From EU border fingerprint checks to new visa waivers and vacationer taxes, British holidaymakers face main adjustments in 2026. Listed below are among the most necessary ones it’s essential to learn about earlier than you jet off
The world of journey is continually altering, with alterations to airport rules, tourism restrictions, and new paperwork to finish. These adjustments can typically go away holidaymakers scratching their heads, not sure of how they’re going to be affected or what steps they should take.
The upcoming yr guarantees a wave of great adjustments, notably for Brits touring to or from the EU. The potential requirement for a visa waiver is on the horizon, and the brand new entry and exit system is more likely to be carried out this yr, experiences the Specific.
However what does this imply for the typical holidaymaker? And what do Brits must type out earlier than they set off? Here is a breakdown of among the adjustments it’s essential to regulate in case you have a visit booked.
EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
After quite a few delays, the Entry/Exit System (EES) lastly obtained off the bottom in October. This implies anybody from exterior the Schengen Space, together with Brits, must present fingerprints and a facial picture on the border when getting into EU international locations.
This initiative goals to part out guide passport stamps and make it simpler to observe vacationers who overstay their welcome. Nevertheless, the roll-out of the system has hit a lot of snags.
As an illustration, the Port of Dover was initially set to start out utilizing EES in October for automotive passengers, however this was pushed again to early 2026 to forestall delays over the busy festive season. Not all EU airports have the system up and operating but, so in the event you’re planning to journey early subsequent yr, your expertise could differ.
The deadline for full implementation throughout all Schengen members, in addition to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, is ready for 10 April 2026. As soon as operational, travellers will not must do something beforehand, however there could also be lengthier airport queues as folks regulate to the brand new system.
ETIAS – EU Visas
ETIAS (European Journey Info and Authorisation System) is a brand new visa waiver programme for exempt guests making journeys to the EU. It is just like the USA’ ESTA, and the process can be largely the identical.
As soon as carried out, Brits planning an EU vacation might want to full an ETIAS utility, which is a pre-screening that lets you enter the Schengen Space with no visa.
The draw back is that the visa will price €7 per individual (roughly £6.10). Nevertheless, as soon as authorized, the ETIAS will stay legitimate for 3 years or till your passport expires, whichever occurs first.
At present, no launch date has been declared on the official ETIAS web site, however it’s advisable to remain alert for any updates. The launch date for ETIAS has already been postponed a number of instances, and whereas it is presently set for This autumn of 2026, which is October, there might nonetheless be delays in rolling out the system.
As with every journey visa or utility, solely use the official ETIAS web site for functions and keep away from third-party websites.
Brits face larger payments on arrival
Overtourism has constantly made the information all through 2025, and Brits travelling to sure international locations may be caught off guard by unexpected further prices.
An rising variety of locations are implementing vacationer taxes, and whereas these are usually minor nightly charges, they’ll rapidly accumulate for prolonged stays or bigger teams. English mayors are additionally set to be given the authority to impose vacationer taxes, which means even staycations might include added bills.
New vacationer taxes set to start in 2026 embody Edinburgh, the place a 5% surcharge can be added to resort payments from July, and Thailand, which can levy a 300 baht price (roughly £7) on air passengers.
Brits heading overseas may additionally uncover they’re charged greater than locals to go to common websites. A current living proof is the Louvre in Paris, which introduced that from early 2026, EEA residents can be charged €22 for entry, roughly £19.15, whereas these from exterior the EEA, together with Brits, can be hit with a €32 admission price (round £27.86).
U.S. Nationwide Parks are set to introduce a two-tier pricing system for American residents and vacationers, with the latter being hit with an extra $100 price on prime of ordinary prices to realize entry into common parks such because the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. This surcharge could be utilized per individual or per car, relying on the park’s coverage.
As an illustration, a household visiting the Grand Canyon usually pays $35 (roughly £25.87) for a personal automotive. Nevertheless, beneath the brand new guidelines for non-People, this can skyrocket to a staggering $135, which means guests might pay slightly below £100 to easily go by means of the gates.
Adjustments to liquid guidelines
Air travellers ought to keep up-to-date with any adjustments to liquid guidelines at their departure and vacation spot airports, because the 100ml rule is commonly topic to alter and has even been scrapped in some locations on account of developments in expertise.
At Birmingham, Gatwick, and Edinburgh airports, passengers can now carry as much as two litres of liquids of their hand baggage, because of enhanced scanning expertise. In the meantime, at Luton Airport, whereas the 100ml rule stays in impact, there isn’t any longer a requirement to take away liquids out of your hand baggage. This implies the small plastic bag is not obligatory; you possibly can merely place your baggage within the scanner.
Nevertheless, it is necessary to do not forget that the rules at your vacation spot could differ. So, in the event you deliver a two-litre bottle from the UK in your hand baggage, it’d have to be stowed in a checked bag in your return journey.
Tightening of smoking and vaping bans
A number of Spanish vacation hotspots favoured by Brits are contemplating imposing stricter rules on smoking and vaping in public areas. In sure vacationer hotspots like Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, puffing away on a cigarette or vape is already prohibited on seashores, whereas some Canaries’ seashores have been declared ‘clean-air zones’.
Nevertheless, new proposals set to probably take impact in 2026 might see a complete ban on smoking and vaping in numerous out of doors areas, together with seashores and bar terraces all through Spain, with fast fines for these flouting the principles. Within the Canary Islands, penalties for violating anti-smoking legal guidelines at the moment vary from €30 to €2,000 (roughly £26 to £1,730), so it is anticipated that comparable fines would accompany the brand new rules.
Crackdowns on unruly passengers
A just lately enacted legislation in France, which can quickly be replicated throughout different EU nations, is ready to clamp down laborious on disruptive behaviour amongst air passengers.
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Ranging from November, passengers traversing French airspace who commit offences similar to utilizing an digital system when forbidden, hindering flight crew, or failing to stick to security directions, will face hefty fines of as much as €10,000 and flight bans lasting as much as 4 years. For repeat offenders, fines can soar to €20,000, serving as a stern reminder for passengers to take care of decorum when flying over France.
The French Civil Aviation Authority will preserve a database of misconduct, enabling French airways to report troublesome passengers and determine ordinary offenders.
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