Asia Visa and Travel News
After several months of testing, Thailand’s Immigration Bureau has officially launched the THIM application. Already downloaded more than 600,000 times, the app provides access to the TDAC digital arrival card and is expected to gradually bring together several immigration services, including stay extensions, 90-day reporting and Visa on Arrival.
Japan is gradually preparing for the introduction of JESTA, its future electronic travel authorization system for certain visa-exempt travelers. Expected to launch during fiscal year 2028, the program is beginning to take shape: travelers should need a new authorization for each new entry, some visitors may no longer receive an entry stamp in their passport, and Japan’s tax-free shopping procedures will need to be adapted to this shift toward digital immigration records.
Syria is seeing a strong rebound in international arrivals, with 719,000 foreign visitors recorded in the first half of 2026. As Damascus looks to make the country easier to access and support the tourism recovery, the status of its e-Visa remains unclear: launched in 2024 before the change of government, the system is currently unavailable and its official portal simply says it is “coming soon”.
India has added a new service to its official e-Visa portal allowing travelers to transfer certain valid e-Visas to a new passport. Initial tests conducted by VisasNews show that the procedure is limited to one-year and five-year authorizations and is intended for cases where the previous passport has been lost, stolen, or was not returned to its holder.
Just days before the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and one month ahead of the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026, Azerbaijan is temporarily relaxing its visa procedures. Depending on the event and subject to certain conditions, eligible travelers can obtain a visa upon arrival at the country’s international airports.
China is simplifying a mandatory but little-known requirement for foreign travelers. Since September 21, 2026, visitors staying somewhere other than a hotel can register their accommodation online without having to visit a local police station.
Thailand has opened its automated immigration gates at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to arriving travelers from 33 nationalities, including those from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However, four conditions currently need to be met to use the eGates.
Nepal is preparing a system that would allow foreign visitors to use their phones for certain identity checks during their stay. Passport and visa information displayed in the immigration app could be accepted instead of the physical passport for some procedures, including hotel check-ins and domestic flights. The project is also designed to help authorities locate and assist travelers more quickly in an emergency, an issue brought into sharp focus by the devastating floods of August 26, 2026.
Lao authorities are temporarily granting a 180-day validity period for e-Visa approval letters, up from the usual 60 days. Approval notifications sent to travelers now explicitly mention the measure, which does not change the permitted length of stay in Laos, still limited to 30 days.
Hong Kong has launched “Go Hong Kong,” a new mobile app that allows certain frequent visitors, including US, UK, Canadian and Australian travelers, to register for the automated e-Channel service before they even arrive.
Since September 15, 2026, US, UK, Canadian and Australian travelers, along with nationals of 56 other countries and territories, are now limited to 30 days of visa-free entry for tourism in Thailand. Several official Thai sources now confirm that this period can be extended by up to another 30 days through immigration, potentially allowing travelers to stay for as long as 60 days without a visa.
Starting tomorrow, September 15, 2026, Thailand will end its 60-day visa exemption scheme. For US, UK, Australian and Canadian citizens, visa-free stays will be reduced to 30 days and limited to tourism. The reform also changes the list of visa-exempt nationalities, sharply reduces eligibility for Visa on Arrival, and will require nationals of 21 countries to obtain a visa before traveling.
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.
