Lifestyle Trend: Foreign Office changes travel advice for 29 countries You Should Know

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated its travel guidance for many popular holiday destinations

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has revised its travel guidance for 29 countries, many of which are firm favourites among UK holidaymakers.

On Wednesday, February 18, the FCDO amended its advice for journeys to Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The changes concern the implementation of the European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES).

Updated FCDO guidance states: “EES checks are being introduced in a phased way across external borders, with full operation expected from April 10, 2026. This means that when you travel into the Schengen area for short stays, you may need to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo.

“You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration. On your first visit into a Schengen country, you may be asked to register your details at a special booth before proceeding to the immigration desk.”

Travellers are urged to comply with staff instructions at their point of entry. The FCDO alert adds: “You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area. Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but can be required to have their photo taken.

“EES may take each passenger a few minutes extra to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border. Until EES is fully rolled out your passport will continue to be stamped, even if you’ve already been registered for EES.

“Once EES is fully rolled out, it will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the Schengen area for short stays and you will input biometric details every time you enter or exit. If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International and you are asked to register for EES, the information will be taken at the border before you leave the UK.”

A traveller’s digital EES record remains valid for three years. Should you re-enter the Schengen zone during this timeframe, you’ll still only need to supply a fingerprint or photo at the border upon arrival and departure.