Travel with Katie Butler of Total Travel: Europe’s new border rules – what you need to know

We have certainly been asked plenty of questions across the desk, so I thought this week’s column would be a good chance to clear a few things up – plain English, no fuss.

First up is the EU Entry/Exit System, usually shortened to EES. Over the past week or so, there have been reports suggesting the rollout has been pushed back until September 2026. That’s not quite right. On January 30, the European Commission confirmed that the implementation deadline remains April 9.

What has caused confusion is the fact that the legislation allows EU Member States to use contingency measures up until September 2026. That’s mainly to help manage queues and pressure during the busy summer months. This flexibility has always been part of the plan, rather than a sudden delay. In other words, the system is still coming in April, but there is a bit of breathing space built in while everyone gets used to it.

Industry body ABTA has written to the European Commission encouraging the use of these contingency measures from the outset, especially over the summer, to avoid holidaymakers spending too long shuffling forward at passport control. Nobody fancies starting their break stood in a queue longer than the M62 at rush hour.

Alongside EES, we’re also being asked – almost weekly – about the so-called “visa” people think they will need. This is actually something different and goes by the name of ETIAS. It is not a visa in the traditional sense, but a travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers heading to 30 European countries.

ETIAS is linked to your passport and, once approved, is valid for up to three years or until your passport expires – whichever comes first. If you renew your passport, you will need to apply again.

With a valid ETIAS, you can travel as often as you like for short stays, usually up to 90 days in any 180-day period. It is worth noting though, that it doesn’t guarantee entry. Border officials will still check your documents and make sure you meet the entry conditions when you arrive.

The important bit for now is this: ETIAS will not start until the last quarter of 2026. There is absolutely no action required from our customers and holidaymakers at this stage. The European Union will confirm the exact start date several months in advance, and we will be keeping a close eye on it so we can guide customers when the time comes. For now, there’s no need to panic, rush, or fill in anything online.

To finish off, a quick look at what’s been booking over the past week. May 2026 remained the top-selling month, accounting for 12 per cent of all bookings. June followed in second place with a ten per cent share, whileSeptember took third spot withnine per cent. Late bookings were particularly strong, making up 23 per cent of total bookings – proof, if ever it were needed, that this cold and long drawn out rainy weather is getting us all down. As for destinations, Tenerife was the top-selling destination.

As ever, travel rules will keep evolving, but the key is staying informed without getting carried away by the headlines. We will keep doing the digging so you don’t have to – leaving you free to focus on the important stuff, like where to go next and whether you’ll need a bigger suitcase this time.