Expats and second-home owners on the Côte d’Azur received a fresh bulletin on 3 November from the British Association of Monaco (BAM) warning of “significant changes” to UK entry procedures as the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) roll out through 2026. The notice, posted on BAM’s members’ portal, explains that from late spring 2026 all EU citizens—including Monaco residents who use Nice–London shuttles—must hold an ETA before boarding, while UK nationals will need to enrol fingerprints and a facial image the first time they drive or take the train into France.
Although BAM is a private organisation, its briefings are closely read by wealth-management firms and relocation agents who service the 5,000-strong British community in and around Monaco. The 3 November update advises travellers to factor in “at least 30 extra minutes” at Dover and Calais once EES goes live and cautions against third-party websites charging inflated fees for ETAs.
![British Association of Monaco issues travel alert on new UK-bound biometric border rules]()
The alert underscores the cascading communications challenge facing employers with Europe-based staff who make frequent short-notice trips to Britain. Companies are beginning to bulk-purchase Home Office “trusted sponsor” accounts that will allow travel managers to file ETA applications centrally. Mobility advisers recommend issuing clear guidance on lead-times, refund policies and the £10 application cost to prevent expense-claim disputes.
With both EES and ETA now in final testing—and scams already proliferating—such grassroots bulletins complement official channels, helping ensure that high-net-worth travellers and their support teams remain compliant and avoid costly delays.
Although BAM is a private organisation, its briefings are closely read by wealth-management firms and relocation agents who service the 5,000-strong British community in and around Monaco. The 3 November update advises travellers to factor in “at least 30 extra minutes” at Dover and Calais once EES goes live and cautions against third-party websites charging inflated fees for ETAs.
The alert underscores the cascading communications challenge facing employers with Europe-based staff who make frequent short-notice trips to Britain. Companies are beginning to bulk-purchase Home Office “trusted sponsor” accounts that will allow travel managers to file ETA applications centrally. Mobility advisers recommend issuing clear guidance on lead-times, refund policies and the £10 application cost to prevent expense-claim disputes.
With both EES and ETA now in final testing—and scams already proliferating—such grassroots bulletins complement official channels, helping ensure that high-net-worth travellers and their support teams remain compliant and avoid costly delays.
