EU Home Affairs Ministers have endorsed a revised rollout plan for two major travel systems. The Entry/Exit System will go live in October 2025, while the European Travel Information and Authorisation System will launch in late 2026, supported by transitional and grace periods.
By spring 2025, the story around the EU's Entry/Exit System had shifted from a missed launch date to a phased implementation plan. ABTA's practical message was that businesses and travellers still needed to prepare, but they also needed to understand that the system would not switch on everywhere at once.
A misleading rule survived online for years and risked confusing travellers at exactly the wrong moment. The correction matters because the Schengen passport test is simpler than many officials, airlines and websites have claimed.
Spain remains one of Europe's top summer destinations, but 2025 brings tighter entry checks, changing tourist taxes and stricter local conduct rules. Here is a clear guide to what travellers should prepare before arriving.
Discover the security procedures and checks that apply to different categories of travellers entering or leaving the Schengen Area, and how systems like EES and ETIAS streamline the process.
The EU is upgrading how Schengen external borders work, including the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). If you travel visa-free, these changes will shape border checks and advance screening.
The EU is preparing to roll out its new Entry/Exit System for non-EU visitors. Here is what the biometric border process means for travellers, where delays may appear and why privacy advocates are watching closely.
ETIAS is not yet operational, but preparations are underway. Discover the transitional and grace periods that will guide visa-free travellers entering the 30 European countries.
European travel in 2025 comes with more rules, fees and capacity controls. From Spain's tighter rental policies to new taxes in major destinations, travellers should plan ahead to avoid unexpected costs and access restrictions.
The EU is introducing two new border management tools that will change how visitors travel to Europe: ETIAS and the Entry/Exit System. Both strengthen European security, but they operate in very different ways.