Latest Tenerife Travel Rules from October 12th 2025
New Border Control; rules for a UK passport holder travelling to Tenerife.
From October 12, 2025 UK passport holders will have to comply with the latest EU travel entry requirements.
What will change for UK Travellers to Tenerife?
What is the EES Entry and Exist system?
The European Union Entry and Exit System (EES) is designed to digitise Border Control process and to phase out Passport stamps.
Why the new EES (EU Entry / Exit System) rules apply to UK Travellers:
- As a UK citizen, you are designated as a “third-country national” (non-EU, non-Schengen) and therefore subject to the EU Entry/Exit System (EES).
- This means each time you enter or exit Tenerife, your details will be recorded in the EES.
What will the EES System mean for you at Passport Control
- On your first trip after October 12, 2025, you’ll need to provide:
- A facial image (digital photo taken at the border).
- Four fingerprints (electronically scanned).
- Border staff will also record:
- Your passport details.
- The date, time, and place of entry (or exit).
- Your data will be stored for 3 years (5 years if no exit is recorded).
- On your first trip after October 12, 2025, you’ll need to provide:
No More Passport Stamps (Eventually……..)
- The manual stamping of passports will be phased out.
- During the rollout period (Oct 2025 – April 2026), you might still get a stamp in addition to the EES check.
- By April 2026, stamps will be fully replaced by digital records.
The 90/180 Day Rule Still Applies
- You can stay in Spain (and all Schengen countries combined) for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period without a visa.
- EES will automatically track this for you — no more relying on stamps to prove it.
What You Should Bring / Expect – Important Information you will need
- A valid UK passport (issued less than 10 years before entry and valid at least 3 months beyond departure from Schengen).
- Possible questions at border control about:
- Proof of onward or return travel.
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or host address).
- Proof of sufficient funds for your stay.
Allow extra time at Tenerife South (TFS) and Tenerife North (TFN) airports during the early months of EES rollout — lines may be longer.
Who is Exempt from EES Rules
- UK citizens resident in Spain (with a valid TIE card) are exempt from EES. You will need to present your TIE at the border instead.
- Children under 12 won’t need fingerprints (but a facial photo may still be taken).
In short: As a UK visitor to Tenerife after October 12, 2025, you’ll need a face scan + fingerprints on your first trip, and your entries/exits will be digitally tracked instead of stamped.
What’s changing — the Entry/Exit System (EES)
Period | What happens | Notes |
From 12 October 2025 | EES operation begins; at least one border point in each country must be able to use EES. | But not all border crossings will have it immediately |
Over next months | Expansion to more border points; biometric checks gradually introduced at more locations. | Passport stamping will temporarily continue in many places during transition |
By 10 April 2026 | Full implementation: all external border crossings in the participating states should use EES and passport stamping will cease. |
What travellers should expect / do differently
Notes:
- This change is not just for UK travellers — it applies to all non-EU nationals entering the Schengen / participating area.
- Those travelling to Spain for up to 90 days can stay without a visa within any 180-day period, as long as they aren’t planning to work there.
Be prepared!
Make sure you have all the necessary documentation and welcome to Victoria Court Los Cristianos Tenerife!!!