Indonesia is considering raising its Visa on Arrival (VOA) fees. The electronic visa obtained before travel would cost 750,000 rupiah (about $42), while travelers applying upon arrival would pay 1 million rupiah (about $56).
Travelers arriving in Malawi are now required to complete a Traveller Health Check, a digital health declaration that generates a QR code to be presented at the border. The form can be completed before travel, although authorities also provide screening options for passengers who arrive without having completed it in advance.
Malawi’s Immigration Department has republished its list of nationalities that can travel without prior authorization and obtain a visa on arrival. The updated document lists 160 countries and territories, while nationals of 47 countries must still obtain a visa or prior authorization before departure.
Starting October 16, 2026, security personnel at Thai airports will be allowed to open and inspect certain checked bags without the passenger being present. The procedure will only be used when screening detects a suspicious item, and each inspection must be video recorded.
Announced in spring 2026 and further clarified in July, Thailand’s overhaul of its visa exemption rules has still not taken effect. Nationals of 93 countries and territories can currently continue to stay visa-free for up to 60 days, while the country is also moving ahead with the digital modernization of its entry procedures through the TDAC and the upcoming THIM app.
India has announced the addition of 11 entry points for travelers holding an electronic visa (e-Visa), including two airports and nine land border crossings.
As of August 10, 2026, eligible residents of the United States and 19 Caribbean countries and territories can apply online for a Philippine e-Visa. The latest expansion follows several rollouts of the system across the Asia-Pacific region and Europe in recent months.
Papua New Guinea is stepping up enforcement of its digital arrival card requirement. Airlines and check-in staff must now ensure that travelers have completed the PNGDAC before issuing their boarding pass.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has clarified how the country’s new mandatory travel insurance requirement will work for foreign visitors. Travelers will be able to use insurance purchased in their home country if it meets Kenya’s required coverage levels, but proof of coverage will have to be submitted as part of the ETA application.
Starting September 15, 2026, Chinese authorities will be able to ban foreign nationals from entering the country for one to five years if they submit false documents or make false statements when applying for a visa or seeking entry at the border.
Donald Trump signed two executive orders on August 6, 2026, targeting “birth tourism” in the United States. Visa or travel authorization denials and revocations, as well as possible permanent entry bans, are among the measures now being considered.
According to the government of Antigua and Barbuda, the European Commission has asked five Caribbean nations to phase out their citizenship-by-investment programs by June 1, 2028. Failure to do so could result in the suspension of visa-free access for their citizens.
All travelers entering Nigeria must complete a free health declaration, ideally at least 24 hours before departure. A PDF confirmation containing a QR code is then sent by email and must be presented upon arrival.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will officially launch South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation on August 12, 2026. Already available to travelers from four countries, the ETA is expected to expand “to all countries” in September, while initially remaining optional for visa-exempt nationals.
Cambodian authorities and tourism industry representatives met on August 4, 2026, to review a proposal for visa-free entry from several priority markets. The idea is gaining traction, but no new exemption has been approved yet.
