There have been changes to travel for some areas of Europe this month
A beautiful beach in Malaga, Spain(Image: Holger Leue/Getty Images)
The holiday season will be winding down in the coming months but October half term is fast approaching and millions of people will be squeezing in a final trip abroad for 2025. The weather in some parts of Europe can provide some winter sun and a much needed break away from the miserable conditions of the UK.
There have been changes to travel for some areas of Europe this month as the EU Entry and Exit system began its roll out on October 12. This means the majority of non-EU citizens will need to register their biometric data at one of 29 participating nations, including several popular holiday destinations such as Spain and Greece.
Some UK travellers will need to have their face photographed and their fingerprints scanned before they can enter Europe’s Schengen zone. As the programme gradually launches, travellers will eventually no longer require passport stamps thanks to the new system.
Some of the countries affected by the new travel system will be Spain, Greece and Portugal. These countries are among the most popular with UK holidaymakers, with millions of people flying in every year from across the globe.
We have rounded up the latest entry requirement rules for each country as outlined by the Foreign Office. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions.
The advice provided by the Foreign Office is for “people travelling on a full British citizen passport” from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.
Entry requirements:
Spain, Greece and Portugal follow Schengen area rules. This means your passport must have a date of issue less than ten years before the date you arrive, if you renewed your passport before October 1 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than ten years ago.
Your passport should have an expiry date at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area, the expiry date does not need to be within ten years of the date of issue.
The Foreign Office suggests you check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements and renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Visa requirements
You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Spain, Greece and Portugal for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family, to attend business meetings or sports events and for short-term studies or training. If you’re travelling to other Schengen countries as well, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day visa-free limit.
To stay longer, you must meet the government’s entry requirements for each country. If you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years. If you’re a visitor, border guards will look at your entry and exit stamps to check you have not overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.
The Foreign Office advises: “Until the Entry-Exit System (EES) is fully rolled out, make sure you get your passport stamped on entry and exit.”
If your passport is missing a stamp, show evidence of when and where you entered or left the Schengen area (for example, boarding passes or tickets) and ask the border guards to add the date and location in your passport.