The promise of more eGate access for British travellers sounded dramatic, but the practical picture was narrower. Faster processing at some airports was possible, yet the legal status of UK travellers at the EU border and the underlying entry rules were not being rewritten.
A 2026 protest threat by truck drivers in parts of the Balkans showed that the EU's Entry/Exit System was not only a passenger issue. The row highlighted how stricter digital enforcement of time limits in Schengen could affect freight, border flows and summer travel planning.
UK passport costs rose again in April 2024, marking a second increase in just over a year. Travellers renewing soon should check the new fees early and leave extra time in their travel planning.
The European Commission says the Entry/Exit System is foreseen for October 2025 after earlier delays. Operators at Dover, Eurostar and Eurotunnel say they are preparing infrastructure, but uncertainty over the exact launch date keeps queue concerns in focus.
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.
The Guardian issued a correction in July 2025 confirming that the ETIAS visa waiver will cost €20 when it is introduced, not the €7 figure cited in earlier reporting. This article explains what the €20 fee covers, who is exempt, and when the system is expected to go live.
When the EU Entry/Exit System takes effect, British passport holders will for the first time need to provide biometric data at European borders. This article, written in late 2023, previews what the new checks will require and what the processing challenges could look like at key UK departure points.
ABTA's passports-and-visas page is broad rather than event-led. It works best as an early travel checklist, covering passport validity, visa checks, renewal timing and a separate warning for some British and Irish dual nationals returning to the UK.
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.