The U.S. Department of State will test a paid service from July 1 to December 31, 2026, allowing some B1/B2 visa applicants to obtain an expedited interview appointment within ten business days. The option, priced at $750 per applicant, will be available only at selected consular posts.
The United Arab Emirates has announced new precautionary measures for travelers coming from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. Starting June 6, 2026, the issuance of new visas will be suspended for nationals of the three countries, and entry into the UAE will be restricted for travelers arriving from those countries.
The Uruguayan government has announced the start of a process that would allow Chinese citizens to enter Uruguay without a visa. The measure, which has not yet taken effect, comes in response to China’s visa exemption for Uruguayan nationals introduced in 2025.
Just a few days before the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup, visa-exempt travelers heading to the United States are being urged to check their ESTA before departure. In some cases, an authorization that was previously approved can later change status.
The official UK ETA application service has been showing a message since Wednesday indicating that the portal is “currently busy,” with wait times sometimes exceeding one hour. British authorities have not announced any official outage at this stage.
According to UN Tourism, 307 million travelers took an international trip in the first quarter of 2026, up 2% year over year. Growth remains positive, but disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East, rising travel costs and geopolitical uncertainty are clouding the outlook for the coming months.
The European Commission has issued opinions on internal border controls reintroduced by nine Schengen countries, including France, Germany and Italy. Brussels acknowledges security and migration concerns, but recommends gradually lifting these measures in favor of alternative tools.
Antigua and Barbuda is tightening border measures over health concerns linked to Ebola and other viral outbreaks. Authorities say no visa waiver will be granted to travelers arriving from an African country, regardless of nationality.
Starting June 3, 2026, Indian nationals no longer need an airport transit visa to connect through a German airport on their way to a third country.
The Philippine Bureau of Immigration says its CAISS border modernization project has not yet been signed or finalized. The agency confirms that a passenger fee was included in the proposal, but says no decision has been made at this stage.
The United States is reportedly preparing to sharply reduce the number of embassies and consulates authorized to process visa applications in Africa.
Vietnam’s pre-arrival declaration is now required for international passengers arriving at Phu Quoc Airport.
Togo has confirmed its new visa-free entry regime for nationals of African states. The decree adopted by the Council of Ministers sets out the rules for visa-free stays of up to 30 days.
Ireland is changing its visa appeals process. Starting June 1, 2026, most refusals of short-stay Type C visas will no longer be eligible for an administrative appeal.
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.
