Stay up-to-date on changing destination entry requirements with our handy guide to what’s new in visas and travel regulations.
Electronic travel authorisations
As of 2 April all eligible European visitors can now apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel or transit landside through the UK. People who require a visa to visit the UK should continue to do so and not obtain an ETA. Applications have also been open to all non-European visitors for several months.
And, as of 9 April, the fee for an ETA has risen from £10 to £16.
Visa and arrivals updates
A visa-on-arrival scheme is now in place for UK passport holders to Namibia. Visas can be purchased on arrival at the point of entry or in advance via an online portal.
The Brazilian government has implemented the requirement for all nationals of Australia, Canada and the US to have a valid visa for entry, as of 10 April.
Travellers to Thailand will need to complete a new digital arrivals card for entering the destination from 1 May.
EES and ETIAS – latest updates
The EU has revised its timeline for the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). The EES is now expected to start operating in October 2025, with ETIAS following in the last quarter of 2026.
This automated IT system, capturing biometric data, will register travellers from outside of the EU or Schengen Zone every time they cross an EU external border. It will also monitor if the traveller is staying within the rules of the Schengen visa entry and exit rules. Non-EU passport holders can only stay 90 days within 180 in the Schengen area. Longer stays will require different visas depending on where they are travelling to and from.
The ETIAS will be an EU equivalent of the US ESTA, will cost €7 and be valid for three years or the lifecycle of the passport (whichever is first).
Other travel news
From 7 May, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin Real ID enforcement. Americans travelling domestically on commercial flights will need to present a Real ID. Travellers should ensure their ID is Real ID compliant for travel from this date.
Several Asia airlines have banned power bank battery packs being used or charged on board their planes. Airlines that have implemented the ban include Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, AirAsia, Korean Air, Eva Air and Cathay Pacific.
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