EES, ETIAS and Visas
Advice and information on getting the right travel documentation for your trip
EES, ETIAS and Visas – what you need to know
Whether you’re visiting Bordeaux for le weekend or planning a three-month internship in Valencia, you need to make sure you have the correct documentation for your trip. This page introduces you to the EES and ETIAS systems, and outlines important information about visa requirements.
This page is primarily aimed at travellers from the UK travelling to the EU (including travellers using UK passports who are starting from a country other than the UK). If you are entering the EU from another country, check the relevant information provided by the government of the country of origin.
In all cases, each traveller (or their parents) is responsible for ensuring they hold the necessary permits to cover the duration and purpose of their trip. Blue Stamp Travel accepts no responsibility for any loss incurred due to a failure to acquire the correct permits and visas for any trip.
EES – an introduction
EES – Entry/Exit System FAQs
EES is an automated system that registers all travellers arriving into the EU for a short stay who are not citizens of countries that operate the system. It records the length of each traveller’s stay in the EU zone to help fight crime, prevent visa abuse and monitor traveller movements. The system came into force in October 2025 and is being rolled out in stages.
It is intended to replace the requirement to have your passport stamped on arrival, but you should expect passport stamping to continue until at least the end of 2026. Individual airports may have different systems in place, so you should be ready to follow instructions and guidance on arrival.
Read more about EES on the European Union’s travel-eu website.
On arrival at the external border of an EU country, you will be required to scan your passport, submit your fingerprints and allow your photograph to be taken. Automated booths are provided for this purpose, but you should allow extra time, especially at busy periods, when there may be queues to use the automatic machines.
The process of registering your passport, fingerprints and photo at the electronic kiosk takes roughly the same time as going through an automated passport gate. However, you should also allow extra time to answer the questions.
Early experience suggests that queues can be long during busy periods, and it may take some time for travellers to become accustomed to the new system.
We recommend allowing up to an hour extra when planning onward connections from the airport.
When registering your passport and biometric data you may be asked questions about your stay, such as:
- Purpose (e.g. school visit, holiday, study visit)
- Duration
- Accommodation address
- If you have a return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one
- If you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses during your trip
- If you have health insurance
It is important to have this information to hand when you reach the EES booth. It is not possible to know in advance which questions you will be asked. Individual countries may include extra questions of their own.
If you find yourself in difficulties, staff are on hand to help.
Yes. All travellers are required to scan their passports. Children under 12 will not be required to provide fingerprints.
We have created a helpful guide to EES to share with your students prior to travelling. We recommend taking a few minutes to go through it with your group prior to travelling to ensure they understand what is required.
If possible, we recommend taking students to the automated EES machines in groups.
Your trip itinerary booklet contains much of the information that you may be asked. We advise ensuring that each student has a copy to hand when they go to the EES kiosk.
Eurostar passengers will be required to register their details at EES kiosks before boarding the train.
Coach groups travelling by Le Shuttle will be required to register their details at EES kiosks prior to boarding the train.
School groups travelling by ferry will be pre-registered to speed up the EES process.
Yes. One of the purposes of EES is to monitor how long non-EU citizens remain within the EES zone, so travellers are required to scan their passport every time they enter the EU.
Your biometric data will be saved for three years, which will save some time on arrival.
Of course. Read our helpful, concise guide to EES.
ETIAS – an introduction
ETIAS FAQs
ETIAS is a new system being introduced by the EU and countries in the Schengen area. It is covers 30 countries and is designed to operate in a similar way to the US ESTA and UK ETA systems. Any traveller from a country that does not require a visa to enter the ETIAS zone will instead be required to apply for an ETIAS permit. Once the system is fully operational (expected to be late 2027), it will not be possible for UK passport holders to enter the zone without an ETIAS. “No ETIAS, no entry”.
We will keep you fully informed about the ETIAS requirements for your solo or group trip through our Babel trip planning and management platform.
Read the latest information on the EU’s ETIAS website.
ETIAS is expected to go into operation in the fourth quarter of 2026 – i.e. between October and December.
The EU has not yet announced the actual date for the system to go live.
No. Applications will only be accepted when the ETIAS system goes live – currently expected to be at some point between October and December 2026.
When ETIAS goes live, the system will enter a transitional period lasting six months. During this time, travellers will be advised to get an ETIAS, but they will still be able to travel in and out of the ETIAS area without an ETIAS permit, provided they meet all other entry conditions.
See the EU’s explanation of the ETIAS timeline for more detail.
At the end of the transitional period, ETIAS will enter the “grace period“. During this time, travellers will be required to hold an ETIAS permit in order to enter the ETIAS zone.
There will be an exemption for travellers travelling to the ETIAS zone for the first time since the end of the transitional period will be allowed to enter without an ETIAS, as long as they meet all other entry requirements.
All applications for ETIAS should be made through the European Union’s ETIAS website: europa.eu/etias.
Travellers are warned to be vigilant for scam websites that offer to process ETIAS applications. Using a non-official service risks losing your money, your personal data and your
We recommend applying as soon as you start planning any trip to Europe once the system is live.
For individuals and groups travelling in October, November or December 2026, it will be possible to take advantage of the transitional period where it will not be necessary to hold an ETIAS permit to enter the ETIAS zone.
From trips departing from January 2027, we recommend that all travellers ensure they hold a valid ETIAS.
Yes. All travellers will be required to register on the ETIAS system to be allowed to enter the EU. It will not be possible to register students for ETIAS as a group: each traveller must register individually.
Teachers must ensure that their students hold a valid ETIAS which is linked to the passport on which they will be travelling. If a student holds dual nationality, they must present the passport linked to their ETIAS on arrival in the EU or they will be refused entry.
ETIAS will be free for travellers aged under 18 and over 70.
Travellers aged 18–69 will have to pay €20 to apply for an ETIAS permit.
The permit will be valid for three years from the date of issue. The ETIAS permit is linked to a specific passport. If you get a new passport in the three-year ETIAS validity period, you will need to apply for a new ETIAS permit.
The European Union has published a website with an extensive list of FAQs about ETIAS.
Visas for UK travellers to the EU
UK nationals do not require a visa to visit the EU or Schengen area as long as they are staying for 90 days or less in a 180-day period and are visiting as a tourist or for certain other reasons. Participation in an educational trip does not require a visa, as long as the trip does not cause you to exceed the 90-day threshold.
The UK government has published a detailed list of visa exemptions for travel to the EU and Schengen area.
The Schengen Visa Calculator is a helpful tool for
You do not require a visa for our Work Experience or Work and Study programmes (unless your previous travel will take you over the 90-day threshold in a 180-day period).
Longer stays for internships or au pair and study may require a visa if you are planning on a long stay.
Check the rules for the country you are visiting. The UK government has a helpful set of links covering all Schengen area countries.
To apply for a visa, you will need to visit the website of the embassy of the country you are visiting. We recommend applying for a visa well before you travel. Consult embassy websites for advice on visa timescales.
For students who do not hold a UK passport and are not eligible for dual UK nationality, travellers or their parents should check the UK government advice on https://www.gov.uk/evisa and ensure they or their child has the necessary documentation to travel out of and into the UK.
For students who hold or may be eligible for UK citizenship under dual nationality, parents should check the advice on “Travelling to the UK” at https://www.gov.uk/dual-citizenship. It is not possible for an individual who holds or is eligible for UK citizenship to travel into the UK on a passport of any other country (except for Ireland). If they do not hold a UK or Irish passport, they must apply for a UK passport or obtain a Certificate of Entitlement.
Visas for non-UK nationals visiting the EU
If you or a member of your group do not hold a UK passport or the passport of an EU country, you must check the visa requirements for your country. We advise that you do this in good time as visa applications can take some time to process.
If you are an international student in the UK you may require a visa to travel to Europe. You should contact your own country’s embassy for confirmation of the requirements. You should not require a visa to undertake work experience of under 90 days in duration.
The IATA Travel Centre has a useful tool to check which countries require visas from different nationals.
