UK passport holders face fresh travel regulations when visiting EU destinations, which will extend journey times. The new requirements apply to popular destinations including Spain, Italy, Greece, France and Portugal.
Travellers must demonstrate they have purchased travel insurance and secured a return ticket. They will also need to prove they have arranged accommodation for their European stay and have sufficient funds for their time abroad.
Previously, these questions were only asked when border officials had specific concerns about UK visitors. Now experts indicate they are set to become routine or even mandatory upon EU entry.
Digital border system launches
The enquiries will be conducted via automated terminals, with officials selecting certain individuals for further questioning. This system forms part of the new digital entry-exit system (EES).
The EES will require travellers to register their biometric data - facial recognition and fingerprints - upon crossing into the EU. This information will be stored for three years or until your passport expires.
Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at Abta, explained: "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."
Full implementation timeline
These new regulations take effect from 12 October and will be fully implemented by April 2026. At this point, a new visa waiver will be introduced, necessitating payment for a document to travel from the UK to the EU.
The changes represent a significant shift in post-Brexit travel arrangements between the UK and EU member states. Border delays are expected as the new digital system is rolled out across EU entry points.
Sources used: "Chronicle Live", "Yorkshire", "Bristol Post", "Times" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
