Europe 2026: New Entry Rules for Canadian Travellers

Say goodbye to those European passport stamps… times are changing! You’ve probably seen it in the headlines: most European countries are introducing new entry requirements that will affect various nationalities, including Canadian travellers.

Before you panic or assume Europe is suddenly complicated to visit, take a deep breath. It’s all about the modernization and digitization of borders.

Here’s a breakdown of 7 things you need to know before planning your Europe trip and booking your flights.

1) Dreaming of Europe in 2026? Go for it.

Any time we hear “new regulation,” it sounds complicated. Headlines love talking about restrictions and changes, and it can quickly feel like travelling is becoming a hassle.

But in reality, there’s no reason to put your trip on hold. Canadians are still very much welcome in Europe.

If your summer plans include relaxing at an outdoor café in France, a road trip through Italy, a getaway to Croatia, or time in Spain, you can book your tickets with confidence. The basic rules for short tourist stays haven’t changed.

The only thing to keep in mind? If you’re planning a trip toward the end of 2026, you’ll simply want to check whether the new ETIAS authorization is officially in effect at the time of your departure.

In other words: Keep planning, keep comparing hotels, and just keep an eye on official updates.

Europe isn’t closing its doors, it’s modernizing, much like Australia (with its mandatory ETA) and New Zealand (with its NZeTA) have already done so with electronic travel authorizations.

2) Travelling within the Schengen Area: Still Visa-Free for 90 Days

Good news: Canadians can still travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

This includes popular destinations like France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Greece, and many more.

To travel, you simply need:

• a passport valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date from the Schengen Area;
• to respect the 90-days-within-180-days rule.

These rules apply to most European countries visited for tourism, short stays, or business travel.

For reference, here’s the full list of Schengen countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

In other words, if you’re heading to Europe for less than three months, nothing changes for you.

3) Entry/Exit System (EES): Borders Go Digital

Relax, there’s nothing you need to do before you leave. No forms to complete in advance, no prepaid applications. Everything happens upon arrival.

Since October 2025, the European Union has been gradually rolling out the Entry/Exit System (EES), which replaces the old passport stamps at border control.

Going forward, your biometric data (fingerprints and/or facial photos) may be recorded electronically when you enter the Schengen Area. The system is expected to be fully operational by April 2026.

But don’t worry, this does not change your right to enter visa-free as a Canadian traveller. It’s simply a more modern and less paper-based way to track entries and exits.

Practically speaking, when you arrive in a Schengen country, you may be asked for:

• your fingerprints;
• a facial photo.

If you have an electronic passport (which most Canadian passports are), you may be able to use automated self-service kiosks at the airport.

Traveller tip: When you land in Europe, look carefully at the overhead signs above the lines at customs. Some display flags, sometimes including Canada’s, indicating that you’re eligible to use the self-service kiosks for passport control. These lines are often faster than waiting to see a border officer directly.

Your digital data will be stored for three years.

For you, it’s still the same arrival experience, just with a little less ink in your passport.

4) Travelling Late in 2026? Keep an Eye on ETIAS

The rollout of ETIAS for Canadians is likely the change getting the most attention. Starting toward the end of 2026 (exact timing still to be officially confirmed), the European Union will require travellers from visa-exempt countries, including Canada, to obtain an authorization called ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System).

Important: this is not a visa. Your status doesn’t change, and this is not a complex immigration application. It’s simply an electronic travel authorization to obtain before departure, an additional digital formality, not a visa process.

In practical terms, you’ll complete a short online form, pay a modest fee, and receive an approval electronically linked to your passport.

Here’s what you need to know:

• the application will be completed online;
• the expected cost is around €20 (about $32 CAD);
• the authorization will be valid for several years (until your passport expires).

Once approved, ETIAS will be electronically linked to your passport. You won’t need to print anything or show a separate document.

If your Europe trip is scheduled for early or mid-2026, ETIAS may not even be in effect yet.

If you’re travelling later in 2026, simply verify whether the system is officially active at the time you book or a few weeks before departure.

Traveller tip: Beware of fraudulent websites. If ETIAS is not yet officially active, no one can charge you for it. Be cautious of sites that imitate government platforms and try to charge “pre-registration fees.”

5) Electronic Authorization for the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

If the United Kingdom is on your bucket list for 2026, there’s one important step to plan before departure.

As of February 2026, all Canadians travelling to the UK, even for a short visit, must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). While this requirement has applied to some nationalities since early 2025, it will fully apply to Canadian travellers as of that date.

Important: Children and infants also require their own ETA. Every traveller, regardless of age, must have an authorization linked to their passport.

Here’s what that involves:

• applying online before departure;
• paying approximately £16 (about $30 CAD);
• receiving approval before boarding your flight or train.

The good news? The process is simple and quick. It’s recommended to allow up to three business days (Monday to Friday) to receive a response by email, though approvals can sometimes come faster.

Once approved:

• the authorization is electronically linked to your passport;
• you won’t need to show anything upon arrival;
• it will be valid for two years.

Traveller tip: Don’t leave this to the last minute, especially if travelling with family or during peak season. Apply a few days ahead so you can travel stress-free.

If you’re only transiting through the UK without passing through immigration, an ETA is generally not required.

As always, watch out for “visa facilitation” scams. Only apply through the official UK government website.

6) When in Doubt, Check Travel.gc.ca

With all these new rules for Canadian travellers in Europe, one thing hasn’t changed: always verify your information at the source.

If something feels unclear, contradictory, or too good to be true, never provide your passport or credit card details unless you’re 100% certain you’re on an official website.

For Canadian travellers, the trusted reference remains Travel.gc.ca.

Go to the “Planning your trip” section, under “Travel Advice and Advisories,” select your destination, and review “Entry and exit requirements.”

It’s your best tool to confirm official requirements, updates, safety advice, and links to legitimate government platforms.

Traveller tip: Register for the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. It’s free and allows the Government of Canada to contact you in case of an emergency at your destination (natural disasters, civil unrest, etc.). It only takes a few minutes.

7) Get Travel Insurance for Europe

Electronic authorizations won’t replace travel insurance.

Even though Europe remains easy to access for Canadians, medical expenses abroad are not necessarily covered by your provincial health plan. A doctor’s visit, hospital stay, or unexpected incident can become very expensive, very quickly.

Before you leave, get a quick travel insurance quote with soNomad. Your coverage should match your itinerary, the length of your stay, and the activities you plan to do.

Europe Is Waiting for You in 2026!

Borders may be modernizing across the continent, but the essentials haven’t changed: travelling to Europe remains straightforward for Canadians.

Stay informed, complete the small required steps, and then focus on what truly matters, discovering, tasting, wandering, and exploring. After all, Europe hasn’t lost its magic!