On the occasion of Eid al-Fitr and Nyepi (the Saka New Year), Indonesia has announced the temporary closure of its immigration services from March 18 to March 24, 2026. While administrative procedures will be suspended, border control operations and Visa on Arrival (VoA) facilities will remain fully operational.
India continues to expand the number of entry points accessible to foreign travelers holding an electronic visa. The country has announced the addition of two land border checkpoints and three seaports to the e-Visa system.
In response to the air travel disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, India has announced a series of exceptional measures for foreign nationals currently present in the country.
Facing disruptions to air travel caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Philippine authorities have decided to grant a temporary relaxation of stay rules for certain foreign nationals currently present in the country.
The Government of Jersey has clarified the rollout timeline for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for direct travel to the Crown Dependencies.
Amid air travel disruptions caused by the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Bahrain has announced ‘exceptional measures’ concerning visit visas.
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.
The European Data Protection Board has sent a letter to the European Commission expressing concerns about changes being considered by U.S. authorities to the operation of the ESTA system. The body believes that some of the new data collection requirements could raise important questions regarding the protection of European travelers’ personal data.
As part of a communication on its digital transformation, the UK Home Office revealed several indicators highlighting how its digital immigration systems operate, including the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) and the electronic visa (eVisa).
The government of Trinidad and Tobago is preparing to launch an online platform allowing travelers to complete their arrival and departure card before their trip. Officially presented on March 11, the initiative is expected to go live on March 17, 2026, and will gradually bring an end to the paper forms that have until now been used at the country’s ports of entry.
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.
As U.S. authorities consider expanding the information required from travelers under the ESTA system, a Hawaii representative is warning about the potential consequences for destinations that depend on international tourism.
The UK Parliament has approved a regulatory measure allowing the legal cap on the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee to be increased, paving the way for a future rise in the price currently set at £16. At the same time, the government has announced the removal of Nicaragua and Saint Lucia from the ETA program and the upcoming introduction of a visa requirement for nationals of both countries.
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.
The Tanzania Immigration Services Department has announced a temporary disruption to its computer system due to a technical issue. However, authorities confirm that the Visa on Arrival system remains available to eligible travelers.
