Overview

• Rules apply to travel across the Schengen Area, excluding Ireland and Cyprus, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
• UK government guidance warns the new process may add a few minutes per passenger and cause longer queues at border control when it begins.
• Short-stay travelers will register personal details on arrival, with manual passport stamping ending after the system is fully in place.
• Border officers may ask for proof of return travel, accommodation details, sufficient funds and travel insurance documentation.
• A separate ETIAS pre-travel authorisation is expected by late 2026 with a €20 fee, and travelers do not need to take any steps yet.