Europe Unites US, Canada, and Australia to Get Slammed with Tough New Travel Rules Starting 2026 – Are You Affected?

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Somudranil Sarkar

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November 18, 2025 08:38 GMT+5:30

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Starting in 2026, several countries and regions will end visa-free entry or introduce new authorization systems. The European Union will require all visa-exempt travelers to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) authorization started in late 2026, though they will not need a full visa. The UK will implement the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) system by 2026, affecting travelers from visa-exempt countries, similar to the US ESTA system. In Brazil, beginning April 10, 2025, citizens from the US, Canada, and Australia will need a visa after years of visa-free travel. Meanwhile, South Korea will require the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) for travelers from visa-exempt countries starting January 2026. Additionally, Canada will reintroduce visa requirements for Mexican citizens beginning 2025, primarily due to a rise in asylum claims. These changes reflect growing global security measures and travel regulation reforms.

1. European Union (Schengen & associated countries) – ETIAS travel authorisation

• What is changing? The European Union and Schengen‑area states (26 EU Schengen states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, as well as future Schengen countries like Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania) will implement the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). ETIAS is not a visa but a mandatory travel authorisation for nationals who currently enter without a visa. Once the system starts, travellers must complete an online application and pay a fee before travelling.
• When? According to the Government of the Netherlands, “ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026. The European Union will announce the specific start date closer to the launch. No action is required until then.
• Who is affected? People from 59 visa‑exempt countries who currently do not need a Schengen visa (e.g., the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and many Latin‑American countries) will need ETIAS to enter 30 European countries for short stays. With a valid ETIAS, travellers can enter the Schengen area repeatedly for up to 90 days in any 180‑day period.
• Why does this end visa‑free entry? Travellers from visa‑exempt countries will no longer be able to board without prior authorisation. They must obtain an ETIAS approval and pay a fee; without it they will be refused boarding or entry. Although ETIAS is not a conventional visa, it removes the current visa‑free convenience of just carrying a passport.

2. United Kingdom – Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)

• What is changing? The United Kingdom is rolling out the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), a digital permission to travel to the UK for up to six months. The scheme is being implemented in phases. Most visitors who formerly travelled visa‑free (including citizens of the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, EEA countries and many Latin‑American and Caribbean states) now need an ETA before travelling. Nationals from Qatar were first required to obtain an ETA in November 2023; citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates joined in February 2024. In October 2025 the UK opened ETA applications to almost all non‑visa nationals.
• When? The UK Home Office states that most visitors travelling to the UK now need an ETA or a visa; you usually need an ETA rather than a visa if you’re from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada or certain other countries. The government intends to extend the ETA requirement to all non‑visa nationals by the end of 2026 (this commitment has been reported in Home Office press releases, but the exact date may change). As of October 2025 the ETA requirement already applies to the wide range of nationalities listed below.
• Who is affected? The UK guidance lists the nationalities currently eligible for an ETA. These include citizens of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, the Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao (SAR), Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, the United States, Uruguay and Vatican City. Nationals from these countries must obtain an ETA before travelling or transiting the UK.

3. Brazil – reinstated visa requirement for Australia, Canada and the United States

• What is changing? Brazil suspended visa requirements for tourists from the United States, Canada and Australia in 2019. The visa exemption was set to end in 2024 but the Brazilian government postponed it for one year. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that citizens travelling with passports from Australia, Canada and the United States will be subject to visa requirements for entry into Brazil for tourism and business. The policy applies to stays up to 90 days, and applicants can request an electronic visitor visa (e‑Visa) online.
• When? The Brazilian government states that the visa requirement begins 10 April 2025. A notice from the U.S. Embassy in Brazil explains that the Brazilian government postponed the visa requirement for U.S. nationals by one year, but will reinstate a visa requirement on 10 April 2025.
• Who is affected? Travellers holding Australian, Canadian or U.S. passports must apply for an e‑Visa (US$80.90) before travelling. The reinstated requirement ends the ability of citizens of these countries to enter Brazil visa‑free.

4. Republic of Korea – K‑ETA requirement after temporary exemption ends

• What is changing? South Korea operates the Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation (K‑ETA) for travellers from visa‑exempt countries. In 2023 the Korean Ministry of Justice temporarily exempted 22 countries and regions from the K‑ETA requirement to boost tourism during “Visit Korea Year 2023–2024.” The Embassy of Korea in Canada states that Canadians (and citizens of the other 21 listed countries) would not need to apply for K‑ETA from 1 April 2023 to 31 December 2024. A subsequent notice from the Consulate General of Korea in New York explains that the Ministry of Justice extended the temporary exemption for one more year – from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.
• When? Because the exemption ends on 31 December 2025, travellers from the affected countries will need a K‑ETA from 1 January 2026 when visiting Korea for short stays (tourism, business, etc.). The Korean government has not announced another extension.
• Who is affected? The temporary exemption list covers 22 visa‑exempt countries/regions: Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Singapore, Taiwan, Canada, the United States (including Guam), Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Nationals from these places currently do not need K‑ETA, but starting 1 January 2026 they will again have to apply for a K‑ETA prior to travel.

5. Canada – new requirements for Mexican citizens (2024)

• What is changing? Although not a 2026 change, it is an important recent example of a country ending visa‑free entry. Canada’s immigration department announced that effective 29 February 2024, Mexican citizens need to meet new requirements to be eligible for an electronic travel authorisation (eTA); many Mexican travellers must now obtain a visitor visa. The change cancels eTAs issued before that date. Visitors must either apply for a new eTA if they hold a U.S. non‑immigrant visa or a previous Canadian visitor visa, or obtain a visitor visa[.

Summary table of major changes (affecting visa‑free entry) around 2026

The term “visa‑free entry” refers to the ability to enter a country using only a passport, without needing any prior authorisation. Several countries and regions are tightening their entry regimes around 2026:

• The European Union/Schengen area will require travellers from 59 previously visa‑exempt countries to obtain ETIAS authorisation starting in the last quarter of 2026. This effectively ends the current visa‑free convenience for those travellers, even though ETIAS is not a traditional visa.
• The United Kingdom is rolling out the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). By late 2025, nationals from most visa‑exempt countries already need an ETA. The scheme is expected to cover all non‑visa nationals by 2026.
• Brazil has reinstated visa requirements for citizens of Australia, Canada and the United States from 10 April 2025, replacing the visa‑free regime these nationals enjoyed since 2019.
• South Korea temporarily waived its K‑ETA requirement for citizens of 22 countries/regions but only until 31 December 2025. Travellers from those countries will need K‑ETA approval again starting 1 January 2026, ending their visa‑free entry.
• Canada has tightened entry rules for Mexican citizens by restricting eligibility for its eTA (29 Feb 2024), requiring many to obtain visitor visas.

Travellers should consult the latest government sources before booking travel, as implementation dates can shift and additional countries may introduce similar authorisation schemes.