The EU has acquiesced to our demands for more red tape. From sealed coaches at Dover to fingerprinting at every border, here is the Brexit Border Bonus that British travellers now enjoy.
By March 2026, the key question was no longer whether EES would begin but how far the rollout had progressed and when ETIAS would follow. The practical picture was a staged border change with a later online authorisation still to come.
UK travellers visiting Europe should prepare for a new border process from October 2025. The EU's Entry/Exit System will gradually reshape checks at airports, ports and land crossings across the Schengen area.
November travel to Germany will look a little different because the new EU system has started to appear at the frontier. The key point is that EES is about registration and tracking, not about buying a separate permit before you fly.
A long-running uncertainty over Europe's next border systems narrowed in mid-2025 when the EU set a firm EES start date and confirmed a higher ETIAS fee. For UK travellers, the change meant more clarity on timing, but not a simpler border process.
The update moved the debate from theory to timetable: some travellers would encounter EES from 12 October 2025, while the full border rollout would continue into April 2026. It also pointed to a later ETIAS launch with a higher fee than previously planned.
A travel company update can shape how people plan their trips, which is why inaccurate post-Brexit advice matters. In June 2024, TUI corrected key errors about ETIAS and Schengen rules after misleading information was highlighted.
The EU's new Entry/Exit System will introduce biometric border checks for many non-EU visitors. Here is what changes, why delays are a concern, and how travelers can prepare before ETIAS follows.
British passport holders will be required to obtain paid travel authorisation before entering the Schengen Area under new EU border rules.