There are important new requirements for travel to be aware of that affect how the United Kingdom and the European Union control their borders. The key changes relate to
1. ETA for entry to the United Kingdom; and
2. EES/ETIAS for entry to the European Union.
1. Entering the UK for a short stay / ETA:
There are important changes to be aware of if travelling to the UK. If you don’t need a visa and you are travelling for a short stay of less than six months, you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which is a digital permission to travel.
The requirement for an ETA for travel will be strictly enforced from 25 February 2026, and passengers who require an ETA but do not have one will not be able to travel.
You can check your ETA requirements and apply on the official UK government website.
Full details on making an ETA application can be found here.
Note: British and Irish citizens, including dual citizens, are exempt from needing an ETA, but need to ensure they have a valid passport (or certificate of entitlement for dual British citizens) when travelling, to avoid problems like being denied boarding. This also applies to Irish citizens living in the UK.
2. Entering the EU / EES and ETIAS:
The EU is introducing two new border management systems:
- Entry Exit System (EES) for non-EU nationals: European countries using the EES will introduce the system gradually at their external borders from 12 October 2025. This means that data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026. Check the official Entry/Exit System website for more details.
- European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) for people from visa-exempt non-EU countries, such as the UK. This will require an application, for which a small fee is payable, for an ETIAS authorisation to enter 30 European countries for a short stay (defined as up to 90 days within any 180 day period). Check the official ETIAS website for more details.