At the start of 2025, the central message for British travellers was that the EU's next border changes were still delayed. The Entry/Exit System had to come first, and the later ETIAS permit could only follow once that system had been fully running for months.
ABTA's reading of the Brexit White Paper was cautiously positive for the travel sector, but far from settled. The document reflected several industry priorities while still leaving important commercial and political questions open.
Five years after the UK left the EU, mobility remains possible but less frictionless. New border routines, document checks, and incoming digital authorisation systems are reshaping how people move between Britain and Europe.
ABTA used an early 2024 webinar announcement to underline how significant EES and ETIAS would be for UK travel businesses. The immediate priority was to get accurate information from the agencies building the systems before customer confusion spread.
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.
A broad coalition from Europe’s tourism and travel sector is challenging the European Commission’s proposal to raise the ETIAS fee from €7 to €20. The group says the increase is disproportionate and calls for a transparent impact assessment before any decision is finalised.
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.
In August 2024, European Commissioner Ylva Johansson confirmed that the Entry/Exit System was on track for a November 2024 start, with ETIAS to follow six months later. This article reflects the reporting at that time — note that the EES eventually launched in October 2025 and the ETIAS fee was confirmed at €20, not the €7 cited here.
A valid ETIAS is required for many visa-free travellers, but it is not a guarantee of admission at the border. Entry still depends on travel document checks, border questions and compliance with the rules for short stays.