Travel is always evolving, whether it’s changes to airport rules, restrictions on tourism, or new forms to fill out. Holidaymakers can sometimes feel confused about how these changes will impact them and what they need to do.

The coming year is shaping up to be one of big changes, especially for Brits travelling to and from the EU. The possibility of needing a visa waiver looms, and the new system for entry and exit will be up and running soon (fingers crossed). But how do these changes affect the average holidaymaker? And what do Brits heading overseas need to do before they go? Here’s a rundown of some of the changes you need to be aware of.

EU Entry/Exit System (EES)

After being pushed back several times, the Entry/Exit System (EES) finally launched in October, meaning anyone from outside the Schengen Area, which includes Brits, will need to have fingerprints and an image of their face taken at the border in EU countries.

The aim of this scheme is to eventually replace manual passport stamps and make it easier to track tourists who overstay. However, implementing the system has gotten off to a slow start so far. The Port of Dover, for example, was initially scheduled to start using EES in October for car passengers, but this implementation was postponed to early 2026 to avoid delays. Not all EU airports have the system operational yet, so if you travel early next year, your experience may vary.

The deadline for full implementation across all Schengen members, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland is April 10, 2026. Once it’s in place, travellers won’t need to do anything in advance, but there may be longer airport queues as people get accustomed to the technology. 

ETIAS  – EU Visas

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is a new visa waiver scheme for exempt visitors travelling to the EU. It’s similar to the United States ESTA, and the process will be much the same. Once live, Brits planning a holiday in the EU will need to fill in an ETIAS application, which is a pre-screening that allows you to enter the Schengen Area without a visa.

The bad news is that the visa will cost €7 per person (approximately £6.10). However, once approved, the ETIAS will be valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

At the moment, no launch date has been announced on the official ETIAS website, but it’s worth keeping an eye out for any updates. The launch date for ETIAS has already been pushed back several times, and while it’s currently set for Q4 of 2026, which is October, there could still be delays implementing the system.

As with any travel visa or application, only use the official ETIAS website for applications and never use a third-party site.

Brits face bigger bills

Overtourism has continued to hit the headlines throughout 2025, and Brits who venture to certain countries may find themselves facing unexpected extra expenses. 

More and more destinations are introducing tourist taxes, and while this is usually a small fee per night, it soon adds up for longer stays or family groups. Mayors in England are also set to be given the power to introduce tourist taxes, so even if you opt for a staycation, you could end up with an extra cost.

Some new tourist taxes in 2026 include Edinburgh, which will come into effect in July in the form of a 5% extra added to hotel bills, and Thailand, which will introduce a 300 baht fee (about £7) for passengers arriving by air. 

Tourists venturing overseas may also find they pay more than locals to access popular attractions. A recent example of this is the Louvre in Paris, which announced that from early 2026 EEA residents will pay €22 to enter, about £19.15, while those from outside the EEA, which includes Brits, will face a €32 entry fee (about £27.86).

U.S. National Parks will also have two-tier prices for American citizens and tourists, with the latter facing a $100 surcharge on top of standard fees, to enter popular parks such as the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. This can either be per person or per vehicle, depending on the park. For a family visiting the Grand Canyon, the fee is usually $35 (about £25.87) for a private car, but under the new rules for non-Americans, it’ll rise to a whopping $135, making it just under £100 to get through the gates. 

Liquid rule changes

Air passengers should keep a close eye on liquid rule changes for their departure and destination airports, as the usual 100ml rule is frequently being changed or scrapped due to updates in technology.

At Birmingham, Gatwick, and Edinburgh airports, you can now carry up to two litres of liquids in your hand luggage thanks to improvements in scanning technology. While in airports such Luton, while the 100ml rule still applies, there’s no longer the need to remove liquids from your hand luggage. This means you no longer need the little plastic bag, as you can just pop your luggage in the scanner. 

However, it’s worth remembering that the rules at your destination may be different. So, if you carry a two-litre bottle from the UK to your destination in your hand luggage, on the way back, it may need to be placed in a checked bag.

Smoking and vaping bans tightened

Many Spanish destinations that are popular with Brits are looking to clampdown on smoking and vaping in public. In some tourist spots, such as Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, smoking and vaping are already illegal on the beach, while in the Canaries, some beaches are designated ‘clean-air zones’.

However, under the new proposals, which could come into force in 2026, smoking and vaping would be completely banned in a number of outdoor spaces, including beaches and bar terraces across all of Spain, with on-the-spot fines for rule breakers. In the Canary Islands, fines currently range from €30 to €2,000 (about £26 to £1,730) for breaking anti-smoking law, so it’s expected the new rules would come with similar penalties. 

Anti-social passenger bans

A recently implemented law in France, which could soon be copied by other EU countries, will see a massive crackdown on anti-social behaviour on planes.

From November, passengers in French airspace who commit offences such as using an electrical device when prohibited, obstructing flight crew, or refusing to comply with safety instructions, will face fines of up to €10,000 and flight bans of up to four years. For repeat offenders, fines can hit €20,000, meaning passengers should be on their best behaviour when flying over France.

The French Civil Aviation Authority will hold a database of bad behaviour that’ll allow French carriers to report problem passengers, and allow them to identify repeat offenders. 

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