the introduction of the new process, your time at border control may take a little longer than you are used to, as your biometric data needs to be collected and stored. After that though, future trips should be quicker as the system ought to already recognise you.

Be aware that in the aftermath of the launch on 12 October 2025, queues at border may be slightly longer while travellers and airport and border staff adjust to the new procedure. It is a good idea therefore to arrive earlier than usual, keep your documents handy and remain patient as everyone will be in the same position.

The 29 Schengen Area countries 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 | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland

ETIAS is the EU's new travel authorisation system. It is scheduled for introduction towards the end of 2026. It is a similar concept to the USA's ESTA and the UK's ETA scheme. After launch, travellers will need to apply ahead of departure for it.

When up and running, if you are not a citizen of the EU or a Schengen Area country, and are travelling to the EU for a short stay, then you will need an ETIAS. A short stay refers to visits, holidays or business trips up to 90 days within any 180 day period.

An ETIAS will likely cost 20 Euros. It will last for three years and during this time you will be able to travel on multiple trips using the same ETIAS. However, if your passport expires during the ETIAS validity period, you will need to apply for a new ETIAS.

Applications will need to be made through the official website https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias. Do not use an unofficial website and be aware that there are fake websites offering ETIAS. Note that until ETIAS is operational, applications will not be live via the website.

You will need to do one application for each traveller. Each application will require you to provide personal information including name(s), date and place of birth, sex, nationality, home address, email address and phone number, passport/travel information, level of education and current occupation, details about your intended travel and stay, details about any past criminal convictions, past travels to war or conflict zones and whether you have recently been the subject of an extradition. Details must match your passport otherwise the ETIAS will not be valid.