European Union EES visa scheme explained for UK travellers

As the curtains begin to close on 2024, you might already be planning ahead for a summer 2025 getaway.

But heading to Europe next year will be a little different for Brits, thanks to a new visa scheme called EES.

As it stands, visitors from the UK can visit the EU’s Schengen area (a borderless collective of 29 countries) for up to 90 days, every 180 days, without a visa.

The new scheme means anyone travelling to popular tourist hotspots including Portugal, Spain and Greece, will need to apply — and pay a €7 (around £6) visa waiver charge.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new visa scheme if you’re a UK citizen before you jet off, from the entry fee to the launch date.

What is EES and how is it different to ETIAS?

EES is an automated system that registers travellers from non-EU countries every time they cross a border into or out of the EU. 

The system will register the person’s name, the type of travelling document they’re using, biometric data (fingerprints and captured facial images), and the date and place of entry and exit. 

Once the data has been captured, it’s expected to remain in the system for three years. After this time has passed, it will be erased from the system.

Travellers won’t need to re-register this data if they travel to multiple Schengen Zone countries within the three-year period.

The EU says on its website that ‘the main advantage of the EES is saving time,’ because it replaces passport stamping and ‘automates border control procedures’ to make travelling more efficient.

It remains to be seen how the system will impact travel, but in the poll by Co-op insurance, 46% of British travellers said they felt put off by the process of storing this type of data for three years.

The EES scheme is different to the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (ETIAS), which will run alongside the former and require British travellers to apply for a visa waiver to visit most EU countries.

How much will the EES scheme cost?

The expected fee of the visa waiver is €7 (£6) to visit any country in the Schengen Area.

The EU Commission insists this is ‘way cheaper’ than the US Esta, which costs $14 (€12.50 or £10.75).

The fee will apply to travellers aged between 18 and 70, but the visa will be free for children and anyone over 70.

Will UK citizens need to use EES?

Yes. As a result of the UK voting to leave the European Union, Brits will have to follow the same rules as other countries outside of the EU.

You will have to scan your passport at an automated self-service kiosk before crossing the border.

This process will sadly replace the manual stamping of passports for visitors to countries in the EU and Schengen Area, who are not themselves nationals of EU or Schengen countries. 

EES will apply when entering the 25 EU countries and four non-EU countries below:

What date will the new EES and ETIAS rules start?

The exact date for both changes is still to be confirmed.

The introduction of EES has already been delayed several times; it was originally meant to be implemented in 2022, and was then scheduled for May 2023 before it was pushed back to the end of last year.

After that, it was slated to come into effect in October 2024 – but there’s still no sign of it as it’s been pushed back once more to 2025.

However, as per the House of Commons website, the European Commission said that plans to roll it out in a ‘phased manner’ would be decided on ‘in the coming weeks.’

But as of now, no such plans have been announced.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

MORE: The Christmas travel warning everyone should know

MORE: Full list of the latest hand luggage allowance rules for major airlines, including Easyjet and Ryanair

MORE: Full list of major UK airport drop-off charges – Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and more