Electronic entry documents

• 🇪🇺The EU Entry/Exit System (EES), a new digital border process for non-EU travelers that captures a facial photo and fingerprints in place of passport stamps, completed its phased rollout on April 10, 2026. The EES is a required step for ETIAS, an electronic travel authorization for visa-exempt nationals traveling to Europe expected to launch in Q4 of 2026. Read more about the EES & upcoming ETIAS here.
  • The EU has also expanded the 'Travel to Europe' app, a mobile app that lets non-EU travelers pre-register their passport data and facial image up to 72 hours before arrival to speed up border checks, adding Portugal as its second supported country alongside Sweden.
• 🇯🇪 🇬🇬 🇮🇲 The UK ETA expanded to the UK Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man) on April 9, with enforcement beginning April 23. Travelers entering directly from outside the Common Travel Area or Republic of Ireland are required to obtain an ETA.
• 🇻🇳 Vietnam launched a digital arrival card for travelers arriving in Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN) in Ho Chi Minh City. Travelers must complete the form within 3 days of arrival and receive a QR code to present on arrival.
• 🇻🇪 Venezuela launched an eVisa system. The eVisa costs USD 180, processes within 15 days, and is valid for multiple entries over one year. The launch coincides with the resumption of direct US-Venezuela flights for the first time in nearly 7 years
• 🇪🇬 Egypt increased eVisa fees: single entry from USD 25 to USD 30, multiple entry from USD 60 to USD 65.

Exemptions and policy changes

• 🇫🇷 🇮🇳 France removed the airside transit visa requirement for Indian nationals, effective April 10
• 🇹🇷 🇦🇺 Türkiye removed the eVisa requirement for Australian nationals on April 17, granting stays of up to 90 days.
• 🇹🇼 🇴🇲 Taiwan removed the visa requirement for Omani nationals on May 1, granting stays of up to 14 days.
• 🇦🇿 🇲🇻 Azerbaijan and Maldives mutual visa waiver agreement begins on April 29, granting stays of up to 90 days.
• 🇸🇦 🇷🇺 Saudi Arabia and Russia mutual visa waiver agreement begins on May 11, granting stays of up to 90 days.

Seasonal exemptions

• 🇦🇱 🇸🇦 🇶🇦 Albania allows Saudi and Qatari citizens to enter visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days from April 15 through December 31.
• 🇲🇪 🇰🇿 Montenegro allows Kazakh citizens to enter visa-free for up to 30 days from May 1 through October 1.
• 🇧🇦 🇸🇦 🇴🇲 🇧🇭 Bosnia and Herzegovina allows Saudi, Omani, and Bahraini citizens to enter visa-free for up to 60 days from June 1 through September 30.

On the horizon

• 🇬🇭 Ghana approved the launch of an eVisa portal for tourism and business, expected May 25. Free eVisas are expected to be offered to all African passport holders.
• 🇯🇵 Japan confirmed its upcoming electronic travel authorization (JESTA), similar to the US ESTA or UK ETA, will launch in fiscal 2028 (April 2028 - March 2029). Approved travelers will use walk-through gates with no passport stamp.
• 🇨🇦 Canada is exploring adding digital passport capture to the eTA application process, which could involve travelers scanning their passport's chip with their smartphone, photographing the data page, or another method, instead of manually typing in details. The initiative will advance alongside a separately proposed expansion of facial biometric collection for eTA applicants.
• 🇧🇹 Bhutan announced it is planning a digital arrival card and an electronic travel authorization.