Asia Visa and Travel News
India is gradually automating biometric registration for travelers arriving with an electronic visa. Four new kiosks have just gone into service at Kolkata Airport, while similar equipment is already operating in Delhi, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram. The kiosks allow travelers to scan their passport and register their photo and fingerprints before proceeding to an immigration counter.
Indonesia has introduced emergency measures for foreign nationals unable to leave the country because of air travel disruptions caused by the eruption of Anak Krakatau. Eligible travelers may be granted an emergency stay permit for up to 30 days, while overstay fees resulting from the force majeure situation have been set at zero.
Dubai’s General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) has launched “Click and Travel,” a new system that allows immigration officers to process entry and departure formalities directly with passengers using connected mobile devices and biometric verification. Checks can be completed in about 12 to 15 seconds.
Nepal now allows travelers to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before departure, pay the required fees online, including by international bank card, and obtain their authorization electronically. After a relatively low-key rollout, VisasNews tested the entire process to see how it works in practice.
Saudi Arabia is piloting a new option allowing travelers from seven countries to obtain a tourist e-Visa as part of their trip booking. Known as the “Package Visa,” the program links the electronic visa to a travel package that includes flights and accommodation booked through participating providers.
Since September 1, 2026, Malaysia has tightened access to its Multiple Entry Visa (MEV). The visa is no longer available to all nationalities and is now limited to 31 eligible nationalities and just four specific travel purposes.
India is clarifying the rules for its new “e-Group Visit Visa,” designed for groups of foreign tourists arriving in the country aboard cruise ships. Valid for 30 days and allowing multiple entries, applications will be submitted collectively by cruise operators or their agents. The service, however, is not yet available through India’s official e-Visa portal.
Thailand’s upcoming visa exemption reform will have major consequences for travelers from 21 countries. Starting September 15, 2026, they will no longer be able to enter the kingdom visa-free. For tourism purposes, travelers will notably be able to apply online through Thai e-Visa system.
Kazakhstan has begun rolling out its QazETA electronic travel authorization, but it has not yet made the requirement immediately mandatory at the border. Several sources now point to a transition period lasting until November 1, 2026, followed by a phased rollout depending on the mode of entry.
![[Infographic] Thailand: New visa exemption rules from September 15, 2026](https://visasnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/free-visa-thailand-evisa-exemption-30-days-60-arrival-voa-tourism-travel-768x512.jpg)
Just days before Thailand’s revised visa exemption rules take effect, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published an official infographic outlining the new entry arrangements for ordinary passport holders starting September 15, 2026.
Thailand has officially published the regulations ending its 60-day visa exemption scheme. Starting September 15, 2026, nationals of 60 countries and territories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, will be allowed to stay visa-free for up to 30 days. Citizens of two countries will receive a 15-day visa exemption, while three nationalities will remain eligible for a Visa on Arrival.
The measures ending Thailand’s current 60-day visa exemption have now been signed. An Interior Ministry letter dated August 27 confirms that the texts have been forwarded for publication in the Royal Gazette. Under the new framework, nationals of 60 countries and territories, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, will be eligible for 30 days of visa-free entry.
A new regulation governing the deportation of foreign nationals takes effect in Thailand on August 28, 2026. The measure notably targets individuals who violate Thai law or whose behavior is deemed to threaten public order.
China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore will allow APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders to stay for up to 90 days.
Starting September 1, 2026, international travelers departing India will be able to present an electronic boarding pass at immigration. Paper boarding passes will remain accepted, but immigration officers will no longer stamp them.
