Changes to EU travel
Changes to EU travel - There are two quite big changes due for travel in and out of the European Union that will affect non-EU citizens such as British, Americans, Australians and Canadians etc.. The two new border systems being put in place will mean a slight change to travel both in and out of the EU and Schengen zone.
The two systems will be known as EES (Entry/Exit System) and ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System)
Changes to EU travel
EES - Entry/Exit System
Update 8th March - Delayed again - The Commission proposed a regulation that will give countries six months to deploy the system in full. The EES is expected to become operational in October 2025
In practice, the Commission said in a note, “all member states will start operating the EES from day one at one or more border crossing points” registering at least 10% of estimated border crossings. The proportion will have to increase to 50% within 90 days.
"In the first 60 days, registration will be allowed without taking biometric data (fingerprints and facial scans). By the end of the six month period countries will have to ensure the full registration of all third country nationals".
The regulation allows the member states which are ready to operate EES fully from day one.
It also includes the possibility to temporarily suspend the system in case of technical failures or other disruption at the borders.
This does not change anything in terms of the visas or documents required for travel, or the rights of travellers, but it does change how the EU’s external borders are policed.
Basically, this will be a security upgrade to replace the current system that relies on border guards with rubber stamps, these will be replaced with an electronic swipe in/out system that registers more details such as your immigration status, this tightens up the 90-day rule and means that anyone attempting to over-stay will instantly be spotted.
The EES system will be able to calculate how long you can stay within the EU, based on your rights of residency or your 90-day allowance, it also checks whether your passport has ever been flagged for immigration offences such as overstaying a visa.
This system is for non-EU nationals who are entering the EU as a visitor (rather than residents). The system scans your passport and will tell you how long you can stay for (based on the 90-allowance or the visa linked to the passport).
The system will register the person’s name, type of travel document, biometric data (fingerprints and captures facial images), as well as the date and place of entry and exit. In addition, the system will also record entry refusals. The data will be gathered at land crossings, seaports, and air and then will be shared with the relevant government agencies.
It will require all non-EU arrivals to have four fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken on first entry into the bloc — biometrics that will be verified on each subsequent entry. Anyone who overstays or exceeds the 90-day rule could face a fine or ban on their future travel.
What data will the EES collect?
The EES collects and records:
- data listed in your travel document (e.g. full name, date of birth, etc.)
- date and place of entry into and exit from a European country using the EES
- facial image and fingerprints (called ‘biometric data’)
- refusal of entry, where relevant
*Please note that the fingerprint data of non-EU nationals who do not need a visa to enter the territory of European countries using the EES and holders of Facilitated Transit Documents will be stored in the EES. If you need a visa to enter the Schengen area, your fingerprints will already be stored in the Visa Information System and will not be stored again in the EES.*
Many airports already have biometric passport scanners but at the moment they are only checking that your passport is valid and the photo matches your face.
The system will help bona fide third-country nationals too to travel more easily while identifying more efficiently over-stayers and cases of document and identity fraud. As soon as the new system starts being operational, the authorities will put self-service devices at airports. These devices will be used to scan airports, faces, and fingerprints, land borders will get gates where people will be able to scan their documents and face and register their entry or exit into the EU.
This is only for the EU’s external borders, so will not apply if you are travelling between France and Germany, but would apply if you enter any EU or Schengen zone country from a non-EU country e.g crossing from the UK to France or flying into Germany from the US.
In Cyprus and Ireland, despite being countries of the European Union, passports are still stamped manually.
What happens if you refuse to have your fingerprints scanned or a photo of your face taken?
As a non-EU national travelling for a short stay, if you refuse to provide your biometric data, you will be denied entry into the territory of European countries using EES.
What if you are a resident? Non-EU nationals who live in an EU country and have a national residency card such as a TIE in Spain are not affected by this, since they have the right to unlimited stays within their country of residence.
For non-EU nationals who have residency in an EU country it could mean the end of the rather inconsistent process of passport stamping, which has been a particular issue since Brexit
Our advice remains to urgently exchange your Green Certificate for a Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE), if you have not already done so. According to guidance published on the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion’s website, those with a Green Certificate will not be considered exempt from EES and will therefore have to pass through the full registration process, not only in Spain but when entering other EU countries.
The TIE is the best way to avoid disruption and difficulties at the border when EES comes into force, contact MY TIE Card Spain
Changes to EU travel
ETIAS
What is ETIAS - European Travel Information and Authorisation System - Note - ETIAS is NOT a visa.
ETIAS is currently not in operation and is not due to start until the last quarter of 2026.
No action is required from travellers at this point.
The European Union will inform about the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch.
The rules of travel to most European countries have changed. Starting six months after EES, some 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries are required to have a travel authorisation to enter 30 European countries for a short stay.
This is only relevant to non-EU citizens who do NOT live permanently in an EU country or have a visa for an EU country, so includes tourists, second-home owners and those on family visits or doing short-term work.
ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of these 30 European countries. It is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.
With a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays - normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. However, it does not guarantee entry. When you arrive, a border guard will ask to see your passport and other documents and verify that you meet the entry conditions.
You can fill out the application form using either this official ETIAS website or the ETIAS mobile application. Applying for the ETIAS travel authorisation costs EUR 7, though some travellers are exempt from paying this fee. Read more about what you need to apply and payment exemptions
What you need to APPLY
When filling out the application, you will need to have your travel document and a payment card at hand. You will also be asked to provide your personal information. You can apply using the official ETIAS website or the official ETIAS mobile app.
Travel Documents
To apply, you will need a valid travel document to which a visa may be affixed.
Your travel document should not expire in less than three months and it should not be older than 10 years. If your document expires sooner, check here to know how it affects your travel.
A travel document which does not comply with international standards may be rejected during the application process. It may also pose problems when a carrier verifies your travel authorisation prior to boarding. If you have any doubt about whether your travel document entitles you to cross the borders of the European countries requiring ETIAS (and to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation), please check the European Council’s website and the lists the European Commission has published here and here.
Information required
When filling out the application, you will be asked to provide the following information:
- Personal information including your name(s), surname, date and place of birth, nationality, home address, parents’ first names, email address and phone number;
- Travel document details;
- Details about your level of education and current occupation;
- Details about your intended travel and stay in any of the countries requiring ETIAS;
- Details about any criminal convictions, any past travels to war or conflict zones, and whether you have recently been subject of a decision requiring you to leave the territory of any country.
You will need to declare that the data you submit and the statements you make are correct. You will also need to confirm that you understand the entry conditions to the territories of the European countries requiring ETIAS and that you may be requested to provide the relevant supporting documents each time you cross the external border.
If someone is submitting the application on your behalf, that person will have to provide their surname, first name(s), the name and contact details of the organisation or firm (if applicable), as well as information on their relationship to you and a confirmation that this person and you have signed the declaration of representation.
Applications for minors (under 18 years of age) have to be submitted by a person exercising permanent or temporary parental authority or legal guardianship.
Application fee - You will need a payment card to cover the 7€ fee. You can use a variety of online payment options to pay the fee.
Applicants who are under 18 or above 70 years of age are exempt from this payment. Also exempt are family members of EU citizens or of non-EU nationals who have the right to move freely throughout the European Union.
Processing your ETIAS application - Most applications are processed within minutes.
It is possible however that your application may take longer to process. If so, you will receive a decision within four days. Please note that this period could be extended by up to 14 days if you are requested to provide additional information or documentation, or up to 30 days if you are invited to an interview. This is why you should apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation well in advance of your planned journey.
Once you have applied
You will receive an email confirming the submission of your application which will include your unique ETIAS application number: make sure you keep this number for future reference.
Once your application has been processed, you will receive another email informing you about its outcome.
When you get your ETIAS travel authorisation please make sure your name, passport number and other information is correct: if there is any mistake, you will not be allowed to cross the border. More information about what to do if you made a mistake in your application can be found here.
If your application is refused, the email will provide the reasons for this decision. It will also include information about how to appeal, details of the competent authority, as well as the relevant time limit to appeal.
Validity period of your ETIAS
Your ETIAS travel authorisation is valid for three years or until the travel document you used in your application expires - whichever comes first.
It is for short-term stays: a valid ETIAS travel authorisation entitles you to stay in the European countries requiring ETIAS for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
You must be in possession of a valid ETIAS travel authorisation during your entire stay. You can leave and come back at any time, as long as you respect this time limit.
On arrival at the border
As your ETIAS travel authorisation is linked to your travel document, make sure to carry the same document which you used in your ETIAS application. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to board your flight, bus or ship, or to enter any of the European countries requiring ETIAS.
Having a valid ETIAS travel authorisation does not guarantee an automatic right of entry. When you arrive at the border, border guards will verify that you meet the entry conditions. Those travellers who do not meet the entry conditions will be refused entry.
More information about what to expect when crossing EU borders is available here
ETIAS check-list
- Apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation well in advance – before you buy your ticket or book your accommodation
- Make sure your passport details correspond to those in your ETIAS authorisation – you will be refused boarding and entry at the border if they do not match
- Make sure your ETIAS travel authorisation is still valid
- Check how long you can stay in the European countries requiring ETIAS
- Make sure your passport is valid for three months after your intended departure from the European countries requiring ETIAS - you will be refused entry at the border if it is not (exceptions apply).
Official Updates 19th February 2025 - ETIAS timeline explained.
The rules for visa-free travel to Europe will change for travellers coming from 59 countries and territories. Find out below what the first year of ETIAS will look like in practice.
The launch of ETIAS will take place a few months after the introduction of the Entry Exit System. The EES will require identity, travel document data and biometric checks for non-EU travellers entering the territory of these European countries for a short stay. Biometric data will not be collected with ETIAS.
Once the new system is in place, nationals of 59 countries and territories who do not need a visa to travel to any of the 30 European countries, will have to apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation before starting their trip. Similar entry requirements for visa-free nationals are currently in place in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Travellers will have to submit their ETIAS applications online using either the official ETIAS website europa.eu/etias or the official mobile app.
The implementation of the change in the European travel rules will be gradual
- Transitional period: travellers should apply for an ETIAS travel authorisation
The launch of ETIAS will be followed by a transitional period of at least six months. This means that, for travel during this time, travellers should already apply for their ETIAS travel authorisation, but those without one will not be refused entry as long as they fulfil all remaining entry conditions.
- Grace period: travellers must have an ETIAS travel authorisation
During this period travellers must have an ETIAS travel authorisation to enter the 30 European countries.
There is an exception: only those coming to Europe for the first time since the end of the transitional period will be allowed to enter without an ETIAS provided they fulfil all remaining entry conditions. All other travellers will be refused entry if they do not hold an ETIAS travel authorisation.
The grace period will last at least six months.
There is only one official ETIAS website: europa.eu/etias
Citizens of many non-EU countries including the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand can spend up to 90 days in every 180 in the EU or Schengen zone without needing a visa – the so-called ’90 day rule’ – people are still entitled to spend up to 90 days in every 180, but the process will not be completely free and travellers will have to fill out an online application before they travel.
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