Travel Advice

European entry requirements

Entry/Exit System (EES)
(Please note: the implementation is ongoing throughout the EU)

Who is affected?
All non-EU passport holders, including UK citizens.

What will happen at the border?
Upon entry to one of the 29 Schengen countries, travellers will be required to:

• Present their passport
• Provide fingerprints and have a photograph taken
• Answer standard border control questions

This new digital system will gradually replace passport stamping. Biometric data will be valid for three years.

For children:
All children will have a photograph taken
Children aged 12 and over will also be required to provide fingerprints

Exiting the Schengen Area will involve a simplified check, although procedures may vary by location.
Travellers already in the Schengen Area when the EES is launched will be able to leave without issue.

What to Expect
A phased six-month rollout, with some variation in traveller experience depending on the point of entry
Possible queues and delays during initial implementation
No cost associated with EES
No change to existing travel rules (90 days in any 180-day period for short stays)

UK Departures: Ferry Ports & LeShuttle
At Dover, Folkestone, and St Pancras, EES checks will be conducted on UK soil.
All passengers, including coach travellers, will be required to disembark for processing
Accessible facilities will be available to support all passengers

Other Notes
Gibraltar will apply EES checks at its external border
Airport transit passengers will not be affected unless entering the Schengen Area (i.e., going landside)

Looking Ahead: ETIAS (Expected 2026)
ETIAS is a separate online travel authorisation system, anticipated to launch in late 2026
It will require an advance application and a fee of approximately €20 per person
ETIAS is not yet live – please disregard any offers to apply at this time

We will continue to monitor developments and share confirmed updates as they become available. We also recommend keeping an eye on Gov.uk and the Travel Aware website for the most up-to-date guidance from early September.

If you have any questions or require further assistance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

City Tax & Tourism Levy

These are not included in our prices. An increasing number of cities and destinations are introducing these taxes, please check before travel.

The European Tourism Association (ETOA) and Trippz have announced a new strategic partnership, bringing together two organisations with a shared commitment to improve knowledge, policy and process related to tourism taxes in Europe.

Tourism taxes are an increasingly significant topic for destinations, buyers, accommodation providers and travellers alike. They are becoming more common at a time of stretched public sector budgets and a return to full-rate VAT on accommodation in some destinations. They are a direct financial contribution from tourism but erode commercial margin if introduced at short notice. Any net benefit and impact are typically not well understood nor appreciated.

Recognising the growing complexity of this landscape, ETOA and Trippz have agreed to collaborate to ensure that accurate, actionable and up-to-date information is available to the ETOA membership, while supporting better-informed research, policy discussions and good practice sharing among public and private stakeholders.

ETOA represents and supports the European tourism industry through advocacy and the provision of trusted, expert insight to its members and policy makers. Trippz complements this role through the development and delivery of products and services designed to simplify the management of tourism taxes, while actively contributing to policy debate.

The partnership will focus on several key areas of common interest, including:

• Improving access to accurate and practical information on tourism taxes in Europe
• Minimising financial and administrative burdens for accommodation providers and their clients
• Raising awareness among policymakers and industry stakeholders to support smarter regulation
• Improve actual and perceived benefit to both host community and visitors
• Encouraging collaboration and innovation in related product and business development

This partnership marks an important step towards greater transparency and efficiency in the use and management of tourism taxes, and improved understanding of their individual and cumulative impact across Europe.