EU Entry/Exit System (EES) For Cruises
Updated 13 September 2026. The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is now opperational across Europe. Here at Pure Holidays we want to ensure you are aware & ready for any potential impacts that could affect your holiday for all our cruise customers.
Anyone travelling from the UK won't need to apply for a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) visa for travel this year as this has now been delayed into 2027.
The below is an overview of what changes are now in place when travelling to Europe & any further changes that are likely to be implemented. We do however strongly recommend that you check authorised sources for the latest information such as the UK GOV EU Entry/Exit System & the European Union Entry/Exit Sytem
PLEASE NOTE: The below is a guide to give you more information to help you plan ahead. This can be changed at any time by the EU & we will endeavour to ensure the information is updated as quickly as possible. We take not responsibility should you be rejected entry/approval as this falls on the responsibility of the customer.
- How will the EU Entry/Exit System affect my cruise holiday
- What impact will the ETIAS have on my cruise holiday
EU Entry/Exit Scheme (EES)
The EU Entry/Exit system (EES) is a new electronic system that will replace the physical stamping of passports when you go through passport control when arriving in and departing from your destination. This will automatically register all entries and exits to and from participating European countries including your movements every time you cross a border in or out of the EU/Schengen area.
Who will this affect & will I need to apply
This will apply to all those travelling for a short stay, from what the EU call a ‘third country’, which are those that are not an EU citizen or a citizen of the Schengen area. So it will apply to most people travelling from the UK.
A short stay refers to visits, holidays or business trips that have a duration of up to 90 days and are taken within a 180 day period. The vast majority of travel between the UK and Europe will be classed as a short stay. Irish passport holders are exempt from EES. If you are a British passport holder but have EU residency, you are also exempt from EES.
All guests regardless of age will need to go through the EES checks, which include passport, finger print & facial scans plus a set of questions regarding your stay/visit via one of the self-service kiosks. These will be required to be completed on your first time entering through EES, with your information stored for approx. 3 years - this does mean that you may not be required to provide all this information on your next visit to Europe. Children under 12 will not need to provide fingerprints but they will need to have a facial scan taken.
Which European Counties are participating in EES
Please see below a table of the following European, EU & Schengen area countries these rules will apply to.
| Austria | Belgium | Bulgaria |
| Croatia | Czechia (Czech Republic) | Denmark |
| Estonia | Finland | France |
| Germany | Greece | Hungary |
| Iceland | Italy | Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg |
| Malta | Netherlands | Norway |
| Poland | Portugal | Romania |
| Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain |
| Sweden | Switerzland |
In Cyprus and Ireland, despite being countries of the European Union, passports are still stamped manually. ESS rules may also not apply to Ireland under the 'Common Travel Area arrangement between the UK & Ireland
Is EES fully operational now
Participating European countries introduced EES in phases from late 2025, with each country taking a different approach on how it maybe implemented. This can mean that your experience using EES after it goes live will vary depending on where you are travelling to. Since April 2026, all participating countries has now implemtented these changes & checks are being completed on arrival.
However on occassions, these are being suspended at peak travel times to help with the flow of passengers through entry point. These can change at any time at the discrection of the local authorities, so we advise that you are always prepared to complete checks required.
What questions could I be asked when completing EES
As part of the border process when travelling to Europe, you can be asked questions that relate to the Schengen Border Code – such as where you are staying, how long forward, return journey proof etc. These are not new questions or requirements as this has been applicable to UK citizens since brexit.
Currently these questions are asked at immigration by a border control officer when entering an EU country, however they are mainly done on an ad hoc or sproadic basis.
As the EES will be an electronic system that you complete before proceeding to border control, this does mean countries now have the right to ask these questions automatically & it is more than likely you will be asked on your first time arriving in an EU country. We therefore strongly recommend that you have all/any applicable travel documentation to hand should be required to provided this at any time during EES checks.
How will this affect my cruise holiday
Guests that will be travelling on a cruise and stopping at any of the European countries involved in EES, will depend on your where your cruise starts and where the itinerary ends.
Cruises departing and returning outside of the Schengen area (i.e. roundtrip UK cruises) from ports such as Liverpool, Southampton, Dover etc, will usally be exempt from EES entry or exit checks for any of the ports/countries participating in the ESS scheme. Guests will be considered as in transit for the duration the ship is docked - regardless of how long for or whether it visits multiple EU destinations/countries during your cruise.
You will not also be required to complete any EES checks for any day trips into the Schengen area that are part of your itinerary. However, under some circumstances, passengers may be required to complete EES checks which is at the discretion of the port authorities.
Guests who will be disembarking a cruise within the Schengen area (i.e.repostioning cruises) such as Barcelona, Malta, Athens etc. and travel on to a further destination including an alternative port or returning back to the UK direct from the ship, will need to complete EES checks at the time of disembarking the ship.
Any guests boarding a cruise within the Schengen area such as the ports metioned above, will need to complete EES checks at their initial entry point port of entry to the Schengen area such as airport, international train station, ferry port etc.
Please note: although cruise guests will be generally exempt from these checks, this is down to the sole discrection of each local authority of the countries & change at any time on arrival in your port of call.
European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)
The EU will be introducing it's new electronic travel visa system ETIAS for guests travelling to the EU/Schengen Area at some point towards in 2027, however no official date has been provided - so this will currently not be required for travel to the EU. It will work in a similar concept to programs operated for the US ESTA, Candian ETA & Australia/New Zealand E-Tourist Visas.
Once implemented, travellers will be able to apply for an ETIAS by the official website – www.europa.eu/etias. As the system is not live, the website itself is not live or taking applications, so you cannot yet get an official ETIAS. Any websites claiming to offer this are false.
The ETIAS is a new electronic system that will replace the physical stamping of passports when you go through passport control when arriving and departing. This will automatically register all entries and exits to and from participating European countries including your movements every time you cross a border in or out of the EU/Schengen area.
Who will need to apply for an ETIAS - Once the system is operational, visa-exempt travellers from third countries will need to apply for an ETIAS. As the UK is no longer a member of the EU, UK passport holders will need to apply. For example, anyone travelling to the EU for a short stay & are not a citizen of an EU or Schengen country, will need an ETIAS.
If you are travelling on a non-UK or EU/Schengen passport you will need to check if you require an ETIAS or a visa to go to Europe. Irish passport holders are exempt from ETIAS. If you are a British passport holder but have EU residency you also don’t need an ETIAS.
A short stay refers to visits, holidays or business trips that have a duration of up to 90 days and are taken within a 180 day period. If you are travelling on a visa, you don’t need an ETIAS.
Which Countries will require an ETIAS - This will apply to EU members that are part of the Schengen Visa areas, please see the below table
| Austria | Belgium | Bulgaria |
| Croatia | Cyprus | Czechia (Czech Republic) |
| Denmark | Estonia | Finland |
| France | Germany | Greece |
| Hungary | Iceland | Italy |
| Latvia | Leichtenstein | Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | Malta | Netherlands |
| Norway | Poland | Portugal |
| Romania | Slovakia | Slovenia |
| Spain | Sweden | Switerzland |
How much will it cost for an ETIAS & how long will it be valid for - ETIAS will only cost €7 (equivalent to around £6) - however, this has yet to be confirmed. Those under the age of 18 and aged 71 and over can apply free of charge. Once ETIAS is live, certain travellers may be exempt. You can find the list of exemptions here.
An ETIAS lasts for three years or for the duration of your passport - i.e. if your passport expires before the ETIAS, you will need to apply for a new ETIAS. You can make multiple trips during this period using the same ETIAS.
You must ensure that your ETIAS is a valid for the full duration of your stay, if not you will need to apply for a new one in advance of departure, to cover the duration of your stay.
How do I apply once the system is operational - There is one official website to apply for an ETIAS which is – www.europa.eu/etias. Please note as this is not live, you won't be able to or need to apply for an ETIAS yet.
One application is required for each traveller, so if you are a parent applying for a child or as a family, you would need a separate application for each person.
You do have the option for someone to make an application on your behalf. If you want to do that, you will need to submit a form to show you give permission. More information will be available here
Will I be required to complete an ETIAS for my Cruise - If your cruise holiday will visit any of the countries listed in the table above, you will need to ensure that you have a valid ETIAS before boarding your cruise that departs from the UK or before deaparting at your UK airport, should you be flying to one of these countries to start your cruise holiday.
Details have yet to be confirmed how this will be checked by cruise lines before boarding at a UK cruise port/terminal. Additionally, as your cruise may visit multiple participating countries, it has not been confirmed whether you will need to apply using just the first port you call at, list the countries visit or a cruise specific list will be provided.
Once operational, we strongly recommend you apply for an ETIAS no later than 2 weeks before departure to cover any issues with applicable & approval.
One application is required for each traveller, so if you are a parent applying for a child or as a family, you would need a separate application for each person.