Stay Holiday Ready: What to Check Before Travelling to the EU This Summer
Kadmos Immigration, a UK immigration advisory practice is encouraging holidaymakers to treat passport checks as part of their holiday planning as the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is now operating across the Schengen area.
The Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU nationals travelling to the Schengen area for short stays. For British travellers, this means entry and exit records are now stored digitally rather than through passport stamps.
First-time users of the system may be asked to provide biometric information, including a facial image and fingerprints.
Travellers are being advised to check both the issue date and expiry date on their passport before travelling to Europe to ensure their journey runs as smooth as possible.
For travel to the EU and wider Schengen area, a British passport generally must:
- Have been issued less than 10 years before the date of entry.
- Be valid for at least three months beyond the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.
This continues to catch out travellers with older UK passports, particularly those renewed before September 2018, when unused validity could be carried over onto a new passport.
Despite widespread discussion online, British travellers do not currently need to apply for ETIAS before travelling to Europe. Reports suggest the system is now expected to launch later than originally anticipated, meaning travellers should continue relying only on official government advice for updates.
What British holidaymakers should check before travelling
Kadmos Immigration recommends checking the following before booking or travelling:
- Your passport was issued less than 10 years before the day you enter the Schengen area.
- Your passport remains valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave.
- Your destination is part of the Schengen area and subject to EES checks.
- You allow extra time at the airport or border crossing.
- You follow your airline’s latest advice on recommended arrival times.
- You avoid paying unofficial websites for ETIAS before it officially launches.
- Children’s passports have been checked separately, as they expire sooner than adult passports.
- Your passport details exactly match your travel booking.
