Traveling to the UK and the EU on the Same Trip
Planning a trip that covers both the United Kingdom and the Schengen Area comes down to sequencing: when to apply for each authorization, and what EES biometric registration adds at the Schengen border.
Sequencing a UK-plus-Schengen trip
A trip covering both the United Kingdom and the Schengen Area needs two separate applications, plus one biometric step that happens automatically and cannot be done ahead of time. In order: apply for the UK ETA before you travel — it typically takes minutes but can take up to three working days; once ETIAS is live, apply for it before the Schengen leg, allowing up to 30 days if you can, since a minority of applications need manual review; and build a little extra time into your arrival plan for EES registration on your first Schengen entry, since that step only happens at the border itself.
What EES adds at the Schengen border
The Entry/Exit System, fully operational since April 2026, is not something you apply for — it happens automatically the first time you cross into the Schengen Area on this trip. Expect a facial image and fingerprints captured at passport control, adding a few minutes on that first entry only; return crossings within the same trip use the stored record and are faster. There is no equivalent registration step on the UK side of the trip — the UK ETA is checked electronically at boarding and at the border, with no biometric enrollment involved.
The UK leg
Visa-exempt visitors need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation: currently £20, valid for two years or until the passport expires, covering multiple visits of up to six months each. British and Irish citizens do not need one. Apply through the official UK ETA app or gov.uk before you travel. For the full comparison against ETIAS and ESTA, see our guide to ESTA, UK ETA, and ETIAS.
The Schengen leg
ETIAS, the pre-travel authorization for the Schengen Area, has no announced start date yet. It will cost €20, be valid for three years or until the passport expires, and allow multiple entries. Until it launches, visa-exempt visitors need only a passport and EES registration to enter Schengen for a short stay.
The 90 days are separate
Time in the UK does not count against the Schengen 90/180 allowance, and time in Schengen does not count against UK stays. Each is tracked independently. A long trip split across both does not combine into a single clock. See the Schengen 90/180-day rule for how that count works.
Ireland is different again
Ireland is in neither the Schengen Area nor the UK's ETA scheme. It forms part of the Common Travel Area with the UK and sits outside Schengen, so its entry rules stand apart from both systems. Check Ireland's own requirements if your trip includes it.
Sources
The UK ETA — gov.uk; the European Commission — Entry/Exit System; the official ETIAS portal.
About this page
This page provides general information only and is not immigration or legal advice.