Go now: Europe’s border checks, new routes and safety essentials

Europe is changing how it manages who crosses its external borders. From 12 October 2025 a new Entry/Exit System (EES) began a six-month progressive roll‑out that will electronically register non‑EU short‑stay travellers: passport data, a facial image and fingerprints on first entry, with passport stamping replaced by 10 April 2026. For travellers this means a one‑time biometric registration at participating external border points and faster facial verification on subsequent entries, but also the need to plan for slightly longer waits during the roll‑out.

This article explains what to expect at borders, how Schengen internal checks are evolving, which new overland and rail routes are worth watching, and practical safety and money tips for travellers. Read the two‑sentence checklist near the end and copy it before you go.

What EES means at the border

The EES is now live in a phased roll‑out started on 12 October 2025 and running for six months, with stamping of passports due to end by 10 April 2026. Non‑EU short‑stay travellers will be registered electronically with passport details, a facial image and fingerprints at first entry; children under 12 will only provide a photo and no fingerprints. Expect a mixture of border kiosks and staffed lanes during the transition as authorities scale up infrastructure.

Operationally, after the initial biometric capture subsequent entries should be quicker thanks to facial verification, and the stored data will help detect overstayers and identity fraud. Authorities caution that adoption is phased and that localized queues may occur at busy airports, ports, Eurotunnel and international rail terminals. Eurotunnel’s CEO Yann Leriche has said EES ‘will add a maximum of two minutes’ to the crossing but urged travellers to be ready and to allow extra time at the border during the roll‑out.

Practical advice: non‑EU travellers should carry the passport used to register in EES, allow extra time for first entries, and follow signage for biometric kiosks or staffed lanes. If you travel with family, remember that under‑12s provide a photo only. Border staff and operator notices will explain local arrangements, so check the airport, ferry or rail terminal website before you leave.

ETIAS, scams and pre‑travel authorisations

The European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) is not yet operational; EU pages now point to a launch in the last quarter of 2026 and a fee set at €20. When ETIAS launches it will be a pre‑travel electronic authorisation linked to a passport, valid for multiple entries for visa‑exempt travellers. Until that system goes live, do not pay or provide personal data to unofficial ETIAS websites or intermediaries.

Frontex and EU reporting have highlighted a proliferation of fraudulent ETIAS and visa pages charging inflated fees and harvesting personal data. Use only official EU channels once ETIAS becomes active and be wary of intermediaries offering expedited services for payment. If in doubt, check the EU Home Affairs pages or your national embassy for the correct links and launch updates.

When ETIAS launches, the combination of pre‑travel authorisation plus EES biometric checks at arrival will change the practical pre‑departure checklist for many travellers. Add ETIAS to the list when it becomes active, but until then confirm visa requirements and watch for official announcements rather than paid intermediaries.

Schengen internal checks: rules, trends and recent changes

The revised Schengen Borders Code (2024/2025) clarifies when and how internal border checks may be temporarily reintroduced: such controls are framed as a last resort with requirements for necessity and proportionality, and member states must notify the Commission and Parliament. There are different rules for foreseeable versus unforeseeable threats, and exceptional prolongations are tightly limited.

Despite the rules, there has been a practical trend of temporary reintroductions: think‑tank analysis has noted over 400 instances since 2015, showing tension between free movement and security or migration pressures. Expect ad‑hoc checks around major events, migration surges or security incidents; these are typically time‑limited but can cause surprise for travellers who assume unrestricted internal movement.

One concrete recent change: land border identity checks between Bulgaria and Romania were lifted from 1 January 2025 after a Council decision, which means fewer passport checks on those internal land borders for cross‑border travellers. Always check national government travel pages for any short‑term reintroductions or local limits on crossing‑point opening hours before you travel.

New routes and the rail revival: sustainable overland options

Rail travel in Europe is seeing notable investment and expansion. Eurostar announced multiple network expansions in 2025, increasing frequency on London, Amsterdam from September 2025 and planning direct London, Frankfurt and London, Geneva services, plus additional Amsterdam/Brussels and Geneva links. Eurostar has ordered new double‑deck Alstom trains to boost capacity and its CEO Gwendoline Cazenave described it as ‘a new golden age of international sustainable travel’.

Night‑trains have also enjoyed a revival, but services remain politically and financially fragile. Late‑2025 suspensions and cuts to some Paris, Austria/Berlin night services after subsidy changes in France demonstrate that night‑train routes can be vulnerable to funding shifts. Always check seasonal and night‑train timetables before booking and keep flexible backup plans for overnight travel.

These rail developments provide realistic, lower‑carbon alternatives to short‑haul flights and can avoid some air disruption. However, remember that strikes, timetable changes and seasonal suspensions occur, so pair bookings with flexible fares or insurance that covers cancellations or alternative connections.

Strikes, disruptions and local pressure points

2025 saw recurring industrial actions that affected rail, metro and aviation operations across Europe, with frequent one‑day or nationwide strikes in France and occasional air traffic control actions impacting flights. Operator notices (SNCF, Eurostar, national airspace authorities) and union announcements are the primary sources of real‑time disruption information, so check them within 48, 72 hours of travel.

Migration trends have also shifted routes rather than uniformly easing pressure: Frontex preliminary data reported falls in irregular crossings in early‑to‑mid 2025 , for example a ~27% drop in some counts around January, April 2025 to roughly 47,000, and a ~20% drop to about 75,900 in the first half of 2025 , yet the Central Mediterranean remained the busiest route and some localized increases occurred. Expect localized pressure points rather than a single continent‑wide pattern.

Build contingency time into itineraries, keep tickets and documents accessible, and sign up for operator alerts. If a strike looks likely, contact your insurer and check rebooking rules: many operators offer strike‑related policies or special rebooking windows during industrial action periods.

Practical timing, safety essentials and pickpocket advice

Plan extra time at external borders during the EES roll‑out: first biometric registration takes longer than a stamped passport exit, and busy airports, ports and rail terminals may have localized queues while kiosks and staffed lanes are scaled up. Operators report investments to reduce delays, but arriving earlier than before is prudent , especially for non‑EU nationals making their first EES entry.

Carry the essentials: passport (plus an EU national ID if applicable), travel insurance covering medical care, cancellations and strike disruption, and registration with your embassy (for example STEP for US travellers). Store digital copies of key documents, carry an emergency card with local embassy numbers, and always know the EU emergency number 112.

Pickpocketing and petty crime remain common in tourist hubs such as Paris, Barcelona and parts of Italy and Spain. Use anti‑theft bags, keep passports and large sums out of sight, be wary of distraction scams and unsolicited offers of help, and report thefts promptly to local police and your embassy. These simple steps reduce hassle and keep your trip on track.

Money, tech and legal reminders

Tech and money prep pays: install a local eSIM or verified roaming plan to maintain connectivity, enable mobile banking and notify your card issuer of travel dates, and use contactless payments where accepted. Keep a small stash of local cash for small vendors and emergencies and avoid conducting sensitive transactions on unsecured public Wi‑Fi.

On immigration law: check visa rules for each country on your itinerary , Schengen rules differ from the UK and Ireland , and monitor your 90‑in‑180‑day Schengen limit if applicable. The EES will make overstayer detection easier, so track your days carefully and plan extensions or departures well in advance if you risk exceeding your allowance.

Finally, a quick copyable checklist to stick in your travel notes: (1) Check your passport/visa/ETIAS status (ETIAS not yet active as of Nov 2025) and allow extra time for biometric EES checks at external borders; (2) buy travel insurance, register with your embassy (STEP), secure valuables against pickpockets, and monitor operator/union/official updates in the 48, 72 hours before travel.

Europe’s borders and routes are evolving fast: EES is live and will change arrival procedures, ETIAS awaits launch in late 2026, and internal Schengen controls can be reintroduced briefly under strict rules. New rail options make sustainable travel increasingly attractive but come with their own reliability caveats.

Go now if you can, but go prepared: check official EU and operator channels for the latest border and route information, allow extra time for biometric registration at external borders, insure against strikes and cancellations, and use sensible security measures against petty crime. Safe travels.