Foreign Office issues travel alert for UK tourists taking day trips

The Foreign Office has released an important update for anyone heading to a popular Mediterranean destination ahead of a major change taking place this weekend.

In its travel advice for Turkey, officials have cautioned that tourists planning short visits or day trips to nearby Greece could face new travel rules and possible delays.

This update is linked to Greece’s position within the Schengen Zone, as it will begin using the European Union’s Entry Exit System (EES) from Sunday, October 12.

The new system will require travellers from non-EU countries, including the UK, to provide extra information such as biometric details when entering or leaving the country.

These checks will include fingerprint scans and facial photos, which will then be digitally linked to each traveller’s passport.

Anyone holidaying in Turkey who decides to take a quick trip to Greece after this weekend should expect to go through these extra steps before crossing the border.

In its statement, the Foreign Office explained: “If you are thinking about taking a day trip to a Greek island, remember that Greece is part of the Schengen Zone and will be introducing the new European Union (EU) Entry Exit System (EES) from 12 October.”

The guidance also added: “This affects all non-EU travellers entering the EU from Turkey by land, sea or air (except those in airport transit).

The new EES checks may take each traveller a few extra minutes, so expect longer waiting times at border control once the system begins.”

The Entry Exit System will not only apply to Greece but will gradually be rolled out across several other European countries over the next few months. Full implementation of the new system is expected by 10 April 2026, with many EU nations preparing to introduce it soon. The full list is:

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Hungary

Iceland

Italy

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

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