Overview
- Europe’s Entry/Exit System, launched in October 2025, is phasing in biometric checks for non‑Schengen travellers with full implementation due by 10 April 2026, and officials warn of longer queues during the rollout.
- Visitors from 85 countries will need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation from 25 February 2026, with UK and Irish citizens exempt.
- ETIAS, the EU’s pre‑travel authorisation, is currently scheduled for late 2026 with a fee payable on application, and authorities caution that timelines may shift and only the official site should be used.
- New charges are expanding, including Edinburgh’s 5% hotel levy from July 2026 and Thailand’s 300 baht air‑passenger fee, with some attractions introducing higher prices for non‑residents such as the Louvre’s planned two‑tier entry.
- Airport rules are diverging as scanners improve, with Birmingham, Gatwick and Edinburgh allowing up to two litres of liquids in hand luggage, while Luton keeps the 100ml limit but no longer requires liquids to be removed.