HEADING abroad can be stressful, from packing all the essentials to leaving for the airport at the crack of dawn.
To make it as easy as possible, take a look at all of the new rules for a smooth-sailing holiday this summer.
EES
The Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new system that has been implemented across 29 European countries in the Schengen Area.
These include holiday hotspots like Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Germany.
EES tracks when you enter and leave European countries by using biometrics and eventually it will replace passport stamping.
Essentially Brits will have to register at a machine and scan their passport – the good news is that you then you don’t have to do it again for another three years.
If you want to find out more on the step-by-step process – head here.
Something else to be aware of about EES is that it has resulted in long queues, so it’s wise to leave extra time when heading abroad.
There have been reports of up to six- hour delays outside of peak travel time at border control at multiple airports.
During the summer, you might experience queues in the arrivals hall, but there have also been travellers who have missed flights on their way home too.
eGates
There are new rules at UK airports for children which is actually good news for families.
Now, children aged eight and over can now use eGates when accompanied by an adult – they also need to be at least 120cm tall.
The height restriction is in place as kids need to be able to see and be captured by the biometric screens at the eGates.
The rule change impacts 13 airports across the UK that currently use eGates, including:
- London Heathrow
- London Gatwick
- London City
- London Luton
- London Stansted
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- East Midlands
- Newcastle
- Cardiff
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
Passports
Brits heading on holiday are STILL being caught out by passport rules, so it’s worth reminding yourself beforehand.
Passports must be only be valid for 10 years, with any months rolled over from previous passports no longer allowed.
Figures have shown up to 100,000 holidaymakers a year face being turned away at airports if their passport is more than a decade old.
Before you travel, check the start date, not the expiry.
For example, if a passport has June 2016 start date but a November 2026 expiry, it has technically expired.
Alongside the requirement to have between three to six months left on it, enforced by a number of countries, it is still causing confusion for travellers.
Most places in Europe only want three months left on a passport, but places like the UAE, Egypt, and Chile require six months in total.
Another passport rule to be aware of only affects those with dual nationality.
A rule that came into effect at the beginning of 2026 means that you can no longer use your foreign passport to enter the UK.
Instead, you have to use a valid British passport.
If you don’t have this, you can apply for a certificate of entitlement, which costs £589.
Visas and travel requirements
Luckily for Brits, citizens can visit more than 170 countries in the world without a visa.
When heading on holiday, families can enter with just their passport to the Schengen Area and most European countries.
In most destinations, you can travel for up to 90 days within any 180-day period – so if you’re going to the likes of Spain for a two-week break, you’re covered.
But there are certain countries where an additional entry requirement is needed.
Be sure to check the entry requirements in advance as some take a few weeks to come through – although most holiday visas are approved quicker.
For example, if you’re headed to Florida for a theme park getaway to Orlando, then you’ll need to apply for an ESTA.
It costs around £30 per application and can be approved in as little as 72 hours.
Countries where you’ll need a visa or other travel requirement include India, Australia and parts of Egypt.
Until December 31, 2026, UK passport holders can visit China for up to 30 days without a visa.
This year, Sri Lanka has scrapped visa fees – but you will need to still apply for an ETA in advance.
ETIAS is a new system being brought in for Brits, but it won’t be in use until 2027 – so you won’t need one to travel this summer.
Power banks
While power banks are handy for travellers, they have caused several issues across a number of flights.
As the school summer holidays approach, holidaymakers must remember to adhere to strict rule.
When an incident regarding a lithium battery occurs in the cabin, cabin crew can handle it more easily.
However, if the issue is in the hold, then it’s a trickier problem to solve quickly and can cause delays or even the cancellation of flights.
The rules on carrying power banks vary from airline to airline.
Most airlines allow two power banks onboard per passenger as long as they are in hand luggage and cannot be used during the flight – these include:
- Asiana Airlime
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- China Airlines
- easyJet
- EVA Air
- Jet2
- Lufthansa
- Korean Air
- Loganair
- Qantas
- Ryanair
- Singapore Airlines
- Starlux Airlines
- TUI Airways
- United
- Vietnam Airlines
- Wizz Air
Emirates allows passengers to carry just one power bank onboard and it cannot be used during the flight.
However, Virgin Atlantic allows up to five power banks or spare batteries per passenger depending on their watt-hour rating.
Again, these cannot be used inflight and must be in hand luggage.
If you want to read more on power bank rules by the individual airline, head here.