Ghana has expanded where its electronic visa can be used. While the e-Visa application previously listed only seven airports, travelers can now select from 48 ports of entry, including numerous land border crossings and several maritime entry points.
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.
The US State Department has launched a new portal allowing members of the public to directly report suspected fraud or misuse involving US visas. Tips can be submitted anonymously and may be used to open or support an investigation.
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”.
Egypt’s entry visa fee will increase by $3 starting January 1, 2027. A new circular from the Egyptian Travel Agents Association confirms a $33 fee for a single-entry visa. In Cairo, the digital visa on arrival is expected to cost $39 including service fees.
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.
Singapore Airlines has been named the world’s best airline for 2026 at the Skytrax World Airline Awards. The Singapore-based carrier ranks ahead of Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific in a survey based on feedback from more than 24.8 million travelers. Air France places seventh.
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.
Tanzania has taken another step toward introducing mandatory travel insurance for foreign visitors. Regulations published on September 4, 2026 set the price at $44, establish a maximum validity of 92 days, and define the minimum coverage required. However, the authorities have not yet announced when the scheme will actually take effect.
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.
Karl Bushby set out from Chile in 1998 with one goal: to walk all the way back to his hometown of Hull in the UK. Nearly 28 years later, he is approaching the end of an extraordinary journey. But distance, seas, jungles and extreme conditions have not been his only challenges. Visas, stay limits, closed borders and crossing permits have also dictated the pace of his odyssey.
Processing delays, failed payments and no manual backup: Eswatini’s prime minister has acknowledged problems with the country’s electronic visa platform. Speaking at the Tourism Nkwe Indaba conference, he pledged urgent action but offered no specific timeline.
