Asia Visa and Travel News
As 2026 approaches, uncertainty looms for travelers planning a trip to Mongolia. The visa-exemption policy granted to 34 nationalities since 2023 is officially set to end on December 31, 2025, leaving future visitors unsure about what entry requirements they may face.
India is fine-tuning its strategy to attract more foreign visitors. On the sidelines of a tourism summit, India’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, announced that the government is working on a reciprocity-based visa-on-arrival system, while also pledging to further streamline the electronic visa (e-Visa) process, which is now widely used by international travelers.
Vietnam is expanding access to its territory by adding 41 new entry points compatible with the electronic visa (e-Visa), giving visitors more options for arriving in the country.
China officially launches today its new digital arrival card for foreign travelers. This procedure, previously completed through a paper form handed out on planes or upon arrival, can now be filled out online before entering Chinese territory. Learn how this digital arrival card works and how to complete it.
Starting November 20, 2025, China will introduce an online arrival card allowing foreign travelers to fill out their entry information before arriving in the country.
China has announced a one-year extension of its unilateral 30-day visa-free entry policy for citizens of several countries, including France. The measure, originally set to expire at the end of 2025, will now remain in effect until December 31, 2026.
The Sri Lankan Department of Immigration and Emigration announces the revocation of the measure that required all travelers to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before departure.
Promised to tourists from 33 additional countries, the waiver of Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) fees has not yet taken effect in Sri Lanka. According to local media, the measure has been delayed by legal hurdles and could be implemented “within one or two months”.
Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Department of Consular Affairs have confirmed the launch of consultations on the 60-day visa exemption policy, which has been in effect since July 2024. No decision has been made yet, but a return to a shorter stay period for certain travelers is now officially under consideration.
As the tourist season approaches, the Sri Lankan government is stepping up its efforts to strengthen infrastructure and simplify entry procedures. Among the top priorities are the streamlining of the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system and the improvement of passenger services at airports to ensure a smoother arrival experience.
As of October 15, 2025, travelers visiting Sri Lanka for short stays must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before departure.
The fire that broke out in late September at South Korea’s main government data center caused an unprecedented outage of hundreds of online public services. Among them was the e-Arrival Card, the electronic entry form for foreign travelers, which authorities have just announced is back online.
As part of its shift toward more modern immigration procedures, India is officially launching its digital arrival card for foreign travelers on October 1, 2025. Available online or through a mobile app, this new entry requirement will coexist with the traditional paper version during a six-month transitional period.
Starting October 15, 2025, foreign travelers will no longer be able to obtain their Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) upon arrival in Sri Lanka. The document, which is already required for most tourist stays, must be requested online before departure.
On September 29, 2025, the Philippines expanded its electronic visa (e-Visa) system to nationals of four additional countries: France, Austria, Greece, and the Netherlands. Although citizens of these countries are already eligible for 30-day visa-free stays, they can now apply online for a Temporary Visitor Visa allowing them to stay for up to 59 days.
