The short answer: two changes affect UK skiers heading to the Alps this winter. The Entry/Exit System (EES) is already in place: the first time you cross into the EU under the new system, your fingerprints and photo are taken at the border. And ETIAS, a new online travel authorisation for UK passport holders, launches this autumn. It's recommended at first and becomes compulsory during 2027. Neither is difficult, but both are worth sorting before you travel.
Here's what each one means for a ski trip to France, Switzerland, Italy or Austria, and how to make sure nothing holds you up on the way to the mountains.
The Entry/Exit System: already here
EES replaces passport stamps with a digital record of when you enter and leave the Schengen area. The first time you travel under the new system, you'll register your fingerprints and a photo. On later trips, checks should be quicker.
Where you register depends on how you travel:
- Eurostar from London St Pancras: at self-service kiosks in the station, before the ticket gates.
- Eurotunnel at Folkestone: at a dedicated pre-registration area with kiosks, before you drive onto the train.
- Ferries from Dover: in a purpose-built processing area at the port.
- Flights: when you land in the EU, at the airport.
Registration is free, but it adds time at the border, especially on busy Saturdays. Leave more time than usual, particularly on your first trip, and expect queues during school holidays.
ETIAS: the new travel authorisation
ETIAS is an online authorisation that UK passport holders will need to visit Schengen countries, including all the main ski nations: France, Switzerland, Italy and Austria. It isn't a visa. You apply online, answer a few questions about yourself and your trip, and pay a small fee. Children and over-70s don't pay, but they still need their own authorisation.
Once approved, it's linked to your passport and lasts for several years, or until your passport expires, so one application covers many ski trips. Most applications are approved within minutes, but some take several days, so don't leave it until the night before you travel.
ETIAS is due to launch in the final months of this year, with a transition period when it's recommended but not compulsory. After that, you won't be able to board your Eurostar, ferry or flight without one. If you're skiing after Christmas, applying as soon as it opens is the simplest approach.
Only apply through the official website
When ETIAS opens, you'll apply through the official EU travel website. Be wary of lookalike sites that appear in search results and charge several times the official fee to submit the same form on your behalf. Check the web address carefully before entering passport details or paying.
Don't forget your passport rules
The existing passport rules still catch people out every winter. To travel to the EU on a UK passport, it must have been issued less than ten years before the day you arrive, and be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave. Older passports that were renewed early can fall foul of the first rule, so check every passport in your group, including the children's.
What it means for your ski trip
- Skiing across borders is unaffected. In the Portes du Soleil, you can ski from France into Switzerland and back without a passport check. Both are in the Schengen area, and ETIAS covers both.
- Leave earlier on travel day. Whether you're driving to Folkestone, catching the Eurostar or flying to Geneva, allow extra time for EES checks, especially on Saturdays in peak season.
- Families need one ETIAS each. Every traveller needs their own application, including babies and children.
- Groups should check passports early. One expired or out-of-date passport can derail a whole chalet booking.
For more on the journey itself, see our guides to driving to the Alps and getting to the Alps by train.
Once the paperwork's done, the fun part is choosing where to stay. Every chalet on Peak & Chalet is booked directly with its host, who can also advise on the best time to cross the border and the quickest route to the resort.
Planning your winter? Browse chalets and book directly with the host.
