ABTA Turns Europe Travel Changes Into a Practical Guide to EES and ETIAS

Why the advice page matters in 2026

ABTA's updated page explains two separate EU border changes that travellers can easily confuse. The Entry/Exit System, or EES, started on 12 October 2025 and is being introduced in stages through to 10 April 2026, while ETIAS is still expected later in 2026 and is not yet open for official applications. That distinction is central to the guidance because travellers need to prepare for new border procedures now without assuming they must already buy an ETIAS.

What travellers should expect from EES

ABTA describes EES as the new electronic replacement for manual passport stamping at participating European borders. For most short-stay travellers from the UK, this means passport checks will also involve a facial image and, for most passengers aged 12 and over, fingerprint collection. The association also highlights practical differences by route, noting that checks may happen on arrival in Europe, but for Dover and certain international rail services they can be completed before departure because of juxtaposed border controls.

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The broader preparation message on ETIAS and border readiness

The page treats ETIAS as a later step, not an immediate one. ABTA says travellers will not need an ETIAS this year, that the official EU site is not yet taking applications, and that unofficial websites should be avoided. Beyond ETIAS, the wider lesson is to travel with accommodation details and other trip information ready, allow extra time where carriers advise it, and understand that some familiar border questions may increasingly be asked through electronic systems rather than only by a border officer.