Asia Visa and Travel News
Thailand is testing a new official immigration mobile app called THIM. The app is designed to allow international travelers to prepare their arrival formalities on their smartphones, in line with the already mandatory TDAC digital arrival card.
Japan’s Parliament has passed a reform creating the legal basis for the future JESTA system. The electronic authorization will eventually apply to visa-exempt travelers visiting Japan for short stays.
As of May 27, 2026, Thailand is applying Ebola-related measures to travelers arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, or those who have transited through either country.
Vietnam will strengthen its health screening procedures at border checkpoints starting July 1, 2026. Travelers entering, leaving or transiting through the country may be required to complete a health declaration, either electronically or on paper.
Sri Lanka has set May 25, 2026, as the start date for its new free tourist visa scheme for citizens of 40 countries. Eligible travelers will still be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival.
As Cambodia prepares to temporarily waive visa requirements for Chinese travelers, tourism officials are already raising the possibility of extending the measure to other markets, including Europe.
Thailand is preparing to overhaul its visa exemption and visa-on-arrival programs. Following the announced end of the 60-day visa-free scheme for 93 countries and territories, the future policy would introduce several permitted lengths of stay, distinguishing between general exemptions, bilateral agreements and visas on arrival.
Thailand’s Cabinet has approved the end of the 60-day visa exemption introduced in 2024 for travelers from 93 countries and territories. The measure still needs to be formally implemented by the relevant authorities, but it is expected to bring back the previous entry rules, generally around 30 days of visa-free stay for many nationalities.
After easing entry requirements to support tourism’s recovery, several Southeast Asian destinations are now reviewing some visa-free policies. Thailand and Indonesia illustrate this new phase, shaped by efforts to preserve tourism appeal while limiting the misuse of easier entry rules.
Indonesia is reviewing its visa exemption policy after several cases involving hundreds of foreign nationals suspected of links to online fraud and illegal gambling networks.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has confirmed that the digital arrival card system known as “Pre-arrival Information,” which has been tested since April 15, 2026, at Ho Chi Minh City’s international airport, will gradually be rolled out to other entry points across the country.
Sri Lanka will grant free 30-day visas to nationals of 40 countries, but travelers will still need to apply for an ETA before departure.
Qatar Tourism’s Hayya platform has received a 2026 Silver Stevie® Award for its role in the digital transformation of travel, tourism and event management in Qatar.
A project document from the Philippine Bureau of Immigration outlines a future integrated border control system that could include the option to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization through a mobile app.
Bhutan could soon update its entry procedures, after authorities recently proposed developing a digital arrival card and an electronic travel authorization.
