Blog
Visa and travel-document news, as it actually happens -- not evergreen guides.
August 18, 2026
ESTA Now Wants a Selfie — and Still Publishes No Photo Size
For most of its life the US ESTA collected no image at all, and half the internet still says so. CBP now lists a traveler's selfie photo among what you need to apply. It publishes no dimensions for it, and neither do the UK or South Africa for their own travel authorisations. That absence is the point.
August 13, 2026
Printed Passport Photos Are Being Phased Out — But "Digital" Means Two Opposite Things
Germany rejects the photo you bring to the counter. New Zealand publishes a guide for taking it on your iPhone. Both countries eliminated the printed passport photo, and reached opposite conclusions about who holds the camera. We checked the official rules for 51 countries plus the Schengen bloc — here's the split that decides whether you can still make your own.
August 4, 2026
ETIAS Delayed Again: EU Drops Its Q4 2026 Target, 2027 Now Likely
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System just lost its official launch window. Here's what actually changed in mid-July 2026, and what it means if you're planning European travel.