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Several major visa policies shifted in 2026, and a few changes that were widely anticipated—ETIAS chief among them—didn’t happen on schedule. We’ve tracked the concrete updates that affect your booking and border crossing, so you’re not preparing for rules that aren’t in force yet.
ETIAS Launch Delayed Again—What That Means Now
ETIAS was supposed to go live in 2026. It didn’t. The European Commission pushed enforcement to late 2026, then again to mid-2026. The delay matters because some travelers have already been factoring it into trip planning—unnecessarily.
Until ETIAS launches, US citizens, Canadians, Australians, and travelers from 60-plus eligible countries still enter the Schengen zone visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Nothing has changed on that front. When the system does go live, you’ll register online for $7—valid three years, not a visa—similar to the US ESTA. It screens for security and public health flags before you board.
Who this affects
- Visa-exempt travelers planning multiple Europe trips in 2025–2026
- Anyone who has hit the 90-day limit and needs to leave and re-enter the Schengen zone
- Business travelers making frequent short trips to EU countries
Who it doesn’t affect
UK citizens (separate post-Brexit rules apply), EU nationals, and anyone already holding a Schengen visa or residency permit.
US Visa Fees Increased—What You’re Actually Paying
In October 2026, the US State Department raised fees across most nonimmigrant visa categories. The increases are nonrefundable and apply to both first-time applicants and renewals:
- B1/B2 (tourist/business): $160 → $185
- F-1 (student): $350 → $385
- H-1B (specialty occupation): $460 → $505
- L-1 (intracompany transfer): $460 → $505
- Green card processing: $640 → $700
Processing times haven’t shifted significantly. Most tourist visas still take 3–7 business days after your interview, though consulates in high-demand cities—Lagos, Bogotá, Manila—run longer. If you need a visa to enter the US, check our country-by-country guide for your nationality’s current requirements.
Visa fees are set by the country you’re visiting, not your home country—so where you’re going determines what you pay, not where you’re from.
India e-Visa Now Covers More Entry Points
India expanded its e-Visa program in early 2026 to include 50 airports and 5 seaports, up from 28 airports previously. If you’re flying into a smaller regional city or arriving by cruise ship, this is a practical improvement.
Airports in Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Chandigarh, and Coimbatore now accept e-Visa arrivals. Seaports in Cochin, Goa, Mangalore, and Mumbai added the option too. If you’re landing in Delhi, Mumbai, or Bangalore, nothing changed—e-Visa was already valid there.
The e-Visa costs $25–$100 depending on validity (30 days to 10 years), takes 3–4 business days to process online, and requires no embassy visit. One firm limitation: you cannot extend an e-Visa once you’re in India. If your trip runs long, you’ll need to apply for a standard visa before departure or exit and reapply—and immigration may flag repeated short-stay entries.
UK Visitor Visas: No New Categories, But Slower Processing
The UK held its six-month visitor visa fee at £115 in 2026, but the application process changed and processing slowed. Standard applications now average three weeks, up from two weeks in 2026. Priority service—£500 for five-day turnaround—is frequently unavailable due to staffing constraints at UK Visas and Immigration.
The bigger procedural shift: if you’re applying from outside the UK, you must now use the online system and provide biometric data at a visa application center. Mailing documents is no longer an option. That adds a step and a $20–$30 center fee depending on location.
For spring 2026 travel, apply 5–6 weeks out rather than the old three-week cushion. The online system works, but it’s slower than the postal route was for most applicants.
Thailand and Southeast Asia: Stable Rules, Variable Queues
Thailand’s 30-day visa-on-arrival stayed at 2,000 baht (~$55) in 2026, unchanged from 2026. The issue isn’t the fee—it’s the queue. At Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport during peak season (November–February), we’ve seen VOA lines run 2–3 hours. Applying for a tourist e-Visa online beforehand ($40–$45, 3–5 day processing) is worth it if you’re arriving November through February. Off-season, the VOA line is manageable.
Elsewhere in the region: Vietnam’s e-Visa (90-day single entry, $25) remains stable. Cambodia’s tourist visa is $35 on arrival or $30 online. Laos added a small processing fee in mid-2026—$1–$2—bringing a 30-day tourist visa to roughly $42. None of these are dramatic individually, but a multi-country Southeast Asia trip now costs $10–$15 more in visa fees than it did two years ago.
Canada and Australia: Fee Adjustments, No Policy Shifts
Canada raised its visitor visa fee to CAD $185 (~$135 USD) in September 2026, up from CAD $160. Processing times hold at 4–6 weeks for most applicants. No eligibility changes, no new requirements.
Australia’s visitor e-Visa (subclass 600) stayed at AUD $20 (~$13 USD), but the processing benchmark shifted: Immigration now targets 95% of applications within 30 days, extended from the previous 21-day standard. Most still clear in 2–3 weeks, but the buffer is gone if you’re cutting it close.
What to Do Right Now
- Check passport expiration: Most countries require six months of validity beyond your travel date. US and UK renewals currently take 6–8 weeks.
- Verify requirements by nationality: Our country-by-country breakdown has current rules—eligibility varies more than most travelers expect.
- Apply early for Schengen trips: ETIAS won’t launch until 2025–2026, but standard Schengen visas (if your nationality requires one) still take 4–6 weeks.
- Budget for fee increases: US visas cost $25 more; UK applications require an additional biometric center visit. Factor both into your timeline.
- Use e-Visa systems where available: India, Thailand, and Vietnam all offer faster processing online than on-arrival queues during busy periods.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need ETIAS to travel to Europe in 2026?
No. ETIAS launches in late 2026 or mid-2026 at the earliest. Until then, visa-exempt travelers enter the Schengen zone without pre-authorization, as they have for years. When it does launch, you’ll register online for $7—valid three years—before departure. It’s a security screening system, not a visa.
My US visa expired in 2026. Do I need to reapply?
It depends on your visa type and nationality. B1/B2 tourist visas issued to most nationalities are valid for 10 years. If yours expired, a renewal now costs $185. Some countries have reciprocal validity agreements with the US that affect your options—check with the US embassy in your country before assuming standard rules apply.
Can I extend my India e-Visa while in India?
No. India e-Visas cannot be extended once you’ve entered. If you need more time, you must apply for a standard visa before travel or exit and reapply—though immigration may flag frequent short-stay re-entries. Set your trip length before you apply.
Is the UK visitor visa application process different now?
Yes. You must apply online and submit biometrics at a visa application center—postal applications are no longer accepted. Processing averages three weeks. Priority service (£500 for five-day turnaround) is frequently unavailable. Plan for 5–6 weeks from application to decision.
Should I get a Thailand tourist e-Visa or visa-on-arrival?
If you’re arriving November through February, the e-Visa ($40–$45, 3–5 day processing) saves a real 2–3 hours at Suvarnabhumi. Off-season, visa-on-arrival (2,000 baht, ~$55) is fine. Both are valid 30 days. The e-Visa is not for travelers who need flexibility on travel dates—you’re locked in once approved.
Maya has spent twelve years writing about travel, from budget backpacking to family resorts, and still packs too many socks.
