Travel News & Entry Updates

From 26 October 2026, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate General in Mumbai will take visa applications directly. Fill in the form online first, then submit in person within 30 days; pay by demand draft.

India rose one place to 84th in the October 2026 Henley Passport Index, but its score fell from 57 to 55 destinations. What the count includes and what it does not tell you.

The State Department will restrict visas for people who engage in or facilitate birth tourism, including agents and “fixers”. Travelling to the US while pregnant is not, by itself, barred.

India’s mission in Kuala Lumpur says the 30-day visa-free stay is for tourism and social visits only, and that genuine visitors should carry a return ticket, a hotel booking and the MDAC arrival card.

Ahead of the 30-day exemption taking effect, the Embassy of India in Bangkok has published a document list: THB 20,000 in cash per passenger, a six-month passport, a return ticket, hotel bookings and the arrival card.

A ministry-licensed platform now issues a Saudi visa bundled with a booked return flight and a four-star-or-better hotel, for stays of two to 90 days, at SAR 402.21 including insurance.

Update 17 September: now in force. Visa-exempt land entries are capped at two a year. Whether short-term business is still covered is disputed between official Thai sources — confirm first.

Update 17 September: the legal option to pause EES biometric checks expired on 6 September, but nine Schengen countries are reported to have informal approval to keep using it. Still allow extra time.

GDRFA figures show the Red Carpet service processing passengers without a passport check or an officer. Who qualifies is the part the announcement does not spell out.

Immigration New Zealand will require 23 visitor visa categories and the transit visa to be filed through Immigration Online. Paper applications lodged before the date are still processed.

A decree effective 1 September lets Indian citizens enter for 30 days without a visa, but only if they hold a live multiple-entry visa from one of eight countries and an onward ticket.

Update 17 September: the 30-day rule took effect on 15 September. Indian passport holders stay visa-free, but a stay is capped at 30 days and visa-exempt land-border entries at two a year.