2026 Travel Alert: New UK & EU Entry Rules

For decades, Americans and Canadians enjoyed a sense of freedom when traveling to Europe. Keep your passport up to date, and you’re golden. It wasn’t the same freedom for Europeans visiting the US, though, and as we move into 2026, long-rumored changes are finally getting put into action that level the travel playing field.

The good news is that none of these new hurdles are deal-breakers if you know the “rules of the road” before you leave for the airport. My goal this week is to move past the confusing headlines and give you a simple, actionable checklist for your 2026 travels. 

Let’s take a close look at the new rules and how to navigate them efficiently.

No more visa-free travel to the UK

For decades, Americans and Canadians have enjoyed “visa-free” travel to the UK. You just showed your passport at Heathrow and went on your way.

As of February 2026, that era is officially over.

The UK officially launched an “Electronic Travel Authorisation” (ETA) for all non-visa nationals, including Americans, in January 2025. The ETA isn’t a visa, but it is a mandatory digital permission. Without it, the airline (and other carriers like ferries or the Eurostar) is legally required to deny you boarding. In fact, you won’t be able to check in for your flight or print your boarding pass if the ETA isn’t cleared.

What it means for your trip:

1. If your flight touches down in the UK, you must have an approved ETA. Because you are the one responsible for your travel documents, the airline is not required to refund your ticket or pay for your hotel if you are denied boarding for this reason.

2. Even if you aren’t leaving the airport—say you’re just changing planes at Heathrow to head to Rome—you still need the ETA. (There are very narrow exceptions for staying “airside,” but for travelers who might need the flexibility to leave the airport due to a delay, I recommend just getting it.)

The Cost: £16 (approx. $21). It is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires.

Here’s what to do:

1. Download the official app: Search for the “UK ETA” app in the Apple or Google Play stores. It’s significantly easier than using the website because it uses your phone’s camera to scan the chip in your passport and take your required “selfie.”

2. Most approvals come in minutes, but the UK Home Office warns it can take up to 3 business days. Don’t wait until you’re in a ride-share to the airport. Apply 2-3 weeks before you buy your flights. Official EU guidelines for ETIAS state that if additional documentation or an interview is requested, the process can be extended to 30 days.

Note: While 95% of approvals happen within minutes, if you have a common name or a past visa issue or anything else, your case will go to a human, and you could be waiting up to 30 days.

The “New Passport” Alert: If you renew your passport or get a new one for any reason, your ETA is instantly void. You must apply for a new one with your new passport number.

 The Insurance Angle: A Costly Misconception

I sometimes hear travelers say, “If I get stuck at the gate because of a paperwork error, I’ll just file a claim with my travel insurance.”

Here is the hard truth: Travel insurance is designed to cover unforeseen events—like a sudden illness, a hurricane, or a strike. It does not cover “entry requirements” or “lack of proper documentation.”

If you are denied boarding because you didn’t apply for your UK ETA, or because you made a typo on your application, travel insurance will not reimburse you. You will be responsible for the cost of rebooking your flight and any lost hotel nights. This is a “self-inflicted” travel delay in the eyes of the insurance company, so double-checking your digital paperwork is your best policy.

New Digital Borders

If you are heading to Italy, France, Spain, or any of the 30 countries in the Schengen Area in 2026, you’re going to notice a physical change at the airport before you even see a customs officer.

Europe is rolling out two separate systems: EES (the hardware) and ETIAS (the software).

1. The Hardware: The EES Kiosks (Operational April 2026)

The days of a (hopefully) friendly border agent glancing at your passport and stamping it with ink are ending.

What happens now: You are first directed to an automated kiosk. You’ll scan your passport, have your photo taken, and provide digital fingerprints.

The first time you do this, it normally takes a few extra minutes, but as with all new systems, it may not work perfectly at the start. This means if you have a tight connection (under 2 hours) in a major hub like Paris (CDG) or Frankfurt, you could be at risk. In 2026, give yourself a 3-hour layover for your first stop in Europe.

Mobility Note: These kiosks can be finicky. If you have trouble with the fingerprint scanner due to arthritis or a hand injury, don’t keep trying. Look for the “Assisted” lane or alert a staff member. You are always entitled to human assistance.

Opt-out Reality Check: If you don’t like the idea of your biometric data being in a foreign government’s database, I’ve got bad news. Under EU law, if you are a non-EU citizen, you must provide fingerprints and a facial scan to enter the Schengen Area via the EES. If you refuse, you will be denied entry. There is no ‘manual only’ path for those who want to avoid the data collection. This is different from the consent culture in the US where you have a choice, but it will cost you time and/or money to bypass.

2. The Software: ETIAS (with a Bonus Senior Perk)

Scheduled for full enforcement by late 2026, ETIAS is an online travel authorization similar to the US ESTA, which EU citizens have been required to do for years. If you are traveling to any of the 30 European countries requiring ETIAS, regardless of the mode of transportation, you will need to have a valid ETIAS travel authorization. Without it, you will be refused entry. 

Important: Some transportation services may not check your ETIAS before you board because they will have three years from the start of ETIAS to comply with this obligation.

The Cost: €20 (approx. $22). It’s valid for 3 years.

The 70+ Discount: Here is some rare good news. If you are age 70 or older when you apply, the €20 fee is waived. You still have to fill out the form and get the authorization, but it won’t cost you a dime.

Warning: Beware of fraudulent websites. The official, specific website for U.S. and UK travelers to apply for their ETIAS is:

travel-europe.europa.eu/etias

Because ETIAS was delayed so many times, many scam websites have been established. Those sites have had years to build their search engine rankings. Don’t use a search to find the ETIAS website; use the official one above.

 The Insurance Angle: Accurate Paperwork

Just like the UK ETA, a delay at an EES kiosk or a rejected ETIAS application is not a covered reason for trip cancellation or interruption.

If you miss your connecting flight due to a long line at a biometric kiosk, most travel insurance policies will consider this a “security delay,” which may have limited coverage (and you’ll need significant proof). They will not, however, cover you if you simply forgot to apply for ETIAS. Think of ETIAS like your passport: if you don’t have it, the insurance company considers it your responsibility, not a “travel mishap.”

 You might be asking yourself if the ETA is the same as the ETIAS, and the answer is No.

This is where many travelers get tripped up. While they serve the same purpose—pre-screening travelers from visa-exempt countries like the US and Canada—they cover different regions and have different rules.

If you are flying from New York to London and then taking the train to Paris, you will likely need both.

Timing Note: Europe is offering a 6-month ‘grace period’ when ETIAS first launches, but there’s a catch: it’s at the discretion of the border officer.

I recommend getting the authorization as soon as it’s available so you don’t risk your vacation on someone having a good mood that day.

Really Time to Get Your RealID (or use the valid loophole)

By now, you’ve likely seen the signs at the airport for years: “REAL ID is coming.” Well, as of 2026, it hasn’t just arrived; there’s a price tag if you don’t have it.

While the “final” deadline for REAL ID happened back in May 2025, the TSA has introduced a new penalty for those who still haven’t visited their local DMV.

The Cost of Forgetting

Starting February 1, 2026, if you show up to a TSA checkpoint with a standard driver’s license (one without the star), you won’t be turned away, but you will be “taxed.”

• The “ConfirmID” Fee: You will be required to pay a $45 non-refundable fee for TSA to verify your identity using a third-party database.
• The Physical Search: In addition to the fee, you will be pulled aside for enhanced screening. This includes a full pat-down and a 100% manual search of your carry-on luggage.

Note: The TSA ConfirmID verification is only valid for 10 days from the travel date. If your trip is longer than a week and a half and it’s within the US, you’ll have to pay again and enjoy another pat-down just to get home. Using your passport isn’t just easier, it could be a massive money-saver.

The “Savvy Traveler” Loophole

Here is the easiest way to avoid the $45 fee, the pat-down, and the DMV: use your Passport.

• A valid US Passport or Passport Card is 100% REAL ID-compliant.
• Actionable Advice: If you are already traveling internationally in 2026, don’t even bother taking your driver’s license out of your wallet at the airport. Use your passport for the domestic leg of your trip too. It’s one less thing to worry about, and it guarantees you won’t be hit with that $45 fee at the checkpoint.

 The Insurance Angle: A “Security” Delay?

If you miss your flight because you were tied up in an enhanced physical search or stuck paying the $45 verification fee, your travel insurance will not help you. Most policies have a clause that excludes delays caused by a traveler’s failure to provide “proper identification.” Because the REAL ID requirements have been public for over a decade, insurance providers view a non-compliant ID as a “known risk” that you chose to take.

Final Travel Insurance Tip

If you are worried about your ETIAS or ETA or even your domestic ID being denied due to a past issue, standard insurance won’t help you. Your only safety net is ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ (CFAR) coverage. 

You must purchase this within a short window of your first trip payment, but it’s the only way to get a refund if the government prohibits you from flying.