EES border checks, new airport security scanners and protests against mass tourism will impact trips to the Continent
Brexit changed travel to the continent. It began with a time limit for UK passport holders to remain in the EU or Schengen area unless they had a visa – 90 days out of any 180 – as they became third-country visitors. Since January 2021, Britons must have their passports stamped on entry and exit from the bloc to make sure they are complying with this rule.
More changes are on the way. The Entry Exit System (EES) for recording passenger crossings in and out of the EU is set to be phased in from October this year and it will replace passport stamping. Etias (the European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is the EU’s visa waiver system and is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026.
EES has been delayed several times. If it goes ahead, it will be the biggest overhaul for travel from the UK to Europe in the next six months.
The so-called Brexit reset – a new agreement between the UK and EU – could also bring updates. The UK wishes to rejoin the EU pet passport scheme, for example.
Meanwhile, individual European countries tackling overtourism and housing crises have new rules and events that will affect UK visitors in the coming months.
Here is a month-by-month guide to the changes for travel to Europe.
June
Airport scanners
Many airports missed the UK government’s June 2024 deadline to install new next-generation CT scanners. The deadline was extended to June 2025.
The technology means passengers can leave laptops, tablets and liquids in containers of up to 100ml in their hand luggage when going through security.
The scanners are being rolled out at Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport. They are already installed at several other UK airports, including Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Leeds Bradford, London City, Luton, Newcastle, Southend, Teesside. They also in place in some EU airports.
The installation of these scanners was expected to phrase out the 100ml liquids rule. However, the 100ml limit was reintroduced at all UK airports in June 2024 and at EU airports in September the same year.
Venice day tripper fee
Visitors to the Italian city who are not staying overnight must pay €5 (£4.20) – or €10 if they book less than four days before their arrival. Those who have booked accommodation in the city do not need to pay the day tripper fee, but still need to register their presence on the city’s website.
The scheme relaunched on 18 April following a trial in 2024. It applies across 54 dates (between 8.30am and 4pm), including weekends, ending on 27 July.
Mass tourism protests
Following last year’s wave of protests against overtourism, especially in Spain, campaigners on the continent have promised a new summer campaign.
The Southern European Network Against Touristisation, an organisation made up of small protest groups from Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, say they have several demonstrations planned over the coming months.
The next major protest is on 15 June with demonstrations expected in cities across Southern Europe.
Spain guest registration rules
Tourists to Spain must provide data, including passport details, their date of birth, nationality, gender, home address, phone number, email address and method of payment when booking accommodation or renting a car. This applies to visitors aged 14 or over, meaning adults must also register any children this age who they are travelling with. They must also explain their relationship to the children.
It is the responsibility of accommodation and car hire businesses to collect this information and submit it to the Spanish government.
Greece’s higher tourist taxes
Greece approved an increase on tourist tax and cruise passenger levies last December. Between April and October, short-term accommodation includes a daily tax of €8 or £7 (an increase of €1.5 compared to 2024). On hotel stays, it is up to €15 (£13) per night. The charge for cruise ship passengers is up to €20 (£17) per night.
July
France outdoor smoking ban
France will ban smoking in outdoor spaces – including beaches, parks, public gardens, bus stops, sports venues – from 1 July.
Seating at outdoor cafes and bars will be exempt from the ban. It will not apply to electronic cigarettes.
People breaking the rules will face a €135 (£113.50) fine.
Spain short-term rental register
There is a 1 July deadline for owners of short-term rentals to register their property on Spain’s Registro Único – they will need to comply to advertise, and to rent out, their property.
Spain outdoor smoking ban proposed
Last week, Spain announced plans to extend smoking bans to public, restaurant terraces and outdoor areas in bars.
It is expected that vapes will be prohibited too. The Spanish government has yet to confirm which date the laws will come into force.
August
EU e-gates rules
The UK Government has said that “British holidaymakers will be able to use more e-gates in Europe” following its Brexit reset deal with the EU. This would be most beneficial in August, the peak month for travel from the UK to the EU.
However, as it stands, non-EU passport holders (including Britons) cannot use fast-track passport lanes when entering the EU. This is because they require extra border checks, including passport stamps on entry and exit. In practice, some airports allow UK passport holders to use e-gates and then to queue for a passport stamp.
The use of fast-track queues, without the need for an additional check, will not be permitted until EES is in force. The rollout of the system will not apply until October.
October
EES
EES will involve collecting the biometric information (fingerprints and facial images) of non-EU passport holders travelling to the bloc. For UK travellers, it will replace the passport stamps that are used to check they are following the 90/180 day rule for how long they can remain in the bloc without a visa. After several delays, the European Commission has agreed to a phased approach to the new system, starting this October.
Individual member states, as well as UK ports where French border control is stationed, have been working on rolling out the new technology for these checks. This has included installing dedicated booths at St Pancras International station. When it is fully up and running, passengers will need to create a digital record on their first visit to the EU. The information will then be stored for three years or until a passport expires – whichever is sooner.
However, Doug Bannister, the chief executive of the Port of Dover, has said that UK travellers face having their fingerprints checked each time they cross into the Schengen area from Dover after EES comes into effect. This is due to delays in developing an app to verify biometrics digitally.
Catalonia tourist tax increase
The Spanish regional government of Catalonia plans to increase its per-day tourist tax from up to €11 to up to €15 (£12). The change will be implemented in October at the earliest.
To be confirmed
Etias
The EU’s visa waiver scheme is set to begin in the last quarter of 2026. It will apply for travel to 30 European countries. All non-EU travellers will be required to have one for entry to the EU. It will cost €7 (£6), but under-18s and over-70s will be exempt from the fee.
Pet passports
All pets travelling from the UK to the EU must be microchipped and, if the animal is 12 weeks or older, must have had a rabies vaccination.
After the jab, pet owners must wait at least three weeks before securing an EU animal health certificate (AHC) from a vet, which confirms the animal has been microchipped and vaccinated.
The AHC must be issued within 10 days of entry to the EU or Northern Ireland. Vets tend to charge around £200 for each certificate and a new one is required for each journey.
Dogs must also be given a tapeworm treatment between one and five days before entering the bloc.
However, the UK Government wants to negotiate a return to the EU’s pet passport scheme. Pet passports in the EU are issued for the lifetime of an animal and remain valid so long as the pet’s rabies vaccines are kept up to date.
