New Travel Regulations for UK Passport Holders Visiting Portugal and Other Schengen Countries

New Travel Rules for UK Passport Holders

Holidaymakers and other travellers will be impacted by upcoming changes in travel regulations for those heading to Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal. Starting in November, a new digital system called the Entry/Exit System (EES) will be implemented to enhance the security of the EU's external Schengen border.

The EES will affect all individuals traveling to the Schengen area, which includes countries such as Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Greece, and Sweden, among others. According to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), UK travellers will need to have their fingerprints and photographs taken upon their first visit to the EU, excluding Ireland and Cyprus. This record will be checked at the point of entry into the Schengen area.

At certain ports in the south of England, including Dover and St Pancras, the EES registration will occur prior to departure, which may lead to increased wait times. Travellers should be prepared for longer queues at borders as the new system rolls out.

For UK travellers returning to the Schengen area within three years, they will only need to provide their fingerprint or photograph when entering or exiting. The FCDO emphasizes that this new system will significantly enhance border security for the EU and its neighboring countries.

With the introduction of the EES, UK passport holders will no longer have their passports stamped when traveling within the Schengen zone, marking a notable change in travel procedures.