Europe Visa and Travel News
In its Annual Risk Analysis 2026/2027, Frontex is not looking only at the number of arrivals at the European Union’s external borders. The EU agency is focusing on a shift in the nature of the pressure, driven by the rollout of the EES, the upcoming launch of ETIAS, fake documents, misuse of airport transit, secondary movements and criminal networks that are adapting more quickly.
Kanye West, Hasan Piker and Valentina Gomez are among the recent examples of people barred from entering the UK under the country’s discretionary immigration powers. A new House of Commons Library briefing highlights how British authorities can refuse or cancel a visa, entry permission or ETA when a foreign national’s presence is considered contrary to the “public good.”
Russia issued more than 821,000 unified electronic visas to foreign nationals in 2025, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Chinese citizens accounted for the largest share by far, ahead of travelers from Saudi Arabia, Germany, Turkey and India.
As of June 15, 2026, citizens of Nicaragua, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia must obtain a visa before traveling to Ireland. The new requirement also applies to holders of diplomatic and service passports, as well as travelers transiting through Ireland on their way to another destination. Limited transitional arrangements will remain in place until July 14, 2026, for certain trips that were already booked.
Latvia’s Parliament has passed a new immigration law in its final reading, with its main provisions set to take effect on January 1, 2027. The legislation strengthens border controls, clarifies rules for issuing visas and residence permits, tightens oversight of work and study by third-country nationals, and forms part of Latvia’s implementation of the European Union’s new migration and asylum framework.
An analysis commissioned by the WTTC estimates that regular waits of three hours or more at Schengen borders could deter some travelers from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Australia. Up to 41 million arrivals and $45.4 billion in tourism spending could be at risk if such delays became persistent.
The official UK ETA application service has been showing a message since Wednesday indicating that the portal is “currently busy,” with wait times sometimes exceeding one hour. British authorities have not announced any official outage at this stage.
The European Commission has issued opinions on internal border controls reintroduced by nine Schengen countries, including France, Germany and Italy. Brussels acknowledges security and migration concerns, but recommends gradually lifting these measures in favor of alternative tools.
Starting June 3, 2026, Indian nationals no longer need an airport transit visa to connect through a German airport on their way to a third country.
Ireland is changing its visa appeals process. Starting June 1, 2026, most refusals of short-stay Type C visas will no longer be eligible for an administrative appeal.
Short-stay Schengen visa applications rose slightly in 2025. Consulates across the Schengen area received nearly 12 million applications, a figure that remains well below pre-pandemic levels.
The European Entry/Exit System, known as EES, is now fully in use at the external borders of the Schengen Area, but its operation still varies widely from one border crossing to another. Despite these difficult early stages, the European travel authorization ETIAS remains expected in the final quarter of 2026.
The United Kingdom issued 25.1 million Electronic Travel Authorizations, or ETAs, in the year ending March 2026, according to new statistics released by the UK Home Office.
The 2026 State of Schengen report confirms the growing role of new digital tools at Europe’s borders. Following the full rollout of EES in April, the European Union is now preparing for the launch of ETIAS, expected in the final quarter of 2026.
The European Commission outlines the key differences between EES and ETIAS, two systems that are often mentioned together but do not apply to exactly the same travelers or the same stage of the journey.
