In 2026, a European trip is not cleared with a single permit. Three separate systems operate at once: the UK ETA for Britain, the EU ETIAS for Schengen, and EES for entry-exit records Fact.
UK ETA ≠ EU ETIAS
The most common misconception is "one European permit must cover the UK too." It does not. The two are entirely separate, and an itinerary covering both the UK and Schengen needs both Fact.
By scenario
· London only → 1 UK ETA
· Paris/Rome only → EU ETIAS (+EES)
· London + Paris → both a UK ETA and EU ETIAS
Each permit differs in timing, validity and cost, so the more complex the itinerary, the greater the value of a professional agency (etaallpass.com) that handles several permits at once. A single omission can lead to a boarding denial Estimate.