Overview
- From 25 February, visa‑exempt visitors from around 85 countries will need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation or eVisa, costing about £16, with Irish and dual citizens exempt.
- At EU borders, the new Entry/Exit System already records fingerprints and photos for non‑EU travellers, and ETIAS authorisation with a €20 fee and three‑year validity is due to start later in 2026.
- From January, junk‑food advertising is restricted to after 9pm on TV and is prohibited online at all times to reduce child obesity.
- From 1 April, the National Living Wage and Minimum Wage rise across age bands and Statutory Sick Pay increases to £123.25 per week.
- From 6 April, the homeworking expenses tax relief ends for an estimated 300,000 people, with average tax rises of about £62 for basic‑rate payers and £124 for higher‑rate payers, while 2026 also brings a UK ban on ticket resale above face value and a Scottish ban on plastic wet wipes.