Full list of 29 European countries being hit by new travel rules tomorrow

BRITS visiting Europe will be hit with new travel rules from tomorrow, but there are still some exceptions.

A total of 29 countries are set to implement the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) from Friday, April 10.

The EES will replace passport stamping for all non-EU citizens this week, after an initial rollout in October 2025.

This new entry system will use machines across airports, ferry terminals, and the Eurostar to log fingerprints and facial images and scan passports.

These machines will be in place at destination airporta when arriving into the EU and before departure for rail and ferry trips from the Port of Dover, Folkestone, and St Pancras International.

All “third-country nationals”, including Brits, will be required to register their details on these machines during their first visit to a Schengen area country, as well as in Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

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Meanwhile, manual passport stamping will continue to be used in Ireland and Cyprus.

Initially scheduled to become fully operational across all Schengen area border crossing points from Friday, the new process doesn’t appear to be ready in some countries.

Reports suggest that some crossing points are not prepared to start processing non-EU nationals via the new EES machines.

Technical issues in France are having a knock-on effect for the system’s rollout at the Eurostar, as well as at the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle and on cross-channel services between the Port of Dover and Calais.

French authorities confirmed travellers using these services will not be asked to provide fingerprints or facial images as the technology is not yet in place.

Only lorry drivers and coach and foot passengers will be required to register with EES at the Port of Dover.

Chaos is also anticipated for air passengers, with some airports preparing to open Brit-only border control queues in the hope of easing wait times.

The Spanish operator, Aena, said it would adapt security and border control for Brits at Ibiza, Menorca, Malaga and Palma, Majorca airports.

Digital EES records will be valid for three years, with non-EU nationals who return during this time only required to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border, when entering or exiting.