ABTA's opening assessment for 2026 argues that travel businesses are entering the year with a crowded policy and operational agenda. Its five-priority list ranges from border systems and pricing rules to artificial intelligence, youth mobility and accessibility.
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.
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.
From late 2026, non-EU travellers flying to Europe will need an ETIAS travel authorisation before boarding. Learn how the system works at airports, on arrival, and during international transits.
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.
Discover how ETIAS affects your land travel plans by bus, train, or car across Europe.
The ETIAS application fee is set to increase from EUR 7 to EUR 20 before the system's launch in 2026.
If you hold dual citizenship, understanding which passport to link with your ETIAS authorization is crucial for seamless European travel.
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.
British travellers still enjoy visa-free short trips to much of Europe, but the rules are no longer as simple as they were before Brexit. Passport validity, the 90/180-day limit, and upcoming ETIAS and EES checks now shape every journey.