As of 2 April, the UK has implemented fresh border entry rules requiring European Union citizens to obtain a paid authorisation before travelling.
The newly launched European Travel Authorisation (ETA) system marks a significant change in the way EU nationals can visit the UK, prompting concerns and confusion among travellers.
This is just the first in a series of border regulation updates affecting travel between the UK and EU. According to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), travellers should be alert to the evolving landscape, especially as further changes are anticipated over the coming years.
An ABTA spokesperson clarified: “If you have friends, family, or business associates visiting from abroad, they’ll need to check if they need to get an ETA. This is one of three changes coming up for travelling across borders between the EU and UK, but the only one to have gone live, meaning there is scope for confusion.”
Upcoming EU Travel Changes for British Citizens
In return, British travellers heading to popular European destinations such as Spain, France, Greece, Italy, or Portugal will also face a new layer of regulations.
Most notably, the long-anticipated European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will soon be introduced, requiring UK citizens to apply and pay a small fee before entering the Schengen Area.
Although originally slated for an earlier launch, ETIAS has been delayed and is now expected to be operational by late 2026. Once in place, it will act as a pre-travel screening process for non-EU nationals who currently do not need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone.
ABTA’s Director of Communications, Graeme Buck, emphasised the timeline: “With three new changes coming in over the next couple of years, we’re keen that people understand what it means for them.
In short, the only thing to act on now is for European visitors to the UK to apply for an ETA. Nothing will be changing for UK travellers going to Europe this summer.”
Alongside ETIAS, the European Union is set to roll out another major change—the Entry/Exit System (EES)—scheduled for launch in October this year.
This newly introduced digital border control system will do away with traditional passport stamping and instead implement biometric verification, requiring non-EU travellers to undergo fingerprinting and facial recognition when entering and leaving the Schengen Zone.
Warning Over Fraud and Scam Websites
The evolving travel framework has unfortunately given rise to fraudulent activity. Scammers have been quick to exploit public uncertainty by setting up fake ETIAS application websites with the intention of harvesting personal and financial information.
ABTA has issued a stern warning: “People who try to apply for an ETIAS now may be at risk of fraud, with a loss of money and possibly personal data too.”
At present, British nationals are not required to take any additional steps when visiting EU countries. A valid passport remains the sole requirement, and no further documentation is necessary—at least for now.
Travellers are urged to remain cautious, seek guidance from official sources, and avoid interacting with unverified websites promising early access to ETIAS or other travel passes.
