Three New Travel Schemes for 2025: How the UK ETA, EES and ETIAS Differ

The new year began at full speed for the travel industry. Adverse weather brought some operational disruption in the first days of January 2025, and the trade body ABTA reminded members to sign up for its Operational Bulletins so they could respond quickly. Behind the immediate logistics, though, a bigger theme was already taking shape: 2025 would be the year three new travel schemes arrived, each with the potential to confuse travellers who simply want to know what they need before they fly.

Marking its 75th anniversary, ABTA set out to work closely with government officials and amplify their messaging. For travellers, the clearest way through the noise is to treat the three schemes separately and understand what each one actually requires.

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The UK ETA: live from 8 January

The first scheme is already here. The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) came into effect on Wednesday 8 January 2025 for a wide range of visa-exempt countries, with a further roll-out planned for most European countries in the spring. The ETA is a pre-travel permission that eligible visitors apply for online before arriving in the United Kingdom, broadly comparable to the United States' ESTA. It is not a visa, and it does not change who is allowed to come — it simply adds a digital authorisation step ahead of the journey.

EES and ETIAS: still to come on the EU side

The other two schemes belong to the European Union and are frequently muddled with the UK ETA and with each other. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated border system that registers non-EU visitors and their biometrics on entry and exit; after long delays it was widely expected to launch at some point in 2025. ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is a separate pre-travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors that would come into effect later still.

The distinction that helps most travellers is this: an ETA or ETIAS is something you obtain before you leave home, while EES is something that happens at the border itself. Because all three landed in the same calendar year, careful planning and reliable information matter more than ever. If you are unsure whether a scheme applies to you, checking the travel eligibility requirements before booking is a sensible first step.

The SAF mandate and the cost question

Alongside the border changes, the UK's Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate came into force on 1 January 2025. It requires 2% of total UK jet fuel demand to be met by SAF in 2025, rising to 10% by 2030 and 22% by 2040 as part of aviation's path to net zero by 2050. The mandate prompted media debate about whether it might push up the cost of flights and holidays — a question the industry continued to weigh as the year began. For travellers, it is a reminder that the year's changes reach beyond paperwork at the border and into the longer-term shape of flying itself.

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