British and Australian travelers are facing a wave of sweeping changes to border controls and entry requirements in 2025 and 2026, with new digital systems and biometric checks set to transform the way people move between the UK, Europe, and beyond. For many, these changes promise added security and efficiency. But for others—especially dual citizens and frequent holidaymakers—they’ve sparked confusion, frustration, and, in some cases, the threat of canceled travel plans.
According to official guidance from GOV.UK, the most significant shake-up comes in two parts: a new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) for those traveling to the Schengen area and the introduction of digital travel authorizations for entry into the UK itself. The EES, launching in October 2025, will require UK passport holders to register their fingerprints and have a facial photograph taken at the border when traveling for short stays to popular destinations such as France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Greece. The Schengen zone, which includes most EU countries plus Norway, Switzerland, and others, will no longer accept manual passport stamping. Instead, a digital record will be created for each traveler, valid for three years. This means that, for future trips within that window, only a fingerprint or photo will typically be required on entry and exit.
But the changes don’t stop there. As GOV.UK notes, “EES may take each passenger a few extra minutes to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border once the system starts.” The aim is to automate border control and monitor overstays more closely, with the EU emphasizing that the system is designed to strengthen security and reduce illegal migration. The familiar 90 days in any 180-day rule for visiting the Schengen zone remains unchanged, but the process of entering and leaving is about to become far more high-tech.
For travelers flying into a Schengen country, these biometric checks will happen on arrival. However, those taking the Eurostar, Eurotunnel, or departing from the Port of Dover will complete their checks before leaving the UK using self-service kiosks or registration areas. Cruise passengers who start and finish their journey outside the Schengen area will generally be exempt, unless they disembark and continue traveling within Schengen.
Just months after the EES launches, another new requirement will come into force: the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), expected to be live by autumn 2026. This is not a visa, but it will be mandatory for UK passport holders traveling to Schengen countries. Would-be visitors will need to apply online, submit personal and trip information, and pay a 20 Euro fee. Only with an approved ETIAS will they be allowed to board flights, ferries, or trains to the continent.
Jane Bolton, Managing Director of the ski holiday company Erna Low, told GOV.UK that “with big changes coming to how we travel to Europe, a lot of people are understandably confused about what ETIAS actually is. In simple terms, ETIAS is a new online travel authorisation that UK travellers will need before visiting most European countries in the Schengen area. It’s not a visa, but it will be mandatory once it comes into force.” She advised travelers to apply as soon as their bookings are confirmed, warning, “Don’t leave it until the week before you travel.” Bolton also cautioned against using unofficial websites that charge inflated fees, reminding travelers to stick to official channels.
For the millions of British holidaymakers who flock to Europe each year, these new requirements mean extra planning and, crucially, extra time at airports, ferry ports, and rail terminals—especially during peak seasons like summer or ski breaks. Securing ETIAS approval will soon be as essential as packing a passport, and the dual rollout of EES and ETIAS within a short period could catch the unprepared off guard.
Meanwhile, travelers heading to the UK are facing their own set of challenges. In a move announced by the UK government in November 2025, all visitors to the UK will need digital permission—either an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) or an eVisa—starting from February 25, 2026. The ETA, costing £16, is aimed at streamlining entry for visa-exempt visitors from countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The government says the changes are part of efforts to “digitise the immigration system” and create a “contactless UK border.”
But for dual nationals, especially those with British or Irish citizenship in addition to another nationality, the new rules have created unexpected headaches. They cannot use an ETA to enter the UK and must instead present a valid British or Irish passport or a certificate of entitlement (COE) to prove their right of abode. The COE is not only costly (£589), but it also requires surrendering foreign passports for up to eight weeks—a significant barrier for many. The only alternative is to renounce British citizenship, which takes six months and costs £482.
For people like Gabrielle Mordy, an Australian academic with British citizenship through her father, the changes have been a bureaucratic nightmare. As reported by The Guardian, Mordy found herself scrambling to renew her long-expired UK passport after learning of the new rules just a month before her planned trip. “If I’d had six months notice I would have been fine, but I’ve only had one month’s notice,” she said. The process was anything but smooth: “I’ve now ordered a second birth certificate and I’m getting it couriered … It seems like an extraordinarily long time.”
Vicki Hope, a Sydney-based travel adviser, told The Guardian that many of her clients have had to urgently submit documentation, facing added costs, stress, and the prospect of canceled or rebooked trips. “They have had to urgently submit documentation and are now waiting, fingers crossed, hoping it’s processed in time,” she explained. “That brings added cost, stress and disappointment, particularly when their travel has been planned and they have been looking forward to their trip for a long time.”
Others, like Brisbane’s Kara Przybylski, have decided to delay travel or consider other citizenship options. “It sucks for people who have flights booked, the government should have allowed more time before it comes into effect,” she said. Przybylski, who is also eligible for a Polish passport, added, “Since [the UK] left the EU no one wants their passport any more.”
The British High Commission acknowledged a “significant volume of enquiries from British Australian dual citizens ahead of the enforcement date” and said it had provided information via letters, social media, and videos. But many travelers have found official support lacking, with Mordy describing her experiences as confusing and unhelpful.
Public reaction has been mixed. Some argue that citizens should always travel on their national passport, while others point out the unfairness of the new system. As one social media commenter noted, “To think with my Australian passport I can pretty much enter [every] country on the planet apart from the one I’m BORN in beggars belief … Regardless of the route I take I certainly don’t feel British any more.”
With the clock ticking toward the rollout of these new systems, travelers are left to navigate a maze of biometric checks, digital authorizations, and shifting rules. For frequent flyers and dual nationals, the coming months will be a test of patience, preparation, and adaptability. The era of seamless cross-border travel in Europe and the UK is entering a new, more complicated phase—one that demands attention to detail and, sometimes, a little luck.