If you are planning student travel to Europe or the United Kingdom in the 2026-2027 school year or beyond, there are a few updated entry requirements to be aware of.

In recent years, both the European Union and the United Kingdom have introduced new digital authorization systems for visa-free travelers, including U.S. passport holders. These updates add an advance online approval step for certain destinations and modernize how travelers are processed at the airport upon arrival.

The core travel rules remain the same. U.S. passport holders may continue to visit European destinations like London and Paris for short-term stays without obtaining traditional visas, and permitted lengths of stay have not changed. The update applies to how entry authorization is secured before departure.

This article outlines the systems already in place, what changes are coming next, and how families and trip leaders should prepare for travel to Europe in the years ahead.

 

Europe’s Entry/Exit System (EES): Now in Place at EU Borders

In October 2025, the European Union implemented the Entry/Exit System (EES), a digital border management system used at the external borders of EU countries that participate in the shared border system for short-term travel, such as France and Italy. The EES applies to the Schengen Area. While this includes most of the European Union, it also includes non-EU countries like Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland. Conversely, some EU countries like Ireland maintain their own separate entry rules.

Under the previous system, travelers entering Europe received a manual passport stamp. With EES, entry and exit information is now recorded electronically. When a U.S. passport holder arrives at an EU destination, their passport is scanned, a facial photograph is taken, and fingerprints are recorded. Entry and exit dates are logged digitally rather than stamped into the traveler’s passport.

There is no separate application and no fee associated with EES. The process takes place automatically at the airport during arrival. In practice, travelers should just expect a brief digital registration step when entering participating EU countries, similar to automated passport kiosks in the United States, and potentially longer wait times at passport control.

If a group arrives in one EU country before continuing on to another within the same border zone, registration takes place at the first point of entry. After that, travelers move between those countries without additional passport control.

 

ETIAS: The EU’s Pre-Travel Authorization Requirement

Separate from EES, the European Union is introducing the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS. ETIAS is expected to launch in late 2026 and will apply to U.S. passport holders traveling to countries that participate in the Schengen Area for short stays.

ETIAS is an online pre-travel authorization similar to the U.S. ESTA system, but it is not a visa. Once in effect, each traveler must complete an online application before departure. Parents may complete the form on behalf of minors, but approval is issued individually and is electronically linked to the traveler’s passport.

The application is expected to take about 10 minutes to complete. Most approvals will likely be issued quickly (often within minutes), but some may take up to 72 hours and rare cases may take longer. To avoid last-minute issues, families should plan to submit applications at least one week before departure, and earlier if possible. There is no fee for travelers under age 18 or over age 70, although they must still apply and receive approval. For travelers ages 18 to 70, the projected fee is 20 Euros.

Once approved, ETIAS will generally remain valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. During that time, travelers may enter participating EU countries for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period (the same rule that applies today).

ETIAS is required when entering the Schengen Area and passing through passport control. If a group flies from the United States into an EU country before continuing on to another European destination within the same border area, ETIAS approval will still be required because entry into the Schengen Area occurs at that first arrival airport.

Travel to the United Kingdom: The UK ETA Requirement

The United Kingdom has introduced its own Electronic Travel Authorization, known as the ETA. This requirement applies to visa-free travelers, including U.S. passport holders, entering England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The UK ETA began rolling out in phases beginning in 2023 and was expanded to U.S. passport holders in 2025.

Like ETIAS, the ETA is not a visa. It is an online authorization completed prior to travel. Each traveler must apply individually, though parents may submit applications for their children. The process requires passport details, a facial image, and payment of a £16 fee.

Decisions are typically issued within three business days, often sooner. Because processing occurs on business days only, families should apply well in advance of departure to avoid complications. Once approved, the ETA is valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. It allows multiple visits of up to six months at a time under standard visitor rules.

Layovers involving the UK follow a clear guideline. If a traveler remains in the secure airside area of the airport and does not pass through UK border control, an ETA is not required. If a traveler must pass through UK border control, even during a connection, an approved ETA is required before travel.

For example, if a group flies from the United States to London and then continues to Paris, a UK ETA is required if students pass through UK border control in London. ETIAS approval is then required upon arrival in Paris, where they enter the Schengen Area. Each authorization applies at the point of entry into its respective country or region.

Looking Ahead: Planning for Travel to Europe and the UK

Travel to the United Kingdom already requires an approved ETA. Travel to countries participating in the Schengen Area will require ETIAS once it launches in late 2026. Arrival procedures at EU airports now include biometric registration under the Entry/Exit System.

For teachers and parents, these requirements are best viewed as part of the standard preparation process for international travel. In addition to confirming passport validity and reviewing flight details, families will now include advance travel authorization in their checklist. None of these changes alter the structure of student travel or the educational opportunities available abroad. They simply formalize steps that are increasingly common in global travel.

With advance planning and timely applications, these systems become just another part of getting ready for an international experience – ensuring that the focus stays on the program itself rather than the logistics behind it.