There have been plenty of visa and entry requirement changes across the world in 2025, with many more due to change in 2026 and early 2027, particularly across the Schengen area.
Some of these changes have happened with little publicity. Visas are becoming increasingly digital, and details that were once waved through are now being checked, logged, and enforced.
The biggest travel risk is not delays or cancellations – it is assuming the rules still work the way they used to. This is not the year to rely on memory or past experience. Do not assume you know the rules just because you have travelled there before. Always check entry requirements – every time.
Perhaps the biggest change is flexibility, or rather, the lack of it. More countries are moving decisions online and in advance, with increasingly automated systems recording entries, exits, refusals, and overstays in ways that did not exist a few years ago. This is also getting a lot closer to home as the new EES and ETIAS systems roll out in 2026.
Here’s what you need to know:
In this post:
EES: The New EU Entry/Exit System and What It Means for You
If you hold a British passport and travel to Europe regularly, this is most likely the change that will affect you most in 2026.
The Entry and Exit System (EES) replaces passport stamping across the Schengen Area with a fully digital system that records when nationals of non-EU countries enter and exit. It replaces old-school passport stamping with a fully digital system and fundamentally changes how border control works.
The first time you enter the Schengen Area once EES is active at that border, you will need to register. That means your passport is scanned, a facial image is captured (for all), and fingerprints are collected (for those aged 12 and over) to create a digital record that will be used on future trips. If you’re travelling on Eurostar or Eurotunnel, the checks will happen in the UK.
That initial registration is where you are most likely to notice disruption. Queues will be longer while the system gets up to speed, particularly at busy airports or smaller airports that struggle to keep up with seasonal demand. EES will not be required when travelling to Ireland and Cyprus.
On 12th October 2025, the phased rollout of EES began at selected Schengen borders, and it’s already causing havoc.
This winter, at the worst-affected airports, EES has caused huge queues. Take Geneva Airport, for example, where queues reached 4 hours while staff adjusted to the new system, and processing times increased by 70%, forcing some systems to be turned off by mid-afternoon to prevent unsafe overcrowding at arrivals.
Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport has also been in the news due to EES. At its worst, queues reached 7 hours, leading to checks being suspended for three months and to the deployment of soldiers and extra border staff to try to clear the backlog.
When departing, it’s advised to go through passport control as soon as possible to get the EES checks out of the way.
Yes, this chaos may be a transition period while border control gets used to the changes, but it still adds significant time to each person in line, and it will undoubtedly cause chaos this summer. If this has happened at medium-sized airports during the winter, I can’t begin to imagine the chaos it will cause during peak summer dates.
By 10th April 2026, EES is expected to be fully operational across all participating Schengen external borders.
Once EES is fully live, it will also automatically track your time in the Schengen Area under the 90/180-day rule, so you’ll need to be very careful about how long you stay.
Right now, you may encounter EES on one trip and not the next, depending on where and when you travel. Make sure you research where you’re travelling in advance and check it’s not in the news for huge delays!
ETIAS: European Travel Information and Authorisation System
This is not something you need to worry about now, but it’s expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026 (though it’s already been delayed multiple times, and there has been news recently about full rollout being pushed to 2027). Advanced notice of a few months will be given before the system launches.
ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation that British passport holders and other visa-free travellers from 59 countries will need before visiting 27 Schengen countries plus Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus for short stays (90 days in 180 days). It will be mandatory once it launches!
It will work in a similar way to the US ESTA. You will need to apply online before you travel and pay a small fee (expected to be £16 with under 18s and over 70s free, though they will still need an ETIAS). You’ll receive authorisation linked directly to your passport. Most applications are expected to be approved quickly.
Airlines will be legally required to check your ETIAS status before boarding. No approval means no flight.
Once granted, ETIAS will be valid for three years, but note that it’s tied to your passport. New passport = new application.
We will keep you updated on all the details throughout 2026!
Visa Rule Changes You May Have Missed
Travelling to one of these countries soon? Here are the changes you need to know:
UK Entry
This one is particularly important if you have friends or family visiting you who do not hold a UK or Irish passport. The UK ETA is mandatory as of 25th February 2026 and applies to most visa-free visitors to the UK. There are also some new rules for dual British citizens.
You must apply online in advance of travel, and your information will be checked by airlines before boarding. As with similar systems elsewhere, no ETA means no flight. This also applies to those who transit via border control (transiting airside is fine). ETAs are also linked to your passport and are valid for 2 years, but you must reapply if you renew your passport.
Cuba
Cuba no longer uses the tourist card system, and it’s going fully digital. From July 2025, it’s required to obtain an eVisa in advance and complete the mandatory D’Viajeros online entry form before arrival.
The other important and often forgotten thing is that if you have travelled to Cuba since 12th January 2021, you are no longer eligible to travel to the US under the visa waiver programme (with limited exceptions). Instead, you must apply for a full US visitor visa at a US embassy before travelling.
Other Changes to Keep in Mind
- South Korea: The temporary K-ETA exemption for British passport holders has been extended until 31st December 2026. You will still need to complete the online arrival card up to 72 hours before arrival. Info here.
- Papua New Guinea: A new digital arrivals card was introduced in October 2025. You will need to submit it up to 72 hours before arrival. Info here.
- Namibia: As of April 2025, British passport holders need a visa. This can be in the form of an e-visa or visa on arrival. Info here.
- India: India now requires foreign nationals to complete an e-arrival card online (a digital disembarkation form). Paper forms are still accepted until March 2026.
- Thailand: New Thailand Digital Arrival Card from May 2025. This must be completed online within 72 hours before arrival. Info here.
- Indonesia: A digital arrival declaration is required via the All Indonesia app or online up to 72 hours before arrival. Info here.
- China: The 10-day (240 hours) visa-free transit policy opened to UK passport holders when transiting through eligible Chinese cities. To qualify, you must have an onward ticket to another country, and your stay is normally limited to the approved area linked to your entry point. Info here.
Other Visa Caveats
Visa Overstays
Visa overstays are now shared across systems more than people realise. A minor overstay in one country can affect future applications elsewhere, even if it happened several years ago. There’s less room for discretion and fewer chances to explain at the desk.
Transit Visas
Transit visas are another thing that catches plenty of people out. Some routes now require a visa even if you never leave the airport, especially when changing terminals. It’s certainly an expensive mistake to make.
Your Digital Footprint
Your social media is becoming increasingly relevant in 2026. Sometimes, this is used to determine whether your reason for travel is what you say it is. Political extremism or content linked to security concerns is also taken seriously.
The US has had the most public change to this. For several years, US visas have required you to disclose your social media profiles, with some people being asked to set their profiles to public for secondary checks. For ESTA, providing social media details has historically been optional, though US authorities have recently discussed making it a requirement.
Elsewhere, some countries also require social media as part of the visa process, while others review publicly available information about you.
Lots of Scams
Be cautious when applying for visas online and make sure you use official sites. There are plenty of scam sites that will take your money and leave you with either no visa at all or a document that looks legitimate but will get you denied entry. The best option is to click via Gov.UK.
What to Do If Your Visa Is Denied or You’re Refused Entry
If you’re denied a visa or travel authorisation in advance, including systems like ESTA, find out why. It could be due to incorrect details given in error.
If you’re refused entry at the border, request written confirmation of the decision. This matters for future travel and applications, especially within the European Union, where systems like EES and ETIAS automatically record refusals and outcomes. Once you’re home, reassess carefully before rebooking anything.
Final Words
These changes will make trip preparation slightly more time-consuming, and in the short term, some changes, especially EES, may cause delays, so you’ll need to factor in extra time.
Systems are now more automated, and data is shared more widely than ever. Assumptions that were valid five years ago may no longer apply. If you travel often, that familiarity can actually work against you, because you stop checking details you’ve never had to think about before.
So, no matter how often you travel, it’s always a good idea to check entry rules before every trip, even for countries you know well. Always sign up for travel alerts via foreign travel advice for your destination.
Travelling soon? Make sure you read the other guides in this series:
1 comment
Thanks for the really useful info on this article regarding visa changes. Key is knowing sufficiently in advance of changes – I am thinking specifically of ETIAS.
Do you know if there is any way of checking whether you already have an active and valid EES account and what data is in the system ?