The start of the upcoming year brings a range of new laws that UK residents should be mindful of in the near future.
Travelers should take note of fresh border controls and a new £17 charge for European travel anticipated to start in late 2026. Households may face the addition of another bin due to revised recycling rules necessitating waste separation into four distinct categories.
Efforts to combat unhealthy eating habits persist with the introduction of a ban on junk food advertising and potential restrictions on children purchasing high-caffeine beverages. Furthermore, a set of new workplace regulations will bolster employee rights, coinciding with an increase in the minimum wage this spring.
Renters are in for significant changes with the proposed ban on no-fault evictions, termination of fixed contracts, and bidding competitions. Concurrently, the crackdown on benefit fraud continues with the rollout of new powers for automatic debt collection.
Anticipating these changes and their potential impact, we have highlighted some of the major modifications Brits can expect in the upcoming months.
New regulations for UK citizens traveling to Europe were launched in 2025, with further adjustments projected for the following year.
The introduction of the Entry Exit System (EES) necessitates non-EU citizens, including Brits, to register at the EU border by scanning their passports, providing fingerprints, and a photograph. The EES applies to entry into Schengen area nations but is not required for trips to Ireland and Cyprus.
The phased rollout of this system began in October, with various ports implementing the new rules until April 2026. Travelers are not required to take any action prior to their trip, and there are no associated costs.
However, a new fee for EU country visitors is on the horizon, expected towards the end of next year. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is scheduled for launch in the final quarter of 2026.
This fee will be approximately £17 (20 euros) for adults under 70 years old, and registration will be valid for up to three years upon payment.
Unlike the EES, the ETIAS will mandate travelers to apply online before their journey.
Additionally, new regulations are in the pipeline for non-British individuals arriving in the UK.
Starting February 25, visitors from 85 nationalities, including the United States, Canada, and France, who do not require a visa will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to legally travel to the UK.
The ETA scheme, gradually implemented in recent years, will be fully enforced from February, requiring anyone visiting the UK to have digital permission through an ETA or an eVisa, checked by carriers before travel.
The government aims to digitize the immigration system and envisions a contactless UK border in the future.
With the introduction of the ETA in October 2023, over 13.3 million visitors have successfully applied, making it a key component of travel, including for those with connecting flights and undergoing UK passport control.
Visitors can obtain an ETA via the official UK ETA app at a cost of £16. While most applications receive an automatic decision within minutes, it is advisable to allow up to three working days for cases needing further review.
British and Irish citizens, including those with dual citizenship, are exempt from the ETA requirement.
The government is rolling out new rules across England to boost household recycling rates. These changes aim to streamline waste management, making it easier for residents to segregate their waste and understand recycling guidelines.
Commencing March 31, the ‘Simpler Recycling’ regulations will mandate local authorities to collect four distinct waste streams separately, necessitating each household to have four separate bins. Some areas may already comply with these new standards.
Waste collection services will collect food and garden waste, paper and cardboard, dry recyclable materials like glass and plastic, and non-recyclable waste destined for landfill from every household, including flats.
Steve Cole, managing director of Biffa Municipal, remarked that the Simpler Recycling initiative will standardize recycling practices, ensuring uniformity in materials accepted for recycling across various regions.
Beginning March 2027, waste collectors will also include plastic film packaging and plastic bags in their collections alongside plastic recycling.
A ban on junk food advertising is set to go into effect in January, with reduced advertisements for unhealthy food targeting youngsters on television and online since October. The ban will restrict the promotion of high fat, sugar, or salt products on TV during specific hours and online at all times, excluding outdoor advertising.
This restriction encompasses products in 13 categories considered significant contributors to childhood obesity, such as soft drinks, chocolates, pizzas, and breakfast cereals. Products are evaluated using a scoring system based on nutrient content and saturated fat, salt, or sugar levels to determine eligibility for the ban.
Companies are still permitted to advertise healthier alternatives to banned products, encouraging the food industry to develop healthier options.
The government plans to prohibit the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to