Brits won’t be allowed to travel to Europe unless they to prove 3 things | Travel News | Travel

British travellers will have to prove they have three things when they visit Europe after October. Under new travel rules, Brits will have to provide fingerprints and facial biometrics, and proof of return travel when they visit the Schengen area.

Risktakers will also no longer get away without medical travel insurance; this will also become a requirement from October 12, when new rules are enforced. The changes will come into effect under a new Entry Exit System (EES), which will require non-EU citizens to provide data at 29 European borders.

These questions aren’t new, but according to travel experts, the majority of travellers could be asked them from October through the automated kiosks. Previously, border agents would only ask certain passengers these questions. 

If travellers don’t provide the correct data, they will likely be quizzed by a border officer who could refuse entry.

Luke Petherbridge, the director of public affairs at travel trade body Abta, told The Times: “More people are going to be asked these questions in the future than were in the past because most EES checks will be done at a kiosk. 

“Its primary function is digitising the border. If you were to answer one of these questions in a way that you know wasn’t aligned with the answer they were looking for, you would be sent to a border guard. You wouldn’t necessarily be denied entry.”

As standard, British passport holders are permitted to visit the Schengen area for 90-days within any 180-day period. However, with EES, any overstay will immediately trigger an alert, which could lead to on-the-spot entry refusals, fines, or even future bans from the whole zone. 

The new system will come into place on October 12, 2025, and it will be full rolled out by April 2026, at which point another scheme will launch, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

The ETIAS will require non-EU passport holders to apply for authorisation to enter the 29 European countries in the Schengen area. 

Travellers have been warned to “be prepared to wait during busy times” when EES first rolls out.