The modernization of the European Union’s external borders is now underway. Since the fall of 2025, the Entry/Exit System (EES) has been gradually rolled out, while ETIAS, expected by the end of 2026, will complete this new digital landscape. Two acronyms that are often confused, yet two clearly distinct systems, both reshaping travel formalities for journeys to Europe. Here’s a closer look.
The European Commission has simultaneously presented the first European strategy on asylum and migration management and the European Union’s very first visa strategy. Designed as two complementary pillars, these initiatives set out a shared direction for the next five years, aimed at strengthening border controls, reducing irregular migration, attracting talent, and modernizing mobility management in a changing geopolitical and security environment.
Commissioned by the World Travel & Tourism Council, a large-scale international survey highlights the potentially deterrent effects of proposed changes to U.S. entry requirements under the ESTA program. The planned requirement to provide social media information could discourage some international travelers and place a significant burden on the U.S. tourism economy.
During UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China, Beijing indicated that it is considering granting visa-free entry for British citizens traveling for short stays.
Meeting this week in Cebu, Philippines, on the occasion of the ASEAN Tourism Forum, Southeast Asian tourism ministers are set to discuss the possible introduction of a region-wide common tourist visa. The initiative, frequently raised for more than a decade, is being brought back to the forefront of regional discussions by the Philippines.
According to the National Immigration Administration, more than 30 million foreign nationals entered China without a visa in 2025, amid a strong recovery in cross-border travel and the modernization of entry procedures, notably marked by the gradual rollout of a digital arrival card.
In 2025, New Zealand granted more than 1.6 million NZeTAs to nationals of visa-waiver countries, reaffirming the central role of this electronic travel authorization in managing traveler flows.
Russia continues to expand its single electronic visa (e-Visa) system, designed to make entry easier for foreign travelers. A new border crossing has just been added to the existing list, bringing the total number of entry points accessible with this type of visa to 107.
As the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) becomes fully mandatory for visa-exempt visitors starting February 25, 2026, the British government has announced its intention to increase the fee in the near future. Currently set at £16, the cost is expected to rise to £20.
With 1.52 billion international tourist arrivals recorded in 2025, global tourism has confirmed its return to a growth trajectory close to pre-pandemic levels. According to the latest data released by UN Tourism, the 4% year-on-year increase in arrivals is being driven by strong demand, the gradual recovery of the Asia-Pacific region, and a more favorable operating environment for international travel.
Just over four months before kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, U.S. authorities, in coordination with FIFA, are today launching an unprecedented priority appointment system for visa applications. Known as FIFA PASS, the program is designed to facilitate entry into the United States for international ticket-holding fans, while fully maintaining standard screening and security procedures.
Launched in July 2025, the “QazETA” mobile application is now at the heart of Kazakhstan’s strategy to digitize migration services and improve the reception of foreign visitors. The app brings together, within a single digital gateway, electronic visa (e-Visa) procedures, the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for visa-exempt travelers, and electronic residency (e-Residency) services.
While on an official visit to Beijing, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canadian citizens will soon be able to enter China without a visa.
The Dominican Republic has announced another one-year extension of its streamlined policy allowing visitors from several countries to travel without complying with the usual six-month passport validity rule.
Henley & Partners has released its 2026 Henley Passport Index, confirming Singapore’s dominance at the top of the ranking of the world’s “most powerful” passports and highlighting a growing divide between citizens with high mobility and those increasingly confined within their borders.
