13.03.2026
A breakdown of the visa and immigration changes already in force in 2026: the UK ETA, the EU’s EES and ETIAS, the end of Spain’s Golden Visa, and Germany’s Opportunity Card.
In 2026, visa rules are changing — but not all at once, and not in the same way across countries. The UK has already introduced ETA, the EU has launched EES while ETIAS is still not live, Spain has closed the Golden Visa route for new applicants, Portugal is reshaping its job-seeker pathway, and Germany continues to expand the role of the Opportunity Card. As a result, it is easy to come across outdated information online, where rules already in force and rules still on the horizon are mixed together.
For applicants, the key is to keep three things separate: what is already in effect, what is still being prepared, and which route actually fits the purpose of your trip or relocation. A short tourist stay follows one logic. Moving abroad, job hunting, remote work, or living in another country without the right to work follow very different rules — and in 2026, mixing them up can be costly.
For trips to the UK of up to six months for tourism, family visits, and certain other short-term purposes, travelers now use the ETA — the Electronic Travel Authorisation. ETA UK only applies to nationals of countries that are visa-exempt for the UK. According to official GOV.UK guidance, it costs £16, does not guarantee entry on its own, and is valid for short visits; the UK government also states that it is valid for up to two years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
But ETA is not a “simplified visa” for every purpose. If you are planning to work, study, live in the UK long-term, or relocate, you need to look at a proper UK visa rather than ETA. That is why one of the most practical questions in 2026 is this: is travel authorisation enough for your plans, or do you need a specific visa route that matches your purpose?
The UK is also rapidly moving its visa system into a digital format. Since 25 February 2026, most approved applicants for a visitor visa — along with applicants in most other visa categories — receive an eVisa, although in some cases UKVI may still issue a visa vignette in the passport.
One of the biggest sources of confusion in 2026 is that people often treat EES and ETIAS as if they were the same thing. They are not.
EES is the Entry/Exit System already in operation for short stays by non-EU nationals. It went live on 12 October 2025, is being rolled out across 29 European countries, and is gradually replacing manual passport stamps. According to the European Commission, EES is expected to be fully operational at all external border crossing points from 10 April 2026.
ETIAS, by contrast, has not launched yet. The official EU position is that the system is not currently in operation and applications for travel authorisation are not yet being accepted. It is still expected to launch in 2026 and will apply to nationals who do not need a visa to travel to Europe. The ETIAS fee will be €20.
In other words, the EU is moving toward a more automated system of border control — but not all parts of that system are live yet.
What is automated EU Border Control?
Spain has already made one of the most significant changes in this area: as of 3 April 2025, the Golden Visa was officially abolished. That means it can no longer be treated as a new route to Spanish residence in 2026.
That said, demand for moving to Spain has not gone away. Instead, attention is shifting to other legal grounds for residence. Spain still offers several established options through its consular system, including the Digital Nomad Visa, the Non-Lucrative Visa, the Self-Employed Visa, and the Entrepreneur Visa. These are no longer investment-based routes, but different pathways designed for different life situations.
If someone works remotely for a foreign company or carries out professional activity outside Spain, the Spain Digital Nomad Visa is often the most relevant option. If the goal is to live in Spain without local employment or professional activity, the Non-Lucrative Visa may be a better fit. If there is an innovative business project that could bring economic value to Spain, the country also provides an Entrepreneur Visa. And for those planning to run their own activity in Spain, there is the Self-Employed Visa.
In 2026, this approach — not one universal residence route, but choosing the right legal basis for the applicant’s real profile — has become central to Spain.
When it comes to practical routes that are already working, Germany looks much clearer in 2026. According to official information from Make it in Germany, the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) is issued for up to one year, and during that period it allows holders to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week while looking for a job. In addition, card holders can take part in trial work placements of up to two weeks with one employer.
There is, however, one important point that often gets lost in brief summaries. The Opportunity Card is not permission to arrive in Germany and immediately start unrestricted full-time work. It is designed specifically as a route for finding a suitable position, not as an automatic bridge into standard employment. Once a person receives a qualified job offer, the next step is usually to switch into another work-based residence permit or visa for Germany.
That is exactly why the Opportunity Card works best for people who are genuinely prepared to search for work from inside the country, rather than expecting the card itself to function as a full long-term work status.
At Terrana.org, we work with experienced specialists who can help assess whether the Opportunity Card, the EU Blue Card, or another relocation route to Germany is the right fit for your case.
The main takeaway at the start of 2026 is simple: there are fewer and fewer “one-size-fits-all” immigration routes. In the UK, ETA already matters for short trips. In the EU, EES is already live, while ETIAS 2026 is still on the way. Spain has shut down the Golden Visa route and pushed applicants to look at other legal grounds. Germany, by contrast, still offers a relatively clear and already functioning pathway through the Opportunity Card.
That is why the smartest approach today is not to look for the “best visa” in the abstract, but to choose the route that matches your real goal: a short trip, remote work, living abroad without employment, job hunting, starting a business, or a full relocation. The more closely your legal basis matches your actual purpose, the lower the risk of refusal, wasted time, and following an outdated route.
