Europe Entry Requirements 2027: UK ETA, EES, ETIAS

Three systems affect a European trip right now. The UK ETA is live and covers entry to the UK, the EES is live and records entries and exits across Europe's borders, and the ETIAS has been delayed again, with the latest update pointing to sometime in 2027. The practical change for 2027 is more time between flights and a closer look at your own passport before you book.

Key takeaways

The UK ETA is for entering the UK and is attached to the passport you apply with, so wait for a new passport to arrive before you apply.
British citizens, dual citizens included, must enter the UK on a British or Irish passport and cannot apply for an ETA. If you or a parent were born in the UK, check where you stand before you book.
The EES records entries and exits at Europe's borders. I used to leave at least two hours between connecting flights and I now leave at least three.
The EES applies when you leave Europe too, so arriving at the airport at the last minute after a cruise is the easiest way to miss your flight home.
The ETIAS has been delayed again and there is nothing to apply for yet.

Every group has a Brenda. She is lovely, and she is also the reason the bus leaves late. I'm always a little surprised by how many people will take entry requirements from the one person who never makes it back to the bus on time, because that is often who answers when someone asks on social media whether they need a visa, an ETA or a new passport.

Entry rules for Europe change constantly, and walking clients through them is a big part of what I do. A full peak season has now come and gone with the new systems in place, so this is what I know today that I didn't know in the spring.

Why is it risky to crowdsource entry requirements?

The right answer depends on the passport you hold, where you were born, how you're travelling and the date you travel, and a reply in a comment thread covers none of that. Someone who flew to Lisbon last spring on a different passport is describing their own trip, and the rules have changed since then, so a confident answer can be out of date without anyone noticing.

The cost of getting it wrong is often a denied boarding, which is a much bigger problem than a missed bus. A traveller without a required UK ETA, for one example, can be turned away before the flight.

You can check the official government pages yourself, and I'd encourage it. What an advisor adds is how those rules play out on a particular itinerary, which is the part a government page doesn't cover.

Do I need a UK ETA, and what if I'm a British citizen?

If you're visiting the UK on a Canadian or U.S. passport, you need an ETA before you travel, and each person needs their own, children included. The ETA is attached to the passport you apply with, so if a new passport is on its way, wait until it arrives before you apply.

A second rule catches people out. Since February 25, 2026, British citizens have had to enter the UK on a British or Irish passport, or carry a Certificate of Entitlement in their other passport, and that includes dual citizens. British citizens can't apply for an ETA at all. If you were born in the UK, or one of your parents was, it is worth finding out where you stand well before you book flights, because getting a passport takes time. I was born in the UK and went through this myself, so I know how the process goes.

The UK government's ETA page has the current fee and a checker for your own passport.

What is the EES, and how has it affected European airports?

The EES, or Entry/Exit System, is Europe's digital record of when travellers from outside the EU cross its borders. It replaces the passport stamp, and at some borders it collects fingerprints and a facial image. It reached full rollout on April 10, 2026, which made this summer the first peak season with it fully in place.

Border points were allowed to pause some steps, such as recording biometrics, when they got busy, and airport groups were warning about queues before the season began. What we saw was extra time and extra complexity on connections at most European airports. There were also a number of times when the machines stopped working and border officers had to process travellers by hand, which slowed everything down further.

How much time should I leave between flights in Europe?

Before the EES I left at least two hours for a flight connection. Now I leave at least three, wherever you're travelling from, and more at big hubs such as Frankfurt and London Heathrow. I would much rather you have time for a meal, a drink and a walk around the terminal than run down a corridor in a panic, and nobody needs a trip to start or end that way.

The airport matters as much as the number of hours. Some airports handle the extra complexity better than others, so I'm careful about where I connect clients and how much time I give them.

The same goes for the trip home. The EES applies when you leave Europe too, so arriving at the airport at the last minute after a cruise is the most likely way to miss your flight. Build the same cushion into the last day of your trip that you build into the first.

What is happening with the ETIAS?

The ETIAS is Europe's pre-travel authorization, an online application similar to the US ESTA and the UK ETA. It is not a visa. It has been delayed again, and the most recent update points to sometime in 2027, with no date announced. The EU has said it will announce the start date several months ahead, and until then there is nothing to apply for.

I think the delay is the right call. The EES needs to work smoothly before anyone adds another layer for travellers to get through, and given how often the machines stopped working this summer, it isn't there yet.

Where can I check my own entry requirements?

The official pages are the place to start. The UK government has an ETA page with a checker for your passport, and the European Union publishes its own pages for the EES and the ETIAS. Check them close to your departure date, since all three have changed in the past year and may change again.

If you'd rather not do it alone, this is part of what I do with clients, and it starts with the first conversation, long before anything is booked. I look at the passports, the route and the connections together, and I can usually tell you early if something doesn't fit.

Frequently asked questions about Europe entry requirements

Do I need a UK ETA to visit the UK?

Most visitors from countries including Canada and the United States need an ETA before they travel, and each person needs their own, children included. British and Irish passport holders don't need one.

Can British citizens apply for a UK ETA?

No. Since February 25, 2026, British citizens, dual citizens included, have to enter the UK on a British or Irish passport, or carry a Certificate of Entitlement in their other passport.

Is the UK ETA attached to my passport?

Yes. The ETA is linked to the passport you apply with, so if you're getting a new passport, wait for it to arrive before you apply.

What is the EES?

The Entry/Exit System is Europe's digital record of when travellers from outside the EU enter and leave. It replaces the passport stamp, and at some borders it collects fingerprints and a facial image. It reached full rollout on April 10, 2026.

How much time should I leave between connecting flights in Europe?

I leave at least three hours, wherever you're travelling from, and more at large hubs such as Frankfurt and London Heathrow. Before the EES, I left at least two.

Does the EES apply when I leave Europe?

Yes. It records exits as well as entries, so leave plenty of time at the airport on the way home, especially after a cruise.

When does the ETIAS start?

There is no date yet. The most recent update points to sometime in 2027, and the EU has said it will announce the start date several months ahead.

Is the ETIAS a visa?

No. It is an online travel authorization you complete before you travel, similar to the US ESTA and the UK ETA.

Helen King, CTA, ACC, is the founder of The Small Ship Collective, a Canadian travel advisory specializing in small-ship ocean, river and expedition cruising. She has been sailing small ships as a paying guest since 2012. If you're planning Europe in 2027, book a time to talk and we'll look at your passports, your route and your connections together.

Europe Entry Requirements for 2027: What the UK ETA, EES and ETIAS Mean for Your Trip