Search results for: "Schengen borders"

Europe is modernising its borders with two new systems, the EES and ETIAS. They sound similar but do very different jobs. Here is what each one means for your next trip.

The Schengen area lets more than 450 million people move between member countries without internal border checks. Here is how it works, which countries belong, and how its external borders are protected.

Estonia is set to become the first EU country with the new Entry/Exit System (EES) running at every air, sea and land frontier from 12 October. Most other Schengen states, including Germany, will start with only partial coverage.

From 12 October, British travellers to the European Union face a new layer of border formality as the Entry/Exit System begins its long-delayed rollout. Here is a plain-language guide to what changes, why there is so much confusion, and how ETIAS fits in.

The EU has set 12 October 2025 as the start of a phased rollout for the Entry/Exit System (EES), with full operation expected by 10 April 2026. ETIAS is due to follow in late 2026, and its fee is rising from €7 to €20.

The much-delayed Entry/Exit System will start applying to UK travellers on 12 October 2025, the EU has confirmed. The first six months will mix biometric and analogue checks before full operation on 10 April 2026, with the new ETIAS fee set to almost treble to €20.

Eurostar is now letting passengers take their seats up to 30 minutes before departure at London St Pancras, a move designed to relieve overcrowding as demand soars and the station readies itself for the EU's Entry/Exit System.

EU home affairs ministers have backed a revised timeline that brings the Entry/Exit System (EES) into operation first, in October 2025, with ETIAS expected to follow in the last quarter of 2026. The phased approach gives borders and travellers time to adjust.

British visitors will not need an ETIAS travel permit for the EU and wider Schengen Area until April 2027 at the earliest. The delay follows a decision to roll out the Entry/Exit System gradually from October 2025 rather than all at once.

The EU is working towards an autumn 2025 launch for the Entry/Exit System (EES), but it will arrive in phases rather than all at once. Member States can start with a share of their border crossing points and scale up over six months, while ETIAS is not expected before late 2026.