South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, on Thursday unveiled the country’s new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, along with the first illustrations of the online platform. Designed to simplify entry procedures into South Africa, the system will go live in mid-October for G20 participants.
After several years of restrictions on Hungarian travelers, the United States is restoring standard ESTA validity for Hungary. Starting September 30, 2025, Hungarian citizens will once again be eligible for two-year authorizations valid for multiple entries into the U.S.
On Thursday, September 18, 2025, South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber will unveil the new ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) system at the Tourism Business Council’s annual conference. This ETA is designed to digitize entry procedures and automate checks through artificial intelligence technologies.
For the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, CAF is banking on ‘Yalla,’ an app that combines Fan ID and e-Visa. Designed to manage stadium access and simplify procedures for international visitors, it is set to become the central tool of the fan experience during the tournament.
After recently introducing a visa requirement for 33 nationalities that were previously exempt, Namibia is now preparing to add 35 (or possibly 36) new countries to the list of those whose citizens can obtain a visa on arrival.
Since July 2025, Cambodia has replaced entry stamps and QR code stickers with a digital document automatically issued upon arrival: the v-Pass. This new system follows in the footsteps of other digital tools such as the e-Visa and e-Arrival.
Burkina Faso introduces free visas for African nationals, while maintaining the requirement to apply online.
After several days of unrest in Kathmandu and the reopening of Tribhuvan International Airport on September 10, Nepalese authorities announced the implementation of a free visa regularization program for tourists whose visas expired after September 8, 2025.
The introduction of Somalia’s new e-Visa system by the federal government has sparked strong local reactions. While Mogadishu seeks to centralize visa issuance, Puntland authorities have condemned the move as “illegal,” and Somaliland has reaffirmed its independence by maintaining its own entry regime.
As Nepal faces a period of unrest marked by protests, curfews, and the temporary closure of Kathmandu’s international airport, several foreign governments are advising travelers to exercise increased caution.
While the border situation remains relatively stable, temporary restrictions are still in effect for travelers holding an e-Visa who wish to enter Cambodia from Thailand.
Flying out of Rome for a sunny getaway on the French Riviera, two young American tourists somehow ended up… in Tunisia. A simple mix-up between “to Nice” and “Tunis” sent them more than 680 miles (1,100 km) off course. Their travel nightmare, documented live on TikTok, quickly went viral.
As of September 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of State has implemented a new rule: nonimmigrant visa applications must now be filed in the applicant’s country of residence or nationality. This measure comes as part of a broader series of recent reforms tightening entry requirements to the United States.
The American dream will cost a little more: authorities have just confirmed that the price of ESTA will increase from $21 to $40 starting September 30, 2025. This is a significant increase that all travelers wishing to visit the US without a visa should anticipate.
Since September 1, 2025, Ecuador has required a temporary visitor visa for transit passengers from 45 countries.
