A new date has been set for the introduction of an additional travel document required by UK travellers visiting 30 European countries. The implementation of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) has been delayed several times.

The ETIAS, costing £5.90, will be a necessary document for UK travellers wishing to enter EU countries such as Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, and Italy. A similar scheme for EU citizens entering the UK was implemented on April 2.

Originally, the ETIAS was planned to be introduced shortly after Brexit in 2022, and most recently, it was expected to come into effect in May 2025.

However, before the ETIAS can be utilised, a new Entry Exit System (EES) needs to be installed across EU airports and borders. The EES will require travellers to provide fingerprints and facial scans to gain entry into Europe.

The ETIAS is scheduled to be deployed six months after the EES becomes operational, which currently places its implementation at the end of 2026.

The EES was initially due to launch in November 2024, but delays occurred as Germany, France, and the Netherlands were not ready. It is now anticipated that the EES could start being used in October this year and be fully operational by mid-2026.

In preparation for the EES, the UK Government is investing millions, with large new areas being developed to process travellers leaving the UK from Dover and St Pancras.

Once the ETIAS comes into force, travellers will need to purchase a new document every three years if they wish to visit a European country.

The UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system was rolled out in November 2023. This digital travel permission is now a must for all non-European individuals seeking to enter the UK who do not possess legal residence rights or a visa.

Since April 2, even European travellers have been required to secure an ETA before entering the UK. Travellers can apply for the ETA via the UK's official ETA app or through the gov.uk website.

The ETAs are electronically linked to one's passport, with the Home Office asserting that this process ensures "more robust security checks are carried out before people begin their journey to the UK", bolstering the defence against "abuse of our immigration system".

An ETA grants multiple entries to the UK, allowing for trips lasting up to six months each, with a validity span of two years or until the associated passport expires, whichever comes first.