Ireland to end appeals for most short-stay visa refusals from June 1
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.
More than 10 million Schengen visas issued in 2025, still well below pre-Covid levels
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.
Despite a rocky EES rollout, ETIAS is still expected by late 2026
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.
UK: 25.1 million ETAs issued in one year, with Europeans at the forefront
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.
Schengen: EES gains momentum ahead of ETIAS launch in late 2026
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.
European Commission highlights the differences between EES and ETIAS
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.
France removes airport transit visa requirement for Indian nationals
Indian travelers connecting through a French airport no longer need an airport transit visa, provided they remain in the international transit area and continue onward to a third country. The measure took effect on April 10, 2026, following the publication of an official order in the Journal officiel.
Europe’s EES is now fully in place: what changes at Schengen borders from April 10, 2026
Europe’s new Entry/Exit System, or EES, is now fully operational. For millions of non-European travelers, passport stamps are becoming a thing of the past, replaced by digital border records and biometric data collection.
ETA applications are now open for Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man
As of April 9, visa-exempt travelers to the United Kingdom can apply for an ETA to travel to Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man starting April 23, 2026.
Travel to the UK gets more expensive as ETA fee rises
As of April 8, 2026, the price of the Electronic Travel Authorization required for many visa-exempt visitors to the UK has risen from £16 to £20. The increase comes just one day before the system reaches a new stage in its rollout to Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.
Guernsey confirms the ETA rollout timeline for the Crown Dependencies
After Jersey, Guernsey has confirmed that ETA applications will open on April 9 for direct travel to the Crown Dependencies starting April 23. Applications will have to be submitted through the official UK government portal, while French nationals taking a day trip to the Channel Islands will remain exempt from the ETA requirement.
UK: ETA fee to increase to £20 on April 8, 2026
Starting April 8, 2026, visa-exempt travelers to the United Kingdom will have to pay a higher fee to obtain an ETA. The UK has released a new fee schedule confirming this increase, along with higher charges for many visa categories.
Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man plan to open ETA applications on April 9, 2026
The Government of Jersey has clarified the rollout timeline for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for direct travel to the Crown Dependencies.
UK: some ETA applications approved “in just 45 seconds” authorities say
As part of a communication on its digital transformation, the UK Home Office revealed several indicators highlighting how its digital immigration systems operate, including the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and the electronic visa (eVisa).
UK: Parliament approves measure paving the way for a higher ETA fee
The UK Parliament has approved a regulatory measure allowing the legal cap on the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee to be increased, paving the way for a future rise in the price currently set at £16. At the same time, the government has announced the removal of Nicaragua and Saint Lucia from the ETA program and the upcoming introduction of a visa requirement for nationals of both countries.
