What you need to know about travelling abroad in 2026
If you are heading off on a foreign holiday this year, we have nine essential things to know about before you go.
If you are heading off on a foreign holiday this year, we have nine essential things to know about before you go.
It’s a treat that many of us spend the rest of the year looking forward to. A holiday abroad can be relaxing on a beach, learning about new cultures or exploring exotic destinations.
And they are more popular than ever. A recent survey by the UK’s leading travel association, ABTA, found that 59% of Brits had travelled overseas on holiday over the past 12 months – an increase from 53% the previous year.
So, if you are planning on travelling abroad in 2026, we’ve got the best advice on the rule changes that could affect you, allowing you to head off without any nasty last-minute surprises.
The new Entry/Exit system (EES) finally launched on 12 October 2025 after being postponed multiple times.
The EES is a border control system to record the movements of non-EU nationals (including UK citizens) entering and leaving the EU’s Schengen area.
All travellers must submit their fingerprints and a facial image at border security – the EES is designed to eventually replace passport stamps in Europe.
Once registered, your details will last three years, and then you’ll have to register again.
So far, the roll-out has been very slow, with few European airports having collected EES data, and the Port of Dover only starting to introduce it for tourist travellers this year.
10 April 2026 is the deadline when EES must be fully operational across all external border crossing points of the EU.
Read our article explaining the new EES system.
In addition to the EES, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is due to launch in the final quarter of this year. However, it was originally due to launch in 2021, so it could be delayed again.
This visa waiver system means that UK nationals – and other non-EU travellers who previously did not require a visa to enter the EU – will need to apply to travel into and around the EU.
ETIAS will work in a similar way to the US ESTA system, and is expected to cost €20. It authorises travel for up to 90 days but is valid for three years. If you get a new passport during that time, you’ll need to get a new ETIAS too. Travellers aged over 70 are exempt from the fee but still need to obtain a visa.
Each UK passport holder will need to apply and pay individually.
Find out more on the ETIAS website.
If you are planning on heading to the US in 2026, then it’s worth downloading a new app launched at the end of 2025 by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
The Mobile Passport Control app works for UK visitors who are eligible for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and have an approved Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). If you have a UK passport and are travelling to the US for less than 90 days, then this is likely to apply to you.
You’ll need to download the app before you fly, but it allows you to fill in your custom declaration form and submit passport information in advance, meaning you can skip some queues.
Just remember, before you hit download, check that your destination is one of the 33 US airports and 4 cruise ports participating.
Some 200 Brits are being turned away at EU airports every day due to an invalid passport.
So, don’t forget to double-check yours before you book your trip, especially if it was issued before September 2018.
Some passports have expiry dates of up to ten years and nine months, but now the UK has left the EU, it is only valid for exactly 10 years, even if it hasn’t reached its expiry date. Some countries also insist that your passport is valid for another six months after your date of return travel.
The Post Office has more information on how to check that your passport is valid.
EHICs have been replaced with a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) in 2025. They are the same and are available for free from the NHS.
The UK GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance but does get you “state healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you come back to the UK”. This includes some maternity care, emergency treatment and routine medical care.
You can carry on using your EHIC until its expiry date, but then you’ll need to apply for a GHIC, and you can do so up to nine months before your current one expires.
The NHS website has more details on applying for the GHIC card.
Many airports, including Gatwick, Luton and Birmingham, now allow passengers to leave their miniature bottles in their bags while going through security.
Some, such as Birmingham and Edinburgh, have scrapped the 100ml limit entirely.
It is planned that by this summer, all British airports will have introduced new updated scanners and the 100ml rule will end.
Please note that this upgrade has been put back several times since summer 2024, and varies between airports, so check with your airport before travelling.
Still undecided about where to go on holiday this year? The experts at Saga have a month-by-month guide on where to go and when.
Whether its marvelling at the Northern Lights in Iceland in March, enjoying the spring blooms of Madeira in May or cruising down the Nile in October, they've got the best destinations year round.
Last year saw the introduction of tourist taxes in some popular Spanish and Italian destinations.
These taxes will add a couple of pounds per night to the cost of your hotel stay.
Now, many popular attractions are starting to raise admission costs by introducing new two-tier pricing.
The latest is the Louvre, where the cost of an admission ticket is due to rise by almost 45% from 14 January for all non-EU visitors. The system mirrors a policy in Japan where many attractions charge foreigners more. Expect to see more destinations following their lead.
In Europe, there were flash floods, heatwaves, droughts and wildfires in 2025. Further afield, California also saw wildfires, Texas suffered flooding, and cyclones hit Thailand and Malaysia.
Due to climate change, these natural disasters are expected to increase. Check your holiday insurance before you travel, to ensure that you are covered for natural disasters.
Extreme heat can have an effect on your health too. In 2025, parts of Europe saw temperatures in excess of 40ºC (113ºF).
These temperatures can be dangerous for the very young and older people. Find out more by reading our guide on how to holiday during a heatwave.
If you have holiday insurance with Saga, this will cover you for a number of unpredictable situations, including natural disasters. There is more information on travel disruption and insurance.
After a dramatic geopolitical start to 2026, it’s important to know what to do if your destination has political or military upheavals, or, worse still, if you’re already there when it happens.
The Foreign Office website has a country-by-country A-Z offering advice and warnings on entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.
If you pay heed to travel alterations, then you can be ready for rule changes, prepare for the unexpected and smooth out any kinks in your journey.
2026 is looking to be a great year to travel, with many new destinations on the tourism map. These are some of the places that our travel experts recommend as the destinations to visit this year.
[Hero image credit: Getty Images]
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