UK Travellers: Check Your Passport and EU Entry Rules

Before travelling from the United Kingdom to the European Union, check your passport’s validity, the destination’s entry rules and your carrier’s instructions. The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) began a progressive rollout on 12 October 2025, but arrangements may vary by crossing and can change during the rollout.

Check your passport’s validity

Passport rules depend on your destination and circumstances. Before booking and again before departure, check the entry requirements for each country you will visit, including any rules about passport issue date or expiry date. Do not rely on a general rule of thumb when an official destination page can confirm what applies to your trip.

Check that the passport details on your booking match your travel document. If you need to renew your passport, allow time for it to arrive before you travel.

Check the latest EES arrangements

The Entry/Exit System is the EU system for registering certain non-EU nationals’ entries and exits at external borders. The European Commission says progressive operations began on 12 October 2025, with a six-month rollout.

The rollout does not mean every border crossing or journey will work identically. Before setting off, check the European Commission’s EES information and your carrier’s latest instructions for your route. Do not assume a particular queue time or that the same process applies at airports, ports and land borders.

Use GOV.UK for destination-specific advice

Read the GOV.UK foreign travel advice for every country on your itinerary. Its country pages provide current, destination-specific information, including entry requirements. Check again close to departure in case guidance has changed.

If your trip includes more than one country, verify each stop separately. Also check whether transit or onward travel changes the documents or procedures you need.

Confirm your carrier’s instructions

Airlines, ferry operators and other carriers may give route-specific guidance on check-in, travel documents and border procedures. Review their instructions before travelling and follow any requests about when to arrive or what to have ready. Keep your passport accessible for checks, and make sure everyone travelling with you has checked the requirements that apply to them.

Source: European Commission