Revealed: What the new European travel rules mean for you
NEW EUROPEAN TRAVEL RULES
Travel rules throughout Europe are set to change this month as new border rules come into place. New rules, designed to speed up border crossings, improve security, and replace manual passport stamping, were introduced on October 12. Pic: Jaimi Joy/Bloomberg via Getty Images
EXIT/ENTRY SYSTEM
The Extry/Exit System or EES will be gradually rolled out at border crossings in the 29 countries of the Schengen Area. It applies to ‘third-country’ travellers, including UK passport holders, or those who don’t hold a passport from a country in the EU or the Schengen Area. Pic: Shutterstock
WILL WE HAVE TO PREPARE?
Jet setters are not required to prepare anything for EES registration, but they are advised to allow time for delays on arrival in the Schengen area. Pic: Getty Images
WHAT ABOUT PASSPORT STAMPING?
UK travellers and other ‘third-country’ nationals will still have their passports stamped on arrival and departure from the Schengen Area until the rollout is completed and in place across all 29 countries. Pic: Getty Images
WHEN WILL THE EES BEGIN?
The first EES checks began last Sunday (Oct 12), and the system is expected to be fully in place by April 9, 2026. The EES will register non-EU and non-Schengen Area travellers who visit or transit through any of the 29 European countries for a short stay. Pic: Getty Images
FACE AND FINGERPRINT RECOGNITION
It will also record a photograph of each person’s face, record their fingerprints, and the date they entered and left the region. Pic: Jaimi Joy/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ENTRY REFUSALS WILL BE HELD
Each traveller’s facial image, fingerprints, and other recorded data on entries, exits, and refusals of entry will be held for three years from the date they were created. Pic: Getty Images
WHEN WILL IT FULLY KICK IN?
Then, from 10th April 2026, this will replace manual passport stamping to record travellers’ movements in and out of Schengen. Pic: Getty Images
WHO DO THESE RULES APPLY TO?
It will be used to check that ‘third-country’ travellers do not remain within the block for more than the permitted 90 days within any 180-day period. The new rules will apply to travel within the 29 countries in the Schengen Area. Pic: Getty Images
WHICH COUNTRIES ARE INCLUDED?
They are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Pic: Shutterstock
