APEC Business Travel Card: Five Asian destinations to allow 90-day stays
China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore will allow APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders to stay for up to 90 days.
UK: 23.2 million ETAs issued in one year, Americans remain far ahead
The United Kingdom issued 23.2 million Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) in the 12 months ending June 2026. US citizens remain by far the largest group of ETA recipients, followed by Germans and French nationals.
Morocco: E-Visa applications severely disrupted for a week
For the past week, many travelers have been experiencing difficulties submitting Morocco e-Visa applications through the official Accès Maroc portal. The website remains accessible, but the application form is getting stuck at different stages of the process…
US: Immigrant visa appointments temporarily paused worldwide
The US is temporarily pausing immigrant visa appointments at its embassies and consulates around the world. The interruption is intended to allow consular officers to complete new training focused in part on assessing whether prospective immigrants are likely to become dependent on U.S. public benefits.
Northern Cyprus: e-Visa takes effect for three nationalities
The northern part of the island of Cyprus has launched its new electronic visa system. Initially, nationals of Armenia, Nigeria and Syria are covered by the online process, which replaces the consular visa previously required before travel.
Kenya: Court suspends rollout of mandatory health insurance for foreign visitors
Kenya’s High Court has temporarily suspended the implementation of a mandatory travel health insurance requirement for foreign visitors.
US proposes $103,265 fee for certain H-1B visa applications
A proposal likely to raise tensions across the US tech sector. The federal government wants to impose an additional $103,265 fee on employers for certain new H-1B petitions subject to the annual cap.
Peru officially launches electronic visa with e-SAMI
Peru has officially launched its electronic visa and new e-SAMI immigration platform. Unveiled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 24, 2026, the system is designed to gradually digitize the management of Peruvian visas.
US: Up to 200,000 B1/B2 visas could be revoked
The United States is preparing to revoke B1/B2 visas held by foreign nationals who applied for asylum after entering the country as temporary visitors. Up to 200,000 visas issued between 2016 and 2026 could be affected, potentially making it the largest mass visa revocation operation in US history.
India to end boarding pass stamping at immigration starting September 1
Starting September 1, 2026, international travelers departing India will be able to present an electronic boarding pass at immigration. Paper boarding passes will remain accepted, but immigration officers will no longer stamp them.
Woman stranded in Spain after UK eVisa mixes her up with twin
The UK’s eVisa system caused an unusual travel nightmare for Nidia Webb. A UK resident for eight years, she found herself stranded in Spain after her digital immigration status was linked to… her identical twin sister. According to Webb, the Home Office told her the mix-up was a “known technical issue.”
Sri Lanka: Authorities remind travelers to obtain an ETA before departure
Several Sri Lankan diplomatic missions are currently reminding travelers that they must hold a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before beginning their journey.
Israel and Colombia to restore visa-free travel on September 1
Israel and Colombia will restore reciprocal visa-free travel for their citizens starting September 1, 2026. The move ends the visa requirements introduced by both countries in 2025. For Colombians traveling to Israel, the return of visa-free access is also expected to bring back eligibility for the ETA-IL electronic travel authorization.
Azerbaijan: More countries to gain visa-free access as e-Visa and visa-on-arrival systems evolve
Azerbaijan plans to expand visa-free access to more countries over the coming years. Its new tourism development program aims to bring 34 target markets under a visa-free regime. Baku also intends to develop a multiple-entry e-Visa, expand access to electronic visas and visas on arrival, and eventually introduce a visa for digital nomads.
China: How does the 10-day visa-free transit policy work?
China allows nationals of 57 countries to stay visa-free for up to 10 days while transiting to a third destination. Eligible nationalities, requirements, 65 authorized ports of entry, permitted travel areas and how the stay is calculated: VisasNews explains how China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy works.
