Visas and entry
Who needs a visa, an online travel authorization or nothing at all, written from the official rules and dated.
Your passport and the country you enter decide whether you need a visa, an online travel authorization or nothing. Settle that first, because an authorization such as the US ESTA, Canada's eTA, the UK ETA or New Zealand's NZeTA has to be in place before you travel. Next comes the passport itself: some countries want six months of validity left, the Schengen area asks for three months after you leave, and others ask only for the length of your stay. Then count your days, since a visa-free stay has a limit and the Schengen 90 days in any 180 are shared across 29 countries. A layover can need its own permission, and several Asian countries ask for a free online arrival card. The guides here take each scheme and rule in turn, from fingerprints at Schengen borders to consent letters for children, each written from the government's own page and dated when it was last read.
Guides
RulesCA-4 agreement: how the shared 90 days work in Central America
Data storyRechecked: every entry rule that changed in 2026 so far
RulesNZeTA, explained: New Zealand's travel authority and the NZD 100 levy
RulesK-ETA, explained: who still needs Korea's travel authorization
RulesUK ETA, explained: the £20 permission most visitors now needRulesTraveling with children: consent letters and documents by country
RulesDigital arrival cards in Asia: Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and what they askRulesEES, explained: what changes at Schengen borders
RulesAirport transit visas: when a layover needs a visa (Schengen, UK, US, Canada)StoryEES at Schengen borders: how to get through your first registration faster
RulesMexico's tourist card (FMM): when it is free, when it costs, how to avoid the fake sitesHead to headETIAS vs ESTA vs eTA vs UK ETA: one table, fees and who needs whichRulesHow long can you stay? Visa-free limits compared across 25 destinationsRulesThe Schengen 90/180 rule, explained with worked examples
RulesESTA, explained: the $40.27 US travel authorizationRulesThe six-month passport rule: which countries actually enforce it
RulesAustralia ETA and eVisitor: which one you need and what it costs
RulesCanada eTA, explained: the CAN$7 permission for flying inRulesETIAS, explained: Europe's €20 travel authorization and when it startsQuestions people ask
Do I need a visa or an online travel authorization for my trip?
It depends on your passport and the country. Many visa-free visitors still need an online authorization before they travel: ESTA for the US, eTA for flights to Canada, ETA for the UK, NZeTA for New Zealand. Australia has no visa-free entry, so almost every visitor applies before flying. Read the rule for your passport on the destination government's site.
Is EES the same as ETIAS?
No. EES is the border system in 29 European countries that records a non-EU visitor's face and, for visa-free visitors, fingerprints in place of a passport stamp. Fully operational since 10 April 2026, it needs no application. ETIAS is a separate online authorization that is not in operation; the EU says it will announce the date several months ahead.
Should I apply for an ESTA, eTA or ETA through an agency site?
No. Apply on the government's own site or app. Each scheme has one official channel, and a copy that adds its own fee sells the same form. A UK ETA bought through another website does not arrive any faster. Any site taking money for ETIAS today is not official, because the EU is not yet collecting applications.
How many months must my passport be valid to travel?
There is no single six-month rule. Thailand, Indonesia and Egypt ask for six months from the day you arrive. The Schengen area asks for three months after the day you plan to leave, in a passport issued within the last ten years. The UK and Japan ask only that it covers your stay. Airlines check before boarding, so renew before you book.
Do I need a visa for a layover or to change planes?
It depends on your nationality and on whether you stay airside. Schengen countries and the UK ask listed nationalities for an airport transit visa. Clearing border control, which changing airports or collecting bags requires, needs whatever a normal visit needs. The US and Canada ask most air passengers for a visa, an ESTA or an eTA even to connect.