Several countries have recently changed their entry requirements—some adding hurdles, others making a visit easier:

The U.K. now requires that U.S. travelers submit an Electronic Travel Authorization before entering the country. The process typically takes up to three business days and costs about $12. (You don’t need an ETA if you are stopping at a U.K. airport between connecting flights, unless you plan to leave the “airside” of the airport and pass through border control.)

Similarly, Israel now requires that U.S. travelers submit an ETA-IL, which costs about $7 and should be requested at least 72 hours before a trip.

China, on the other hand, is making it easier to see a bit of the country on a long layover: U.S. travelers can now spend up to 10 days in China without a visa when they are passing through on their way to a third country.

The E.U. plans to launch its own travel authorization program, ETIAS, sometime in the second half of 2025. If you’re headed to Europe later this year, subscribe to our newsletter or bookmark this page for updates on when ETIAS will go into effect.

Romania and Bulgaria are now part of the E.U.’s Schengen Area, which allows free movement across member states’ borders.

Wherever in the world you’re headed, always check the U.S. State Department’s website to get up-to-date entry requirements for your destination. And if you’d like help planning your next trip, just ask us: Click on the button below to get started.

GET A PERSONALIZED TRIP RECOMMENDATION

Be a smarter traveler: Sign up for Wendy’s weekly newsletter to stay in the know. Read real travelers’ reviews, then use the black CONTACT buttons on Wendy’s WOW List to reach out to the right local fixer for your trip.