04/01/2026
๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ!
Two big entry requirements are now in effect (or almost there), and they WILL affect your trip if you don't know about them. Let me break it down for you!
๐
๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ (๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง)
This one is already up and running! If you're visiting the UK, or even just passing through as a transit passenger, you now need an ETA before you travel. It's a quick online application, but it must be done in advance. No ETA? No entry. Simple as that!
And yes, this applies to Canadians too. Even if you're stopping in London on your way somewhere else, you need it. (We've seen clients catch this at the last minute, and the stress is NOT worth it!)
๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ (๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ/๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฆ)
Europe's new digital border tracking system is expected to be fully in place by April 10, 2026! This replaces the old passport stamp system with a digital scan of your fingerprints and photo at the EU border. It applies to non-EU visitors, including us Canadians.
And here's the good news about EES: you don't need to do anything in advance! It all happens right at the airport when you arrive. No online applications, no pre-registration. You simply go through the process at the border and you're on your way! We had to do it last month while travelling in Europe. It did mean some longer lines at the airports, so beware!
๐๐๐ซ๐'๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ :
If you're on a cruise with multiple EU ports, each country entry and exit gets recorded digitally. If you're doing a self-driving trip through Europe, plan for extra time at border crossings, especially in the early days of the system rolling out.
๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ:
Most EU airports are already recommending you arrive at least 4 hours before your flight when departing! The new EES exit processing adds time at the border, and the last thing you want is to miss your flight home because the line was longer than expected. So if your old habit was rolling up two hours before an international flight, it's time to adjust that plan! (Future you will absolutely thank present you for this one.)
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐ (๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐ซ!)
There's one more change on the horizon, and while it's NOT in effect yet, it's worth knowing about now! The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, or ETIAS, is expected to launch later in 2026. Think of it as Europe's version of Canada's eTA system.
Canadian citizens will need to apply online and pay a small fee before traveling to participating European countries. The great news? Once approved, your ETIAS is valid for three years, or until your passport expires. So it's a one-and-done process for a good stretch of time!
Again, ETIAS is NOT required yet. But when it launches, I'll be right here with all the details you need!
The bottom line? Europe isn't closing its doors. It's just getting smarter about tracking who comes and goes!
