Martyn James: Get ready to be scanned if you're heading to Europe

If you’re traveling to a country in the Schengen area – the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (but not Ireland and Cyprus) – you’ll need to provide more information that will allow you to be identified as you travel to or between other countries in the Schengen zone. The new rules begin from October 12.

Before you react in horror at this attack on British travel freedoms, back on April 2, 2025, people from the EU, EEA and Swiss citizens had to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK. Irish citizens are the only exception. So it’s extra bureaucracy all round for everyone.

That’s not all though, because in late 2026, you’ll need to get a new type of visa to enter Europe. The ETIAS will cost €20 and though I’ve been assured it will only take a few minutes to apply for, it’s another thing travellers will need to be aware of.

Here’s my guide to the new rules.

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new process that will record details that identify you when you travel to the EU. You’ll need to register your name, travel documents and biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images) amongst other things.

Over time, this should make traveling between countries quicker and the system will mean your passport won’t need to be stamped. The process will be free, but it is most certainly not optional.

You will be required to provide the EES data on the first occasion you travel after its introduction. The biggest delays are expected to be at ports where the processing time for people in cars has conservatively estimated to be around an extra ten minutes per person. But airports and key departure points like the Eurostar terminal are likely to be busier.

I’ve been assured that it should only take a couple of minutes to gather the data at border control, but let’s not forget ‘the human element’. I suspect some people unaware of the new rules might be unhappy or unprepared, so I’d add on extra time to your travel plans.

The rules state that your data will be collected at the ‘border crossing point for the first time’. In some places, like ports or on the Eurostar, the entry point is actually in the UK, though in others it will be at the border itself.

In practice, many border departure points are already planning for this eventuality. If you are travelling by Eurostar, you should be able to register with the EES at designated kiosks at St Pancras on the day of travel, before you go through security. Cruises are exempt, unless you choose to disembark in countries in the zone.

The EU rules allow for some data to be collected in advance, but we haven’t had an announcement of how that might work yet. Though in theory, some data could be registered or collected online or through apps, to answer the big question I’m hearing from everyone: no, you can’t register your data in advance of travel just yet.

The EES will only need to be collected once, so while delays will occur, they should reduce over time. However, there are millions of people in the UK, so we can expect to add on additional travel time for a number of years to allow for this, even if we register our data at the very beginning.

Ultimately, the rules will make travel to and between EU countries easier at border control. However, if you have strayed over your 90-day EU maximum stay limit it’s going to be abundantly clear, so keep an eye on your time spent in the EU if you are a regular traveller.

Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist. Visit martynjamesexpert.co.uk