The onset of the new year brings a range of fresh legislations that British citizens should keep an eye on in the upcoming months.
Travelers should take note of new border controls and a new £17 fee for European travel starting from late 2026. Additionally, households may see an extra bin due to revised recycling regulations requiring waste separation into four distinct categories.
Efforts to combat unhealthy eating habits persist with a junk food advertising ban and plans to restrict children from buying high-caffeine drinks. Enhanced workplace rules to bolster employee rights, along with a minimum wage increase in spring, are also in the pipeline.
Renters can anticipate significant changes with the introduction of a ban on no-fault evictions and the phasing out of fixed contracts and bidding wars. Simultaneously, the crackdown on benefit fraud continues with the rollout of new powers for automatic debt collection.
Notably, Brits traveling to Europe should be aware of new regulations initiated in 2025, with further adjustments expected next year.
The new Entry Exit System (EES) mandates non-EU citizens, including Brits, to register at the EU border by scanning their passport and providing fingerprints and a photograph. The EES will be operational in Schengen area countries but not required for travel to Ireland and Cyprus.
Moreover, a new fee for visitors to EU countries is slated to be introduced by the end of next year. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is set to launch in the final quarter of 2026, with a fee of 20 euros (approximately £17) for adults under 70, valid for up to three years.
Unlike the EES, the ETIAS will necessitate travelers to apply online before their trip.
In addition, new regulations will affect non-British individuals arriving in the UK. Starting from February 25, visitors from 85 countries, including the United States, Canada, and France, will require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to legally travel to the UK without a visa.
The ETA scheme, gradually implemented in recent years, will be fully enforced from February, necessitating digital permission for UK visits through an ETA or eVisa, which carriers will verify before travel.
Furthermore, the government is set to introduce new rules to enhance recycling rates among households in England. The ‘Simpler Recycling’ regulations starting March 31 will mandate all local authorities to collect four distinct waste streams separately, necessitating households to have four separate bins.
These changes aim to improve recycling practices and make it easier for individuals to segregate waste correctly.
For more details on the upcoming laws and their potential impact, this information has been summarized based on reports from the Manchester Evening News.