The EU's new digital border system became fully operational in April 2026, and early disruption has prompted warnings of longer queues during busy holiday periods. Here is what travellers need to do and why delays have appeared.
The European Union is rolling out two new border initiatives, the Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS, that will change how visa-free travellers enter 30 European countries. Here is a plain-language summary of what each one does and when it applies.
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.
The EU and its member states are reinforcing the external borders of the Schengen area through a combination of a dedicated agency and large-scale IT systems. Here is how the main pieces fit together.
British citizens who also hold a foreign passport can no longer simply use that document to enter the UK. With full ETA enforcement now in place, here is what changed and the practical options for dual nationals.
The European Union launched its Entry/Exit System in October 2025, with full implementation for British travellers anticipated by April 2026 and the ETIAS permit due to follow. Here is a quick guide to the key dates and what they mean.
The EU's Entry/Exit System launched on 12 October 2025, with full implementation for British travellers anticipated by 10 April 2026. ETIAS will follow later, becoming mandatory around 2027.
The EU's Entry/Exit System began phasing in from October 2025 and has already caused long queues and delays. Here is where the rollout stands and how travellers can make the process easier.
Lorry drivers from Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro and North Macedonia threatened to blockade Schengen frontiers over the EU's Entry/Exit System, casting a spotlight on how the digital border could shape summer queues.
Travelling in 2026 is set to become harder, pricier and more bureaucratic, from biometric borders in Europe to new fees on both sides of the Atlantic. Here is a plain-language guide to what is changing and how to plan around it.