https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/ Reviewed events from volatile visa and travel-authorisation policy timelines. en Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/etias-ees/ policy:etias-ees:2026-Q4:ETIAS expected to start 2026-Q4. The official EU ETIAS site says ETIAS will start operations in the last quarter of 2026; travellers should not buy ETIAS from third-party sites before launch. Official reference: EU ETIAS official site (https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/thailand-visa-exemption/ policy:thailand-visa-exemption:2026-07-16:Current-vs-future rule separated on TravelVisaRules Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-07-16. Corridor pages retain the currently published 60-day answer and identify the approved 30-day scheme as future, preventing an announcement from being mistaken for a live entry rule. Official reference: Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-exemption guidance (https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/visa-exemption-and-visa-on-arrival). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/us-entry-suspensions/ policy:us-entry-suspensions:2026-07-16:Affected TravelVisaRules tourist verdicts corrected Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-07-16. Iran and Nigeria corridor pages now lead with admission suspended and keep official exceptions separate from the ordinary tourist answer. Official reference: U.S. Department of State suspension guidance (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/suspension-of-visa-issuance-to-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states.html). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/thailand-visa-exemption/ policy:thailand-visa-exemption:2026-07-15:Cabinet approved a further revision Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-07-15. The official notice describes a 30-day visa-free cohort of 59 countries and territories and says the related drafts take effect 15 days after Royal Gazette publication. Official reference: Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-exemption guidance (https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/visa-exemption-and-visa-on-arrival). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/canada-conditional-eta/ policy:canada-conditional-eta:2026-06-23:Fail-safe classification rule Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-06-23. TravelVisaRules keeps mixed-mode Canada corridors visa-required by default when the traveller must meet a narrow eTA condition. Official reference: Canada eTA for some visa-required travellers (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/eligibility/eta-x.html). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/uk-eta/ policy:uk-eta:2026-06-23:Key site distinction Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-06-23. Ukraine remains treated as a visa-national corridor for ordinary UK visits on this site: Ukrainian citizens need a Standard Visitor visa, not a UK ETA. Official reference: GOV.UK ETA overview (https://www.gov.uk/eta). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/ukraine-special-schemes/ policy:ukraine-special-schemes:2026-06-23:Site treatment Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-06-23. Ukraine special routes are kept distinct from ordinary tourist flows so a 'visa-free' label does not hide emergency or residence-status conditions. Official reference: Council of the EU temporary protection extension (https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/06/13/eu-member-states-agree-to-extend-temporary-protection-for-refugees-from-ukraine/). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/canada-conditional-eta/ policy:canada-conditional-eta:2026-05-26:Indonesia and Malaysia added to the watch cohort Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-05-26. Canada's entry-requirements page states that some citizens of Indonesia and Malaysia may be eligible for an eTA instead of a visitor visa if they meet the conditions. Official reference: Canada eTA for some visa-required travellers (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/eligibility/eta-x.html). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/thailand-visa-exemption/ policy:thailand-visa-exemption:2026-05-19:Cabinet approved a replacement visa-exemption structure Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-05-19. Thailand's official PRD said the Cabinet approved withdrawing the 60-day scheme and replacing it with narrower 30-day and 15-day cohorts, subject to Ministry of Interior announcements in the Royal Gazette. Official reference: Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa-exemption guidance (https://www.mfa.go.th/en/page/visa-exemption-and-visa-on-arrival). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/etias-ees/ policy:etias-ees:2026-04-10:EES became fully operational Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-04-10. EES replaced manual passport stamping with digital entry/exit records for non-EU short-stay travellers across participating Schengen countries. Official reference: EU ETIAS official site (https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/uk-eta/ policy:uk-eta:2026-04-08:ETA fee reached GBP 20 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-04-08. GOV.UK lists the ETA application fee as GBP 20 and warns that third-party websites may charge more. Official reference: GOV.UK ETA overview (https://www.gov.uk/eta). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/us-entry-suspensions/ policy:us-entry-suspensions:2026-02-02:Department of State guidance updated Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-02-02. The Department of State published the affected cohorts, exceptions and warning that subject applicants may still apply but may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission. Official reference: U.S. Department of State suspension guidance (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/suspension-of-visa-issuance-to-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states.html). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/us-entry-suspensions/ policy:us-entry-suspensions:2026-01-01:New suspensions took effect Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT 2026-01-01. Full suspension took effect for Iran and other listed nationalities. Partial suspension took effect for Nigerian B-1/B-2, F, M and J visa issuance and entry, among other listed categories. Official reference: U.S. Department of State suspension guidance (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/suspension-of-visa-issuance-to-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states.html). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/us-entry-suspensions/ policy:us-entry-suspensions:2025-12-16:Presidential Proclamation 10998 issued Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT 2025-12-16. The proclamation defined full and partial country cohorts, limited exceptions and treatment for people with visas valid at the effective time. Official reference: U.S. Department of State suspension guidance (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/suspension-of-visa-issuance-to-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states.html). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/etias-ees/ policy:etias-ees:2025-10-12:EES progressive rollout started Sun, 12 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT 2025-10-12. The European Commission set 12 October 2025 as the start of progressive Entry/Exit System operations. Official reference: EU ETIAS official site (https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/ukraine-special-schemes/ policy:ukraine-special-schemes:2025-06-13:EU temporary protection extended Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT 2025-06-13. The Council of the EU agreed to extend temporary protection for displaced people from Ukraine until 4 March 2027. Official reference: Council of the EU temporary protection extension (https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/06/13/eu-member-states-agree-to-extend-temporary-protection-for-refugees-from-ukraine/). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/uk-eta/ policy:uk-eta:2025-04-02:ETA became a broad visitor requirement Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT 2025-04-02. The UK ETA scheme expanded to more visa-exempt nationalities. It does not replace a visa for visa-national passports. Official reference: GOV.UK ETA overview (https://www.gov.uk/eta). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/canada-conditional-eta/ policy:canada-conditional-eta:2023-06-06:Conditional eTA cohort expanded Tue, 06 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT 2023-06-06. Canada introduced an eTA path for eligible citizens from selected visa-required countries travelling by air, usually tied to prior Canadian visa history or a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. Official reference: Canada eTA for some visa-required travellers (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/eligibility/eta-x.html). https://travelvisarules.com/policy-timelines/ukraine-special-schemes/ policy:ukraine-special-schemes:2022-02-25:Ireland lifted visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens Fri, 25 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT 2022-02-25. Ireland's Ukraine FAQ describes the waiver as an emergency measure and says Ukrainians initially receive standard 90-day permission. Official reference: Council of the EU temporary protection extension (https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/06/13/eu-member-states-agree-to-extend-temporary-protection-for-refugees-from-ukraine/).