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 European Union's long-delayed Entry/Exit System has begun a bumpy, phased rollout, with biometric checks already causing long queues at some borders. Here is where the rules apply, what they mean for UK travellers, and how to prepare before ETIAS arrives.
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.
The UK government says its post-Brexit reset deal will let British holidaymakers use more e-gates in Europe and avoid long border queues. The reality is more complicated, and being able to use an e-gate is not the same as rejoining the fast-track lane.
From the last quarter of 2026, visa-exempt travellers flying to Europe will need an approved ETIAS travel authorisation before departure. It is checked before boarding and again at the border, so the document and your passport must match.
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.