Travellers are being told of six significant changes from 2025 that they need to be aware of when booking their next holiday. Travel insurance specialists at Quotezone.co.uk are urging holidaymakers to familiarise themselves with the new travel regulations introduced this year to prevent unexpected costs and last-minute stress.
From 2025, the European Union began rolling out its new Entry/Exit System for non-EU travellers, which means that UK passport holders will not get stamped anymore, however their biometrics will be used instead.
This is expected to slow down border crossings during its initial rollout, as travellers will need to provide their fingerprints and have their photo taken at the border.
Other changes, such as the rise in UK passport fees and tourist tax increases in popular holiday destinations, could lead to additional costs for travellers.
Passport costs increased by 7% in April 2025, from £88.50 to £94.50 for adults, and from £57.50 to £61.50 for children for a standard online application made from the UK.
While tourist taxes are nothing new, this year has seen several destinations introduce or increase their existing tourist taxes, including popular spots such as Greece and Mogán in Gran Canaria.
Another thing that could be making travel more expensive is the crackdown on short-term rental regulations across Europe.
In response to rising housing costs, several countries including Italy, France and Spain, have introduced stricter regulations on short-term holiday rentals, which could reduce availability and push up accommodation prices.
Travellers also need to be mindful of the shift towards fully digital check-ins, with airlines already starting to scrap printed boarding passes.
Helen Rolph, travel insurance specialist at Quotezone.co.uk said: “2025 saw multiple travel changes being implemented that could impact everything from airport queues to holiday budgets.
“One of the biggest changes launched this year was the new EU Entry/Exit border system, which is still being rolled out and is expected to cause delays well into the new year, so travellers should allow themselves extra time at the border. Missed flights will not likely be covered by travel insurance policies as the onus is on passengers to leave enough time to be processed by the new system.
“Holidaymakers may also face higher travel costs, as increases in tourist taxes, passport fees, and stricter short-term rental regulations could all push up the overall cost of a holiday.
“Being aware and prepared for these changes will help travellers ensure their upcoming holiday runs smoothly and help them prevent last-minute complications and unexpected costs.”
Here are six travel changes from 2025 that holidaymakers need to be aware of:
1. EU Entry/Exit System rollout
From 2025, the European Union introduced the new Entry/Exit System for non-EU travellers entering and leaving the Schengen area. What this means for UK passport holders is that instead of getting stamped, their biometric data, including fingerprints and a photo, will be collected at the border. While this change aims to improve security and speed up border crossing in the long run, it’s expected to cause some delays during the initial rollout. Holidaymakers are advised to allow extra time when arriving at EU airports or other points of entry to ensure their holiday has a stress-free start and they don’t miss their outbound flight.
2. Rise in passport costs
Passport fees saw a 7% increase in April 2025, with the standard online application made from the UK for adults rising from £88.50 to £94.50, and for children from £57.50 to £61.50, so those planning to renew or apply for a passport need to factor in the higher costs. Those who need to use the urgent Premium Service may even face costs of up to £222.
3. EHIC now expired
The GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) replaced the EHIC in 2020, providing access to emergency and medically necessary healthcare in the EU and some other countries, including Australia. However, some EHIC cards remain valid until their expiry date. Given they last for five years, 2025 was the last year of the EHIC, meaning there may be a surge in travellers needing to change to the GHIC for the first time in 2026 who may be unaware of these changes. The GHIC card is not a replacement for travel insurance, it allows you access to medically necessary treatment at the local rate of the country you are in – so it is important you have a relevant and accurate insurance policy to protect you before travelling, especially if you have a pre-existing condition.
4. Digital-only boarding passes
Certain budget airlines moved to 100% digital boarding passes this year to lower costs, improve customer service and cut down on paper waste.*** With this shift underway, travellers may find that other airlines also start reducing or phasing out printed boarding passes in the future, so it’s a good idea for holidaymakers to make sure their devices are compatible and they can easily access their boarding passes.
5. Tourist tax increases
While tourist taxes are not a new concept, multiple popular holiday destinations either introduced or increased their fees this year. Greece increased their tourist tax again, with holidaymakers paying up to an extra €5 per night if they’re visiting between April and October, and cruise passengers are now also charged €20 tourist tax at the port. Popular holiday spot Mogán in Gran Canaria also introduced a new tourist tax this year of €0.15 per person, per night.
6. Crackdown on short-term rentals
Several European countries, including Italy, France, and Spain, have introduced stricter regulations on short-term holiday rentals in response to rising housing costs. For example, Florence has banned short-term rental registrations in its historic city centre and Paris short-term rentals are capped at 120 nights per year. These measures may reduce the availability of accommodation and push up prices for travellers.
