While EES has been on the agenda of many industry discussions for almost a decade since Brexit, clarity from the European Commission has been at best muddled, and at worst downright false, with delayed rollouts and moving goalposts complicating matters
With rollout dates now confirmed, ABTA hoped to clarify the key messages for members at its history-making Travel Convention in Calvià.
The need-to-knows
The full rollout of EES will begin from October 12th, 2025, when at least one border entry point in every destination will be operating the scheme. After 60 days, the new system will be in effect in at least 10% of border points, rising to half of all entry points on the continent by January 2026—by which point, at least a third of arrivals will be entering via EES.
March 2026 is expected to see EES fully operational, with half of travellers arriving doing so through the scheme.
April 10th, 2026 is 'judgment day' for EES, with all borders expected to be processing all passengers via the EES.
Biometric checks (fingerprints and/or facial scan) will begin to come into effect from January, fully operational by April.
Mind the gap—check the trade
Just one in two (51%) of UK travellers are aware of the EES, rising to 61% among those travelling to the EU in the next 12 months.
ABTA continues to highlight the value of booking with a travel agent to foster better understanding of entry protocol and close the awareness gap.
Agents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the protocol and ensure that their clients carry full travel details with them. Questions about route, medical insurance and finances are likely during EES processing.
Luckily, the introduction of EES shouldn't make the continent a tough sell for agents. Almost 70% (69.12%) of respondents to an ABTA survey said the scheme won't affect their future plans to visit destinations in the EU. Remarkably, 9.32% and 10.98% said the scheme will make them much more or slightly more likely to visit, respectively.
Sea where your guests stand
EES requirements vary for cruise passengers: if cruises leave and return to the UK, EES registration is not required. Day trip visitors from ports in the EU are exempt from EES.
Cruise passengers on fly-cruise itineraries sailing out of an EU port must complete EES at the arrival airport. Those on a cruise ending in the EU must register for EES, and will be processed for entry on their final destination port in the EU
An ETIAS-shaped can of worms
Once the full rollout of EES is completed in spring 2026, change will continue to come in the form of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This scheme, currently penned to launch in Q4 next year, will introduce a €20 fee for all 'third country' (or visa-free nation) tourists aged 18 or over and under 70 visiting for 90 days or fewer.
The fee will cover those travelling to the EU for three years or until the expiration date on their passport, whichever is sooner.
There will only be one official source online for purchasing ETIAS, which has yet to launch. ABTA promised further advice for agents as details around ETIAS are clarified.
