1 June 2026, London – Following the full roll-out of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) on 10 April 2026, UK travellers heading abroad this summer are being encouraged to familiarise themselves with changing European entry requirements before travelling.
New research from Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com), available at www.aph.com/uktravelrules, reveals the varying entry rules facing British holidaymakers across some of the UK’s most popular overseas destinations, including Europe, the USA, Turkey, Jamaica and the Maldives.
With millions of Britons preparing for summer getaways, the APH guide helps travellers avoid common mistakes relating to passport validity rules, permitted lengths of stay in the Schengen Area, and Europe’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), currently being introduced across 29 European countries ahead of the peak holiday season.
The new EES system requires non-EU nationals entering participating European countries to undergo biometric border checks, including fingerprint scans and facial photos, with a traveller’s digital EES record remaining valid for up to three years. The system is being rolled out across 29 European countries, including most Schengen Area destinations, with the exception of Ireland and Cyprus. However, in a move aimed at reducing disruption during the peak summer travel period, Greece has temporarily relaxed the new biometric EES process for travellers this summer to prevent long queues and delays during the busy summer season.
The EU’s future ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), a digital travel authorisation required for visa-exempt travellers to enter most European countries for short stays, is also planned for late 2026, requiring UK visitors to apply online before departure and costing €20 per person. However this fee will not apply to travellers under 18 or over 70, and approvals are expected to remain valid for up to three years or until passport expiry.
Travellers should also be careful with passport validity rules, which remain one of the easiest ways for holidaymakers to run into issues. Many European countries now require UK passports to have been issued within the last 10 years on the date of entry, also known as the ’10-Year Passport Rule’, while also having at least three months remaining before expiry. Failure to meet passport validity rules could result in passengers being denied boarding or refused entry on arrival. Meanwhile, destinations such as Turkey have their own separate requirements, including at least 150 days validity from arrival.
One of the biggest areas of confusion surrounds the Schengen Area and how the length of stay for a visiting tourist is calculated. While destinations including Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and Greece follow the standard Schengen allowance of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, Cyprus operates outside the Schengen Area despite being an EU member state, meaning time spent there does not count towards the wider Schengen limit.
Nick Caunter, Managing Director of Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com), said: “Travel rules have become more complicated for UK holidaymakers in recent years. Small details around passport validity, Schengen limits and the upcoming EES and ETIAS systems could easily catch people out if they do not check requirements before flying. Our guide is designed to help savvy travellers plan ahead and enjoy a smoother start to their holiday.”
For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) visit www.aph.com
or call 01342 859515.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Images (from left to right)
- Image 1: What UK travellers need to know about Europe’s changing entry rules this summer. Image credit Adobe Stock.
- Image 2: New research from APH.com helps travellers avoid common mistakes around passport validity, Schengen limits, ETIAS and the EU’s upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES). Image credit Adobe Stock.
- Image 3: APH.com has released a guide comparing the entry requirements across some of the UK’s most popular holiday destinations. Image credit Adobe Stock.
High-res images can be downloaded from https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0s4r0lw27mi5rea1sean7/AJbekM7cTL3oGGHWT7bGX8w?rlkey=csus8791zpy13fwtint5gqvlh&st=bnroyui8&dl=0
About Airport Parking and Hotels (APH)
Established in 1980, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is an award-winning airport parking operator and retailer, winning the ‘Best Airport Parking Company’ award at the British Travel Awards 2025 for the fifteenth-year running. APH also carries Which? Recommended Provider status having been voted as one of the best services available in the airport parking industry in September 2024. In addition to APH’s own car parks serving Gatwick, Manchester and Cardiff Airports, APH also offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels.
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