Vizir / News
Visa news in 2026
Fees, rules and deadlines that change how you apply — checked against official sources.
Fifteen Schengen states no longer accept Russian passports without a chip
From 1 October 2026 Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Sweden do not recognise the five-year Russian passport without a chip. That makes fifteen Schengen states where such a passport does not work.
ReadThe EU starts rewriting the Schengen visa rules: what is on the table
On 8 September 2026 the European Commission opened a consultation on rewriting the Visa Code — the regulation behind every Schengen visa. Nothing changes for applicants today; the draft is due in the first quarter of 2027.
ReadUS visa bond is now permanent: $10,000 to $20,000 for citizens of 50 countries
From 3 August 2026 a US visitor visa costs citizens of 50 countries far more than the $185 fee: once the consul approves the visa, they must post a bond of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000.
ReadThe UK has stopped putting visas in passports: what an eVisa means for visitors
Since 1 July 2026 the UK no longer puts a visa sticker in any passport. An approved visa exists only as an electronic record linked to your passport number — and you have to check it yourself before you fly.
ReadUS visa interview in ten days for $750: who can actually buy the fast track
Since July 2026 the United States sells a faster route to the visa interview: $750 on top of the $185 application fee buys an appointment within ten business days. The catch is where — only a handful of consulates offer it.
ReadSchengen visa refusals in 2025: one in seven applications turned down
Consulates of the Schengen states received 12.2 million visa applications in 2025 and refused 14.6% of them. The gap between countries is more than tenfold: 4% in China, more than 50% in Bangladesh and Senegal.
ReadNo more passport stamps in Schengen: the Entry/Exit System is fully live
Since 10 April 2026 every external Schengen border records entries and exits digitally. The 90-day limit is now counted by a database, not by a border officer leafing through your passport.
ReadUK visitor visa rises to £135 from 8 April 2026: the new fee table
The Home Office published its new fee table on 18 March 2026. From 8 April 2026 a visitor visa for up to six months costs £135 instead of £127 — the second April rise in a row.
ReadNo ETA, no boarding: the UK now checks its travel authorisation before you fly
Since 25 February 2026 visitors who do not need a visa cannot board a flight to the UK without an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). An application that is still pending is not enough.
ReadUS stops issuing visitor visas to citizens of 38 countries: who is affected and who is not
Since 1 January 2026 US consulates issue no B1/B2 visitor visas to citizens of 38 countries. A visa issued before that date still works, and a second passport from a country outside the list lifts the restriction.
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