Big Changes for UK Travellers Going to Europe in 2025

There are several big changes ahead for UK travellers heading to Europe in 2025. From October, British citizens travelling to and from the continent will encounter a new experience at the border as the European Union launches its much-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES). The rollout marks the biggest shift in cross-Channel travel since Brexit, and it is worth understanding before your next trip.

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What is changing at the border

The EES is a digital border system that records non-EU travellers as they enter and leave the Schengen area, which comprises every EU nation except Ireland, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Instead of having a passport stamped by hand, British travellers will be registered electronically, providing a facial image and fingerprints on first crossing. The process applies at airports, sea ports and land borders alike, on both arrival and departure.

The system begins in October 2025 and is expected to be fully in place by April 2026, after a phased rollout. During that transition, the experience may vary from one crossing point to another, with some sites operating the new biometric checks and others continuing with manual processing until the system is fully integrated.

What it means for your next trip

For most travellers, the practical advice is simple: allow extra time at the border, especially in the early weeks and at busy hubs, and be ready to use the new self-service kiosks where they appear. The EES is also the forerunner of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), a separate pre-travel permit due later. To prepare in good time, read how to start your ETIAS application when the requirement takes effect.