War in the Middle East: Bahrain eases visa rules for travelers affected by flight cancellations
Amid air travel disruptions caused by the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Bahrain has announced ‘exceptional measures’ concerning visit visas.
South Korea: paper arrival card still accepted despite rollout of the e-Arrival Card
As South Korea continues rolling out its electronic arrival card system (e-Arrival Card), designed to modernize entry procedures into the country, some questions remained regarding the continued use of paper forms. Contacted by VisasNews, South Korean authorities indicated that both formats are currently still being used in parallel.
Japan: Tokyo approves bill to introduce JESTA electronic travel authorization
The Japanese government has approved a bill aimed at reforming several provisions of the country’s immigration legislation, including the creation of the “JESTA” electronic travel authorization system. Presented to the House of Representatives, the text also provides for a significant increase in the legal ceiling for fees related to residence permits, marking the first revision in more than forty years.
United Arab Emirates waive overstay fines for travelers stranded by the Middle East crisis
Because of the air travel disruptions caused by the current crisis in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates has announced exceptional measures for travelers who were unable to leave the country as scheduled. Authorities have decided to waive overstay penalties for those affected by these circumstances, while also providing administrative assistance for situations impacted by flight cancellations or rescheduling.
Kuwait: visit visas extended by one month amid Middle East crisis
Facing air travel disruptions caused by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, Kuwait has announced several exceptional measures for travelers and residents. Authorities have decided to automatically extend visit visas by one month and grant additional time to residents currently stranded abroad.
Thailand: overstay fines waived and assistance considered for tourists stranded by the Middle East crisis
In response to air travel disruptions caused by escalating tensions in the Middle East, Thailand is introducing exceptional measures for foreign travelers unable to leave the country. Thai immigration authorities have notably announced the waiver of overstay fines in certain cases, while tourism officials are considering financial assistance for visitors stranded in the country.
Qatar extends visa validity by one month for travelers stranded by regional crisis
In response to the sudden closure of its airspace and the escalating tensions in the Middle East, Qatar has announced the automatic and free extension of all entry visas that are set to expire.
Sri Lanka: ETA system back up and running
After several weeks of technical disruptions on the official Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) portal, approval notifications are once again being sent to applicants. A return to normal operations has been observed on the ground, even though Sri Lankan authorities have not, at this stage, issued any official statement confirming that the system has been fully restored.
Japan: with JESTA authorization, Tokyo aims to “prevent the entry of undesirable foreign nationals”
In her general policy speech delivered on February 20, 2026, at the opening of the 221st session of the National Diet, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed that her government will soon introduce a bill to establish the electronic travel authorization system “JESTA”.
Sri Lanka: ETA application still required before travel despite current technical issues
While the ETA platform remains affected by a technical issue, Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration has issued further clarification. Although most tourist and business travelers may still travel to the country despite not receiving formal approval, no exemption from the required pre-departure application process has been granted.
Thailand: proposal to reduce visa exemption to 30 days under consideration, but no decision yet
While numerous reports in recent weeks have suggested an imminent reduction in the length of visa-free stays in Thailand, authorities have confirmed that the policy is indeed under review, but no final decision has yet been made.
Sri Lanka: temporary disruption in the issuance of ETA
Sri Lankan authorities are currently dealing with a technical issue affecting the transmission of Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETA). Despite these delays, travelers who have already submitted their applications are permitted to travel to the country and will be assisted upon arrival in Sri Lanka.
China: Canada and the United Kingdom added to the list of visa-free countries
Starting February 17, 2026, holders of ordinary passports from Canada and the United Kingdom will be able to stay in China for up to 30 days without a visa. This decision, now officially confirmed by the Chinese government, will remain in effect through December 31, 2026.
Armenia introduces a temporary visa exemption for residents of 113 countries
From January 1 to July 1, 2026, Armenia is implementing a temporary visa exemption for certain foreign nationals holding a residence permit issued by several major economic and regional jurisdictions.
Thailand: government consolidates its visa policy and considers adjustments
At its meeting on February 10, 2026, the Cabinet approved a progress report on Thailand’s visa reform initiative launched in 2024 to support tourism and stimulate the national economy. While most of the measures are already in effect, authorities confirmed their consolidation and signaled several potential adjustments, including a possible revision of the 60-day visa exemption in response to documented cases of abuse.
