For travel to the European Schengen Area your passport MUST:
- have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
- have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you leave the Schengen area (the expiry date does not need to be within 10 years of the date of issue)
From 12 October 2025, the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit system (EES) will begin. When travelling into and out of the Schengen area, for short stays, you may need to:
- have your fingerprints and your photo taken
- answer the Schengen Border Code questions
- If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, this information will be taken at the border, before you leave the UK. You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area.
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 EU ETIAS visa waiver scheme is currently scheduled for launch in 2026. If it has launched before your departure date, all travellers* will need to have applied online and have the 3-year ETIAS visa waiver entitlement in place.
*travellers with UK-issued passports – EU visa and entry requirements may differ for travellers for travellers with passports issued by other countries and it is the travellers responsibility to ensure that all necessary permissions and/ or visas are in place before travel.