On Monday 19 May 2025, the UK government reached a deal with the EU on a number of issues, including fewer passport checks for UK travellers at EU borders. Here’s what’s been agreed and what you can expect to change.
What is the Brexit Reset Deal?
The ‘Brexit Reset Deal’, as coined by some media outlets, is the name given to the talks between UK government and EU representatives which took place on 19 May 2025 and covered issues including food, fishing, defence and passport checks.
What is changing with passport checks for UK passport holders at EU borders?
After Brexit, those travelling with a UK passport often had to join the ‘All Passports’ queue when arriving at an EU border, rather than making their way swiftly through the e-gates.
Whilst some destinations still allowed us to use their e-gates, such as Spain and Portugal, many did not, which opened the doors to longer wait times – as many of us will have experienced!
However, this new deal promises that travellers from the UK will be able to use e-gates that are currently just for travellers from the EU or EEA when they arrive in the EU.
When will UK passport holders be able to use EU e-gates?
Whilst it’s been confirmed that British travellers can use e-gates at more European airports, there’s no launch date as such.
Actually UK travellers are using EU passport e-gates at some airports already, so that helps waiting times in some instances.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he hopes the EU and UK will work together to speed up implementation of this, so hopefully more British travellers will see a positive impact on border wait times soon.
However, it looks like most UK passport holders might only be able to use EU e-gates from October 2025 at the earliest.
This when the EU’s Entry/ Exit System is set to be introduced, which means passport stamps will no longer be a thing, therefore reducing a lot of the wait time. You can read more about this in our article below.
Is anything else about how UK travellers enter the EU changing?
The UK and EU are planning a programme for younger people to be able to travel and work across countries more easily, and they’re also bringing back pet passports.
Younger people
The UK government and the EU have agreed to work together on a youth programme, that would let people from the UK under a certain age temporarily live and work in the EU, and vice versa.
The thinking is that young people can work and travel more freely between the UK and Europe, although there’ll be a limit on the number of people who can do this and how long they can stay for.
The plan is for the proposed UK-EU scheme to be similar to the ones that UK has at the moment with countries like Australia, where there’s an annual limit on the number of visas that people aged 18-35 can get that let them work and travel in the destination country.
Pets
There’s also good news for travelling pet owners – pet passports are being reintroduced after being ditched after Brexit.
It means that owners of cats and dogs travelling from the UK won’t need to pay for expensive animal health certificates any more, which they used to have to get in the UK before departing, and from the destination country before returning.
Stay Across Updates On How UK Passport Holders Use EU Passport e-gates
The UK and EU are continuing to work together to make it a smoother experience for UK travellers to visit the EU.
So keep an eye on Holiday Expert for updates on everything you need to know about how UK passport holders can use EU passport e-gates.
