Visa Changes Spring 2026: UK eVisas, EES Launch, Fee Increases & Travel Ban
The biggest quarter for visa policy in years. The UK scrapped physical visa stickers, the EU launched its Entry/Exit System, UK fees rose 6-7%, and the US expanded its travel ban to 39 countries. Here is everything that changed.
Your bank adds a hidden 3–5% exchange rate markup to every international payment. On a typical visa fee, that's money you'll never see again. Wise uses the mid-market rate (the one you see on Google) with a small, transparent fee — so you keep more of your money.
We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
The Biggest Quarter for Visa Policy in Years
January to April 2026 brought more visa policy changes than most full years. Two of the biggest shifts — the UK going fully digital and the EU launching biometric border checks — happened within weeks of each other. Here is everything that changed, verified against official government sources.
UK: eVisas Replace Physical Stickers (25 February 2026)
The Home Office stopped issuing physical visa vignettes (stickers), biometric residence permits (BRPs), and paper entry stamps on 25 February 2026. All new visa grants are now eVisas — digital records linked to your passport and stored in a UKVI online account.
What this means in practice:
- When your visa is approved, you will not receive a sticker in your passport. Instead, you log into your UKVI account to view your eVisa.
- Airlines will check your eVisa status against your passport before boarding. If your passport is not linked to a valid eVisa or ETA, you will be refused boarding.
- Border Force officers scan your passport and query the eVisa record electronically. No stamps.
- The Home Office recommends checking your UKVI account at least 24 hours before departure.
If you applied before 25 February and already have a vignette sticker, it remains valid until its expiry date. You do not need to do anything until your next application.
Source: GOV.UK — Updates on the move to eVisas
UK: Fee Increases Across All Categories (8 April 2026)
The Home Office raised immigration fees by 6-7% across virtually every visa category on 8 April 2026. Here are the changes most relevant to travellers and applicants:
| Visa Type | Old Fee | New Fee | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor (up to 6 months) | £127 | £135 | +£8 |
| Standard Visitor (2 years) | £475 | £506 | +£31 |
| Standard Visitor (5 years) | £848 | £903 | +£55 |
| Standard Visitor (10 years) | £1,059 | £1,128 | +£69 |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £16 | £20 | +£4 |
| Student Visa | £524 | £558 | +£34 |
| Skilled Worker | £769 | £819 | +£50 |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain | £3,023 | £3,226 | +£203 |
| Naturalisation (citizenship) | £1,605 | £1,709 | +£104 |
| Child registration (citizenship) | £1,214 | £1,000 | -£214 |
The child registration fee was reduced rather than increased, following a long-running legal campaign on affordability.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) remains unchanged at £776 per year for students and £1,035 per year for most other applicants. This is paid in addition to the visa fee.
Source: GOV.UK — Immigration and nationality fees, 8 April 2026
EU: Entry/Exit System Fully Live (10 April 2026)
The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational across all 29 Schengen countries at 00:01 CET on 10 April 2026.
EES records the entry and exit of every non-EU national crossing a Schengen external border. It replaces passport stamps with digital records: your fingerprints and facial image are captured on first entry, then matched on subsequent crossings. The system automatically tracks your 90/180-day stay limit.
The rollout timeline:
- 12 October 2025 — EES launched at 10% of border ports
- January 2026 — Expanded to 35%
- March 2026 — Reached 50%
- 10 April 2026 — Full 100% coverage
Early operational issues: The first week of full deployment saw significant congestion at some airports, with passenger wait times reaching up to four hours. The European Commission reported 70-second average processing times in testing, but real conditions have been slower. Member states can partially suspend EES checks for up to 90 days (plus a 60-day extension) to manage queues during peak travel periods.
By the numbers: Since the October 2025 soft launch, EES has processed over 52 million border crossings, flagged over 700 security alerts, and resulted in over 27,000 entry rejections.
What this means for you: If you are a non-EU citizen entering the Schengen Area, expect to have your fingerprints and photo taken on your first visit under EES. Subsequent entries will be faster (fingerprint scan only). Your remaining days under the 90/180 rule are now tracked automatically — no more manual counting.
Source: European Commission — The Entry/Exit System will become fully operational on 10 April 2026
ETIAS: Targeted for Q4 2026
With EES now live, the main blocker for ETIAS is removed. The EU's travel authorisation system for visa-exempt nationals (US, UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and others) is now targeted for Q4 2026, though it will not be mandatory immediately — a six-month transition period applies after launch.
ETIAS will cost €20 per application (free for under 18 and over 70), valid for three years. Most applications are expected to be processed within minutes.
ETIAS has been delayed repeatedly since its original 2021 target date. We will update our ETIAS preparation guide when a firm launch date is confirmed.
Source: EU Home Affairs — ETIAS
US: Travel Ban Expanded to 39 Countries (1 January 2026)
On 1 January 2026, an expanded US travel ban took effect, increasing the number of affected countries from the previous list to 39, plus individuals travelling on Palestinian Authority travel documents.
Full suspension (all visa categories blocked) — 19 countries: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen.
Partial suspension (immigrant visas + B, F, M, J nonimmigrant visas restricted) — 20 countries: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Separate immigrant visa freeze: On 21 January 2026, the State Department paused all immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries. This remains in effect with no announced end date.
If you already hold a valid US visa, it is not affected. The ban applies only to new visa applications from nationals of the listed countries.
Source: US State Department — Suspension of visa issuance
US: Visa Bond Program Expanded to 51 Countries (2 April 2026)
The State Department expanded its visa bond requirement to 51 countries on 2 April 2026. B1/B2 applicants from affected nations must post a refundable cash deposit of $5,000-$15,000 after visa approval but before the visa is issued. The deposit is returned when the applicant departs the US on time.
This is separate from the travel ban. The bond applies to approved applicants, not as a restriction on applying.
See our full analysis of the US visa bond program for the complete list of affected countries and how the deposit process works.
US: $250 Visa Integrity Fee (Signed Into Law, Not Yet Active)
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed in July 2025, introduced a $250 Visa Integrity and Border Security Fee on virtually all nonimmigrant visa categories. The fee is paid upon visa issuance, not at application.
As of mid-April 2026, the Bureau of Consular Affairs has not yet begun collecting this fee. Implementation is expected before 30 September 2026. Check the US Embassy website for your country for the latest status.
Exempt: Visa Waiver Program travellers (ESTA), Canadian and Bermudian citizens in visa-exempt categories, and diplomatic visa holders.
Thailand: 60-Day Visa-Free Entry for Indian Nationals (13 February 2026)
Thailand added India to its "Form 60" visa exemption list on 13 February 2026, granting Indian passport holders 60 days visa-free by air. This replaces the previous 30-day visa-on-arrival, which cost THB 2,000.
India joins a list of 93 nationalities now eligible for visa-free entry. The exemption applies to arrivals by air only — Indians entering by land should check the Thai embassy website for current requirements.
Travellers entering under this exemption can extend their stay by 30 days at a Thai immigration office for THB 1,900, allowing a total of up to 90 days.
All arrivals must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before departure. No fee. No airport queue.
Source: Royal Thai Government Gazette, 13 February 2026
UAE: Overstay Fines Unified at AED 50/Day (11 February 2026)
The UAE unified its visa overstay penalties on 11 February 2026. The new regime:
- AED 50 per day from the first day of overstay (approximately $14 USD)
- No grace period — fines start immediately after your visa expires
- Applies to all visa types (tourist, visit, and residence)
- The previous grace period for tourist visas has been removed
- If you overstay by more than 30 days, you will also need an exit permit (approximately AED 250-300)
- Fines can be paid online through the ICP Smart Services portal, GDRFA Dubai, or the UAE Pass app
Pay at least 48 hours before departure to avoid "technical blocks" at the airport.
Source: UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security
Australia: Visitor Visa Fee Increase (April 2026)
The visitor visa (subclass 600) fee increased from AUD 190 to AUD 200 for offshore applications. The ETA (subclass 601) fee remains at AUD 20.
Source: Department of Home Affairs — Visitor visa (subclass 600)
Canada: Processing Times Improving (April 2026)
IRCC published updated processing times in April 2026 showing meaningful improvement for Indian applicants:
- Visitor visa from India: Down from 57 days to 37 days
- Visitor visa from US: Approximately 31 days
- Visitor visa from within Canada: Approximately 17 days
- Visitor record extensions: Approximately 226 days (significantly longer — plan ahead if extending)
- Super visa from US: Improved by over three weeks
Processing times are updated weekly on the IRCC processing times tool.
Schengen: No Fee Changes
The Schengen visa fee remains at €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6-12. Processing time standard remains 15 calendar days, extendable to 45 in exceptional cases. No policy changes this quarter beyond the EES rollout described above.
What to Watch in May-June 2026
- ETIAS launch date — With EES now live, the EU may announce a firm ETIAS start date. We will cover it when confirmed.
- US Visa Integrity Fee — Implementation expected before 30 September 2026. Could begin any month.
- UK processing times — Monitor whether the eVisa transition affects processing speeds.
- EU EES queues — If delays persist, member states may invoke temporary suspension measures before summer peak.
All information is sourced from official government websites and verified as of 13 April 2026. Visa policies can change at short notice — always check the official embassy or government website for your destination before applying.
Your bank adds a hidden 3–5% exchange rate markup to every international payment. On a typical visa fee, that's money you'll never see again. Wise uses the mid-market rate (the one you see on Google) with a small, transparent fee — so you keep more of your money.
We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Related Articles
US Visa Bond 2026: $5,000–$15,000 Deposit Required
The US State Department is expanding its visa bond program to 51 countries from April 2, 2026. Applicants from affected nations must post a refundable cash deposit of $5,000 to $15,000 before receiving a B1/B2 visitor visa. Here is what this means, who is affected, how the bond works, and what you can do.
ETIAS 2026: €20 Fee, Who Needs It & How to Apply
The EU ETIAS travel authorisation system is targeted for Q4 2026. Here is what visa-exempt travellers need to know about the new pre-travel authorisation requirement.