theForum » Travel » Travelling to Europe » Threading the needle...

Threading the needle...

CB Root — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:56:36 GMT

I am on licence until the New Year, on SOR with SHPO indefinitely... No travel restrictions thankfully but after being grounded for 5+ years, I am gagging to get back on a plane for some hot sun and cold beer.

Reading various news reports, it seems that the EES may now go live in October but not apply to UK citizens until 6 months after that (April 26 or thereabouts). In addition, the ETIAS is now pencilled in for October 26 (hope I've got that straight - I think so!).

Putting aside the risk of a Green Notice being issued on me (I would be amazed if this were the case), I now have to plan what may be my last ever trip to the EU.

Thinking in terms of friction: the lower the friction, the easier I will slide across the border :)

From Jan 26 (end of licence) to 31/03 - frictionless (no change from today)
From Apr 26 to Sep 26 - some potential friction due to EES registration but should be manageable
From Oct 26 onwards - full stop, I may never be allowed into the EU again...

So I really have to make use of next year to see/revisit my favourite bits of Europe. Hopefully, after that, other fave destinations like Turkey will continue in their lax ways.

It's all a bit sad really, I can only take comfort from the likelihood of further delays to the EES and ETIAS implementations.

CB
You locked up my person, but my personhood was always free

RE: Threading the needle...

AB2014 — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:56:36 GMT

[quote]

[b]CB Root - 11 Feb 26 4:41 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]CB Root - 8 Apr 25 12:25 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]CB Root - 22 Mar 25 9:30 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]ED - 21 Mar 25 1:36 PM[/b]

It won't be "forever".

ETIAS will only require disclosure of convictions in the last 15 years. That's 15 years from the date of conviction that you'll have to declare convictions for ETIAS, and even declaring wouldn't be an automatic refusal. I get why you wouldn't want to disclose though, but nevertheless, disclosure will not be "indefinite".

I wouldn't worry about Green Notices - generally these tend to be used for more "high-risk" areas like Asian countries notorious for CSE, or where there is specific intelligence to suggest a risk.

[/quote]

ED,

Appreciate the reply, though at 71 years of age I don't think 15 years is going to do me a lot of good :D

[/quote]

A slight reprieve based on latest reports of further delays to the implementation of EES and thus the extension of ETIAS to UK passport holders. Looks like I might get to do my European Farewell Tour in 2026 :)

From https://www.fragomen.com/insights/european-union-european-travel-information-and-authorisation-system-etias-launch-delayed.html

Launch date. On March 5, 2025, the European Council announced that the ETIAS is likely to be launched in the ‘last quarter of 2026’. This timeline is not yet official as the European Parliament must now review and approve this approach. Previously, the system was scheduled for a 2025 commencement. In any event, EU authorities have stated that ETIAS will commence ‘a few months’ after the EES begins. This means that any delays in implementing the EES are likely to affect the ETIAS schedule.
Transitional period/grace period. EU authorities have stated that ETIAS will be subject to a ‘transitional period’ and a subsequent ‘grace period’ as follows:
- During the transitional period – the first six months after ETIAS commences – any traveler will be able to enter without an ETIAS travel authorization, subject to satisfying all other entry requirements.
- During the grace period – the six months after the ‘transitional period – all first-time arrivals to Europe since the end of the ‘transitional period’ will be allowed to enter without an ETIAS travel authorization, subject to satisfying all other entry requirements. All other traveler will need to have an ETIAS travel authorization to enter.

[/quote]

I just wanted to post an update about my experience traveling abroad since I came off licence. I have taken 2 trips - Paris on Eurostar, and Turkey on Jet2 / BA.

Notification was OK, with me handing the police admin person a printout of all the information required. She was delighted to have such a clear set of information and we had a nice chat for the few minutes it took to fill in the forms by hand. I like this particular police station as it's (a) usually quiet (b) a bit out of area from where I live,, so very unlikely to bump into anyone I know and (c) the staff are usually pretty pleasant. My PPU had already given a verbal OK to both trips so I wasn't expecting any trouble.

Eurostar: EES continues to be delayed so no use of the kiosks, just OG border control. Had a brief chat with French officer, perfectly pleasant, no loaded questions, was through in a couple of minutes (longest part was her finding space in my passport to stamp. Coming back, got a slightly miserable UKBF drone but again, no loaded questions or hassle of any kind. Friction co-efficient: 0 :D

Turkey: No issues on arrival into Antalya, I was through in a flash. Ditto leaving Istanbul. Arriving at Heathrow I got a pleasant UKBF officer who did ask a few questions but nothing beyond what I'd expect for a "normal" traveler.

So overall, a success and a great confidence booster :D

[/quote]

Whether or not the police issue a Green Notice, your passport details would have been added to the UK passport control system when you notified them. That's so they know when you return to the UK, and it does seem to mean you can't use the e-gates on your return to the UK. UK border control can't prevent UK passport holders entering the UK, so they just ask the standard questions as if there was the usual occasional glitch in the system. They have nothing to gain by messing you about, as it just wastes their time when they could be clearing the queue and then going for a cuppa.

RE: Threading the needle...

CB Root — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:41:30 GMT

[quote]

[b]CB Root - 8 Apr 25 12:25 PM[/b]

[quote]

[b]CB Root - 22 Mar 25 9:30 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]ED - 21 Mar 25 1:36 PM[/b]

[/quote]

ED,

Appreciate the reply, though at 71 years of age I don't think 15 years is going to do me a lot of good :D

[/quote]

Launch date. On March 5, 2025, the European Council announced that the ETIAS is likely to be launched in the ‘last quarter of 2026’. This timeline is not yet official as the European Parliament must now review and approve this approach. Previously, the system was scheduled for a 2025 commencement. In any event, EU authorities have stated that ETIAS will commence ‘a few months’ after the EES begins. This means that any delays in implementing the EES are likely to affect the ETIAS schedule.
Transitional period/grace period. EU authorities have stated that ETIAS will be subject to a ‘transitional period’ and a subsequent ‘grace period’ as follows:
- During the transitional period – the first six months after ETIAS commences – any traveler will be able to enter without an ETIAS travel authorization, subject to satisfying all other entry requirements.
- During the grace period – the six months after the ‘transitional period – all first-time arrivals to Europe since the end of the ‘transitional period’ will be allowed to enter without an ETIAS travel authorization, subject to satisfying all other entry requirements. All other traveler will need to have an ETIAS travel authorization to enter.

[/quote]

RE: Threading the needle...

CB Root — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:25:53 GMT

[quote]

[b]CB Root - 22 Mar 25 9:30 AM[/b]

[quote]

[b]ED - 21 Mar 25 1:36 PM[/b]

[/quote]

ED,

Appreciate the reply, though at 71 years of age I don't think 15 years is going to do me a lot of good :D

[/quote]

Launch date. On March 5, 2025, the European Council announced that the ETIAS is likely to be launched in the ‘last quarter of 2026’. This timeline is not yet official as the European Parliament must now review and approve this approach. Previously, the system was scheduled for a 2025 commencement. In any event, EU authorities have stated that ETIAS will commence ‘a few months’ after the EES begins. This means that any delays in implementing the EES are likely to affect the ETIAS schedule.
Transitional period/grace period. EU authorities have stated that ETIAS will be subject to a ‘transitional period’ and a subsequent ‘grace period’ as follows:
- During the transitional period – the first six months after ETIAS commences – any traveller will be able to enter without an ETIAS travel authorization, subject to satisfying all other entry requirements.
- During the grace period – the six months after the ‘transitional period – all first-time arrivals to Europe since the end of the ‘transitional period’ will be allowed to enter without an ETIAS travel authorization, subject to satisfying all other entry requirements. All other travellers will need to have an ETIAS travel authorization to enter.

RE: Threading the needle...

CB Root — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 09:30:40 GMT

[quote]

[b]ED - 21 Mar 25 1:36 PM[/b]

[/quote]

ED,

Appreciate the reply, though at 71 years of age I don't think 15 years is going to do me a lot of good :D

RE: Threading the needle...

Evan Davis — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 13:36:49 GMT