Travel rule changes – and potential changes – to be aware of in 2024
At the tail end of a busy travel season, airports have been abuzz with expected changes to the way we travel. Tech advancements have quickly shifted all aspects of our lives, and the travel industry is no different. So over the course of the next year, we’re expecting a run of updated processes that will alter how we navigate through security and passport control at airports.
While dates for these changes have been pushed back months or even years so we’ll only believe it when we see it, here’s the latest news on changes in the foreseeable.
The European Union’s Entry-Exit System (EES)
Regular travellers might worry about how quickly their passport is filling up with European stamps. But fear ye not – the EU’s long-awaited Entry-Exit System (EES) is finally set to come into place on November 10th, and it replaces stamps with a digital system.
It applies to any non-EU citizens travelling to the EU member states (except for Ireland and Cyprus, where manual checks will still be made), plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The digital system will register the traveller’s name, travel document, fingerprints, facial scans, and the date and place of entry and exit. After that, the information including one piece of biometric data will be checked when going through passport control.
The system ensures that non-EU citizens from countries like the UK don’t spend more than their maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period in the EU without a visa. It will also save time, but UK travellers have been warned they could initially face long queues at airports, on the Eurostar, Le Shuttle and the Port of Dover as travellers log their details for the first time.
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) scheme
If you’re planning a European escape next year, be aware that you’ll also have to pay and organise a €7 (£5.90) visa waiver, as the EU introduce the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias). It means UK citizens need to apply for the waiver before entering the European bloc, which includes the EU member states (except for Ireland and Cyprus), plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Similar to the Esta in the US, the waiver is for short trips up to 90 days, and it will last three years, or until your passport expires. Travellers under 18 or over 70 will be exempt from the charge. The Etias looks likely to be introduced in May 2025, but the EU has said it will run a six-month “transitional period” when those travelling will need to apply for the waiver, but also they won’t automatically be refused entry at the border if they don’t have it.
100ml liquid restriction rules
As we might remember, in 2006, an anti-terrorism rule was brought in so travellers could only carry one bag of 100ml liquid containers in their hand luggage. This security requirement was due to end this summer, due to tech improvements that could scan liquids while still in our hand luggage.
While around 350 airports in the UK and EU have updated their scanners in time to honour this change, the EU and Department of Transport have removed the deadline while some airports sort out a temporary issue with the scanners, and others wait to receive and trial them (supply issues have also been another problem). There’s no timeline for when the rule will be relaxed again, so watch this space and keep buying ‘tiny toiletries’ in the meantime.
E-passports
Great news for families: another passport rule change is that children as young as 10 can now use e-Gates to pass border control in the UK. Previously, you had to be 12 to use them. These gates are used at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, City, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle airports. E-gates allow travellers’ passports and faces to be scanned for entry to the UK, rather than having to be manually checked, which usually saves time – depending on the length of the queues.
Wherever you plan on heading this year taking out Switched On Travel Insurance will give you the peace of mind that you’re protected for the unexpected. Find out more about our travel cover by visiting our travel insurance pages.