Travel Advice

September 2025| Regulation of warning triangles to change in Spain to start January 2026

A Spanish regulation change is coming on 1 January 2026, which concerns the use of V-16 luminous lights as a replacement for warning triangles in the event of breakdown. While the use of V-16 luminous lights will be mandatory for Spanish-registered vehicles from this date, non-Spanish-registered vehicles will be able to continue using warning triangles.

August 2025 | EU Entry/Exit System (EES) Deployment to start 12 October 2025

The EES (Entry Exit System) will be gradually deployed within the Schengen area from 12 October 2025 with full implementation by 10 April 2026.

July 2025 | EU Entry/Exit System (EES) Deployment October 2025

Starting in October 2025, the EES will track non-EU nationals entering and exiting the Schengen Area. It will record the date and time of entry and exit, replacing manual passport stamping. 

January 2025 | Scotland ETA Deployment

Scotland will adopt the UK's ETA system, with implementation starting January 8, 2025, for most travellers and April 2, 2025, for EU citizens.

January 2025 | UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) Deployment

From January 8, 2025, travellers from visa-exempt countries will need an ETA for short stays in the UK. 

July 2024 | EES launch date pushed back again

We understand that the original launch date of 6th October has been scrapped as yet more time is needed. We understand that EU-Lisa (the IT body that's handling the roll-out) now plans to launch the scheme on 10th November, with a last resort option to postpone by a week to 17th November.

May 2024 | Mandatory speed limiters introduced

On July 6, 2022, speed limiters became a legal requirement for all new cars manufactured in Europe, including the UK. From July 7, 2024, onwards, all car manufacturers will be legally required to ensure that any cars on sale in their showrooms have speed limiters fitted. This means that any showroom cars without speed limiters will need to have the technology retrofitted.

This new legal requirement does not affect cars that are currently on the road (e.g. cars that have already been purchased or financed). 

May 2024 | 100ml liquid rule changes

Since 2006, airports across the globe have required you to limit the amount of liquids you carry on flights to just 100ml bottles to be carried in clear, plastic bags. Now, owing to new and highly advanced scanners, the UK Government has ordered all UK airports to install these scanners and do away with the 100ml liquid rule.

UK airports were given a June 2022 deadline to install these new scanners; this was later pushed back to June 2024. A new extension has now been granted, meaning travellers will face another year of adhering to the onerous rule. London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester airports are currently on track to miss this year's deadline. ABTA recommends you continue to stick to the 100ml liquid rule as, even if the departing airport has scrapped the rule, the arrival airport may not have done so.

May 2024 | EU's Entry-Exit System (EES) set to launch 6th October

The EU’s much-awaited and long-delayed Entry-Exit System is due to be put into effect on 6th October 2024. The EES replaces the need for manual passport stamping, instead requiring you to provide biometric information (fingerprints and facial photos) and details about your trip, which will be collected via self-service machines or tablets at the travel terminal.

May 2024 | More time needed to install advanced scanners at major UK airports

The UK government had set a deadline of 1st June 2024 for all major UK airports to install new, advanced scanners, which, once in operation, would eliminate the need to remove electronic devices from hand luggage at security and lift bans on the 100ml liquid limit. It was hoped that these new processes would be in place for the 2024 peak season. ABTA recommends that you stick to current rules regarding removing electronic devices and storing liquids less than 100ml in a transparent plastic bag when passing through airport security. Even if the airport from which you are departing has implemented these new measures, there is no guarantee that the airport you arrive at will have done so.

May 2024 | Changes to the Euro Emission Standard

Euro 7 Emissions Standard is due to be rolled out from July 2025.

Euro Emission Standards are standards applied to all cars manufactured and/or registered in Europe (including the UK) with the aim of improving air quality. A vehicle must meet relevant Euro Standards when it is made. Currently, Euro Standards run from 1-6. Euro 7 is due to be launched next year. This could result in some changes to existing standards and low-emission zones in the UK and Europe. 

April 2024 | Venice introduces a daily entry fee

In a move to combat overtourism, the watery Italian city of Venice is introducing an entry fee for daytripping tourists. Although only a modest €5 fee will apply each time you enter the city, avoiding it could set you back up to €50. Those staying in the city overnight or fans heading to the Pier Luigi Penzo football stadium are exempt.

March 2024 | Bulgaria and Romania have joined the Schengen Area

Taking effect on 31 March 2024, Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen Area, the EU's open border scheme. Land border checks will remain in place but EU passengers arriving via air and sea will no longer be subject to passport control. British travellers and other non-EU visitors will still be required to present passports upon entry.

March 2024 | EU's ETIAS deployment set for 2025

The EU's new European Travel Information Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to be fully deployed in mid-2025. Visitors to the EU from the UK and other non-EU countries will need to apply for an ETIAS before travelling.

January 2024 | e-Gate changes

Children as young as 10 can now use e-Gates at major UK airports and UK Border Control at the Eurostar terminals in Brussels and Paris. Previously, only children over 12 years of age could use e-Gates, often causing delays for families.

January 2024 | Eurostar London-Amsterdam engineering works called off

A year prior, Eurostar had announced a six-month suspension of its London-Amsterdam service from June 2024. However, a solution to avoid this disruption has been found as the rail company has announced it will no longer be suspending the popular service.

A reduced service will run, with three trains departing a day (down from four). Those returning to London will have to change at Brussels, where security and passport checks will take place. This change will add 48 minutes to two hours to the journey. The reduced service starts on 14 June and will last for six months until the new Amsterdam Centraal comes into operation.

January 2023 | Croatia has joined the Eurozone

On 1 January 2023, Croatia became the 20th member of the Eurozone, adopting the Euro. Croatian Kuna notes can be exchanged for the equivalent value in Euros at the Croatian National Bank until January 2026.

Passports

You can continue to travel to mainland Europe with your UK passport until it expires, as long as it is valid for the length of your stay, has at least six months of validity left, and is less than ten years old. This applies to all current passport designs, including burgundy covers, those with ‘EUROPEAN UNION’ printed on the front and the new blue passports. These rules don’t apply to travel to the Republic of Ireland. If you apply for a new passport, you will be sent the new-style blue design.

You can no longer use the EU/EEA/Switzerland fast-track lanes at airport passport control. You should use the other lanes or eGates where available.

Visas

UK travellers can visit the EU for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. Multiple holidays within this period count towards your 90 days.

From mid-2025*, you must apply for an ETIAS Visa Waiver to travel to Schengen member countries. ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. The European Commission is implementing this new system to strengthen the Union’s borders. All countries that do not currently need a visa to travel to Europe will need to apply for the waiver.

*ETIAS was planned to be deployed in late 2022, but this has been pushed back to at least mid-2025.

GHIC & Travel Insurance

The way UK citizens receive free or low-cost healthcare while in the European Union has changed. Previously, holders of an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) were entitled to healthcare at little to no cost while on holiday.

If you still hold a valid EHIC, you can continue to use it in the EU until it expires. You can still apply for and use an EHIC under certain circumstances outlined in the Withdrawal Agreement.

A replacement scheme, called GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card), provides "medically necessary healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you come back to the UK" from European state healthcare services.

Despite its name, the GHIC does not provide globally free healthcare, though it covers more territories than the UK EHIC.

We recommend you take out comprehensive travel insurance covering your medical needs. Never purely rely on an EHIC or GHIC.

Driving in the EU

If you plan to drive in the EU, including Ireland, Andorra, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland, you must hold a valid UK driving licence and display a UK sticker regardless of any registration plate identifiers. You should always carry your driving licence with you.

You should also carry either your vehicle log book (V5C) or, if you're hiring a vehicle, a VE103 to show you're allowed to use a hired or leased vehicle abroad.

You do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) for most EU countries. For Norway and some other European countries, you may need an IDP if you have:

• a paper driving licence
• a licence that was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

If you're towing a caravan, you should check if you need to register your trailer before entering some EU countries. You can find out more at GOV.UK.

Check gov.uk/driving-abroad for a step-by-step guide and any requirements specific to the country you're driving in.

Starting on 28 September 2021, new national vehicle identifiers were introduced. It is now illegal to display a GB sticker on the rear of your vehicle. Instead, you should display a UK sticker if your vehicle number plate has any of the following:

• a GB identifier with the Union flag (also known as the Union Jack)
• a Euro symbol
• a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales
• numbers and letters only - no flag or identifier

You do not need a UK sticker if your number plate includes the UK identifier with the Union flag (also known as the Union Jack).

If you're in Spain, Cyprus or Malta, you must display a UK sticker no matter what is on your number plate.

If you have a GB sticker, cover or remove it and replace it with a UK sticker.

Dashcams and Sat Navs

Dashcams are a grey area in some parts of Europe as they potentially break privacy laws, especially if the footage captured is shared online or with your insurer without the consent of those in the video. Because of this, using your dash cam in Austria, Luxembourg, and Portugal is illegal. There are strict usage conditions on using the devices in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Switzerland, so it’s best to research this before you travel. The law is unclear in Albania, Estonia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Montenegro and Slovakia. Unrestricted use is allowed in all other European countries. Use the interactive map below to find out more.

Sat Navs are useful tools for getting from A to B. But the use of navigation systems to give directions isn’t the issue here. Some models can actively search for mobile and fixed-speed cameras or interfere with police equipment. Models that offer this option are illegal in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland. Make sure you disable this feature in the listed countries.

Breathalysers & Fire extinguishers

Once a legal requirement in France, breathalysers are no longer a requirement but it is advised that you have one to hand. Make sure your breathalyser is NF approved.

Although not compulsory, carrying a vehicle fire extinguisher is recommended in the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Oversized outfits

Travelling in Spain? Does your outfit exceed 12m? If yes, you must fit marker boards to the back of your vehicle. You can either have two small boards or one large board, but they must be placed between 50cm and 150cm off the ground. The marker board must have a plain yellow centre with a red outline, be made of aluminium, and be manufactured to the ECE70 standard.

Travelling in France? Does your vehicle exceed 3,500kg? If yes, you must have a sticker showing the position of blind spots visible on the sides and at the rear of your vehicle. This regulation has been in force since January 2021.

Taking pets into the EU

You can no longer use the Pet Passport scheme to travel with your pet to the EU. Instead, you must get your pet microchipped and vaccinated against rabies before it can travel. You must also obtain an Animal Health Certificate from your vet no more than ten days before you travel.

The certificate needs to be signed by a vet and will be valid for ten days after the date of issue for entry into the EU and Northern Ireland and four months for onward travel and re-entry to the UK.

You can find the full requirements for taking pets to the EU at GOV.UK.

Data roaming

Previously, you could roam in Europe using your existing call, text, and data allowances at no extra cost. But post-Brexit, three major providers (EE, Vodafone, and Three) have reintroduced roaming charges. As of April 2024, O2 is the only provider to offer free EU roaming.

The Mobile Roaming (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 Act came into force at the end of the transition period and removed the legal requirement for UK mobile operators to provide surcharge-free roaming in the EU. However, it introduced a new law that protects consumers from getting unexpected mobile data charges above £45 per calendar month. Once this cap is reached, you'll need to opt in to spend more to continue using the internet while abroad. Your phone operator will tell you how you can do this.

Package Travel Regulations

The EU is largely to thank for many travel laws and regulations currently in place in the UK, like financial protection for package holidays, cheaper flights to more locations, compensation for delayed flights, access to free healthcare and cleaner beaches. Thankfully, many of these regulations have been safeguarded and transferred into British law.

Customers who book a package holiday with a UK travel company enjoy the most comprehensive consumer protection. If you book a package, your holiday will be protected under the Package Travel Regulations, which means you have a right to a full refund if it can no longer be provided.

Your consumer rights regarding travel remain unchanged. You have the same rights under UK law in the event of denied boarding, cancellation or long delay of passenger air, rail, road or sea services.

EU law will continue to apply to EU-registered passenger transport operators regarding journeys to and from the EU.

EU regulations on rail, bus, and coach travel and maritime passengers’ rights are enshrined in UK law. They will continue to protect passengers on cross-border rail services, bus and coach travel, and ferry and cruise travel.

Your rights as a passenger using Eurotunnel’s cross-border shuttle services will remain unchanged. Passengers can continue to use Eurotunnel’s existing complaints procedure.

Currency

Most of Europe shares a common currency, the Euro (€); however, some countries are not part of the Eurozone and use different currencies. Sometimes, these are pegged to the Euro. Some countries may accept both local currency and the Euro. At present, the Euro is legal tender in 20 out of the 27 European Union Member States, and in five countries and one partially recognised state that are not members of the EU; Andorra, Kosovo (partially recognised), Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Vatican City.

Countries that use the Euro:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Vatican City

Other currencies:

• Albania - Lek (L)
• Bosnia & Herzegovina - Mark (KM)
• Bulgaria - Lev (лв.)
• Czech Republic - Koruna (Kč)
• Denmark - Krone (kr.)
• Hungary - Forint (Ft.)
• Iceland - Króna (Kr.)
• Liechtenstein - Franc (CHF)
• Moldova - Leu (L)
• Norway - Krone (kr.)
• Poland - Złoty (zł)
• Romania - Leu (lei)
• Serbia - Dinar (DIN)
• Sweden - Krona (kr.)
• Switzerland - Franc - (CHF)

Croatia became the 20th member of the Eurozone, adopting the Euro from 1st January 2023. Croatian Kuna notes can be exchanged for the equivalent value in Euros at the Croatian National Bank until January 2026.

Use the real-time currency converter below to find out more.

Bringing food into the EU

There are stringent rules on what food, animal products and plants you can bring into the EU from the UK. All non-EU countries have restrictions on what they can and can't bring into the Union.

You cannot bring meat or dairy products into the EU. Limited quantities of fruit and vegetables, eggs and egg products, honey, and fish and fish products are allowed. 

Exempted foods include:

• bread (but not sandwiches with dairy or meat fillings)
• cake (but not if they contain fresh cream)
• biscuits
• chocolate and confectionary (but not if the sweets are made with high levels of unprocessed dairy ingredients)
• meat extracts in liquid or spreadable form (but not pâte or meat concentrates incl stock cubes and gravy granules)
• olives stuffed with fish
• pasta and noodles if cooked (but not mixed with or filled with meat)
• soup

Further information can be found at europa.eu

Schengen Area

The Schengen Area consists 29 European countries that have relaxed internal border controls, allowing for free movement. Not all countries in the EU are part of this agreement and some countries that aren't in the EU are part of it! It's worth checking before you embark on your journey. Use the interactive map below to find out more.