Travel News
The key travel rules you must know after EU-UK deal - YAHOO NEWS
Pet passports and eGates are among the key talking points after the EU and UK signed a wide-ranging post-Brexit deal.
Freelance Travel reporter
The EES is a new electronic system being introduced by the EU to replace the passport stamping process when you enter or leave a Schengen country, which includes most EU members and four non-EU Schengen states – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Ireland and Cyprus will continue stamps manually.
Read more: What does the new entry-exit system mean for Brits travelling to Europe?
So, no waiting for ink stamps in your passport once EES comes in, but your entrance and exit will still be tracked. The system will electronically log every time you cross a border into or out of the EU or Schengen area. UK citizens will still be able to travel to Ireland without a passport due to the two being part of a common travel area.
When EES goes live, you'll have your photo taken and your fingerprints scanned during a digital check-in at the border. The EES is expected to roll out gradually starting in October 2025.
EES will apply to people coming from countries outside the EU or Schengen area – what the EU calls "third countries”. That includes most UK travellers heading to Europe for short trips.
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A “short stay” means trips that last up to 90 days as a tourist or for certain other reasons within a 180-day period, which covers most UK-EU travel. Children of all ages will need to go through the system too, although those under 12 won’t need to give fingerprints – they will only be required to do a facial scan.
EES will apply in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
European pre-travel authorisation
The EU is also planning to roll out the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) in late 2026, which will require UK travellers to apply for pre-authorisation to travel, similar to the US's Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) or the UK’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA).
If you’re travelling from a visa-exempt third country – including the UK – for a short stay (again, up to 90 days within 180 days), you’ll need to apply for ETIAS. It will cost about €7 (£6) and be linked to the passport you used in your application and apply for three years, or until the document expires.
If you're travelling on a visa, you won't need ETIAS. Irish passport holders and British citizens with EU residency will also be exempt.
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ETIAS will be used in the same countries as EES, plus Cyprus: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Once it’s live, the only official site to apply from will be www.europa.eu/etias.
Pet passports
Post Brexit, one of the major complications for travellers with a pet dog, cat or ferret was having to get an often costly vet certificate in the UK before entering the EU and then another one in Europe before re-entering the UK.
The certificate could be issued if the pet is microchipped and has its up-to-date vaccines, including getting a rabies jab at least 21 days before travel. Tapeworm treatment is also required for some EU countries.
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Read more: New pet passport rules explained as UK reaches deal with EU
Under the new EU-UK deal - in details outlined under the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement - there will be new pet passports, which will be issued for the life of the animal, and will stop pet owners forking out for certificates (or pet care/kennels, if they cannot get a certificate in time) before a trip to Europe.
Dates for this have not been fully detailed, but it’s unlikely the changes will be implemented before summer.
Roaming charges
The return to free mobile phone roaming between the UK and the EU was also mooted as part of a Brexit reset, but the recent deal failed to come up with any movement on this front.
The EU scrapped roaming charges in 2016, but this didn't apply to the UK after Brexit and now most network providers charge for roaming in Europe.
In the recent EU-UK talks, Starmer reportedly attempted to negotiate free-roaming mobile deals again, but failed to reach a new agreement on this front. So providers will continue to charge customers various fees to use their phones in Europe.
The only major provider that currently doesn’t charge EU roaming charges is O2, which allows up to 25GB of free data while roaming in the EU.
However, many operators do offer packages on call and data roaming, so it’s worth checking for the best deal before you jet abroad.
