Europe Implements New Travel Rules in 2025: Border Checks, Tourist Taxes and Behaviour Crackdowns

Published on December 5, 2025

In 2025, Europe’s travel landscape has shifted: from tighter border controls to rising tourist taxes and more regulations aimed at curbing ‘undesirable’ tourist behaviors. This year has seen an increase in regulations that affect everything from entry requirements, accommodation options, to how tourists behave in popular destinations. These changes are meant to streamline travel, while protecting local communities and promoting sustainable tourism, but they also introduce new costs and potential delays for travelers.

New EU Border Controls: The Entry/Exit System (EES) Takes Effect

One of the most significant changes in European travel in 2025 is the launch of the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). Initially rolled out in October 2025, this system aims to digitize border checks across the Schengen Area. The system will eventually replace traditional passport stamping for non-EU travelers with biometric data collection, including facial recognition, fingerprints, and passport information. This change, designed to increase security and streamline border checks, applies to all EU Schengen countries (except Ireland and Cyprus), as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

The primary goal of the EES is to tackle illegal immigration and visa overstays by maintaining a digital record of entries and exits. While this promises a smoother travel experience in the long term, the transition has not been without its challenges. There have been delays, including issues at the UK Port of Dover, where car passengers will not be subject to the system until 2026, to avoid disrupting Christmas travel. Travelers should anticipate some teething problems at border crossings as the system continues to roll out.

ETIAS Delayed Until 2026

In addition to the EES, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which was expected to debut alongside the new border system, has been delayed until late 2026. ETIAS will require citizens of visa-exempt countries to apply online for authorization before entering the Schengen Area, at a cost of €20. This online permit will be valid for three years and cover stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

This delay has frustrated many travelers, particularly those from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and other visa-exempt countries, as they will need to wait longer to navigate Europe’s new travel framework. Once fully implemented, ETIAS will serve as an additional security measure to monitor and control who enters the EU, particularly in terms of preventing overstays and monitoring potential security threats.

UK ETA to Be Enforced in 2026

The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which was soft-launched in October 2023, will become fully enforced in February 2026. Under the new system, tourists from 85 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, and several others, will be required to apply for a digital permit before arriving in the UK. The application fee for the ETA is currently £16 (€18.20), and it will be valid for two years on stays of up to six months. This change follows the UK’s broader effort to tighten entry controls after Brexit and aims to further regulate travel to the island.

While the UK ETA is a relatively simple procedure compared to traditional visa applications, it will add another layer of bureaucracy and cost for those planning short stays in the UK. For travelers, this may cause inconvenience, especially when traveling for business or tourism, with the added complexity of navigating multiple entry requirements when traveling between the UK and EU countries.

Rising Travel Costs: Tourist Taxes and Accommodation Restrictions

While tighter border controls are a major focus in Europe, travelers in 2025 also face rising costs due to tourist taxes and accommodation restrictions. Several countries have implemented or raised tourist taxes to fund infrastructure improvements and reduce the strain on popular destinations. Countries like Iceland, Spain, Norway, and the UK have all introduced new nightly fees for visitors. For example, Venice, Italy, has continued its day-tripper fee, aimed at reducing overcrowding and funding preservation efforts in the city.

Additionally, popular cities like Paris and Barcelona have introduced stricter regulations on short-term rentals such as Airbnb, limiting the availability of budget-friendly accommodations. This measure is part of a broader effort to prevent housing shortages and inflated rent prices caused by over-tourism, which has become a pressing issue in many European cities. These actions are shifting the focus of tourism in Europe toward “quality tourism”—targeting high-spending visitors while reducing the volume of lower-budget travelers.

Impact on Ski Resorts and Other High-Cost Activities

One sector particularly affected by rising costs is ski tourism. Countries like Switzerland, Austria, and Italy have seen ski pass prices soar by up to 40% compared to previous years. This surge is largely due to increasing energy costs and maintenance fees at popular ski resorts. For avid skiers, this could result in a significant increase in their travel budget, making it less affordable for some to enjoy their favorite winter sports destinations.

Crackdowns on Tourist Behaviour: Addressing Noise and Disruptions

In 2025, European cities have also introduced stricter measures to address bad behavior among tourists, in a bid to reduce friction between residents and visitors. San Sebastián, a popular beach destination in Spain, has enacted a smoking ban on its beaches to maintain cleaner, more pleasant public spaces. Albufeira, in Portugal, has begun fining tourists for wearing inappropriate clothing in public areas, responding to concerns about overexposure and public decency. Similarly, Palma, Spain, has banned party boats that were causing noise pollution and disrupting local infrastructure.

In France, the government has introduced new fines of up to €20,000 for disruptive behavior on flights, with offenders facing the possibility of boarding bans for up to four years. This measure is designed to reduce incidents of unruly passengers, which have become a growing concern for airlines and airports across Europe.

The Future of Air Travel in Europe: Passenger Rights and Airline Regulations

While there has been some progress on air passenger rights, the implementation of new regulations remains a challenge. Efforts to improve compensation for flight delays and reduce fees on cabin bags have faced significant pushback from low-cost carriers like Ryanair. A proposed EU law to improve passenger rights has been under discussion for over a decade, but airline pressure continues to delay any significant progress.

One notable issue that has emerged in Portugal is Ryanair’s decision to stop accepting paper boarding passes, which has raised concerns about passenger rights. The Portuguese aviation authority has warned the airline that this new measure could violate EU rules, highlighting ongoing tensions between the aviation industry and passenger rights advocates.

What These Changes Mean for Travelers

New travel rules in Europe in 2025 reflect a pivot toward more regulated, secure, and expensive travel to ensure sustainable tourism that does not destroy local communities or encourage overcrowding. Changes like these will impact the way travelers plan their trips, from border controls to higher accommodation costs and restrictions in behavior.

Mastering these new rules for tourists will depend on their understanding of the changing landscape of European travel regulations. With digital permits, a collection of biometric data, and increased fees for accommodations and tourist activities, travellers will have to plan more carefully and budget accordingly. While these changes might cause some inconvenience, they are targeted at making travel more sustainable and less disrupting for both guests and hosts, so that Europe remains hospitable for generations to come.