Electronic visa and border system updates

• 🇪🇬 Egypt launched a digital Visa on arrival portal for Cairo International Airport (CAI) on August 1. Travelers can pay online up to 7 days before arrival and receive a QR code to be presented on arrival. Travelers wishing to secure a visa before travel or entering through any other port can still apply for an eVisa, valid for up to 90 days.
• 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia launched a Package Visa pilot on July 10, bundling flights, licensed hotel accommodation, and an eVisa into a single booking through approved travel agencies. Initially eligible for seven nationalities: Jordan, Egypt, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan.
• 🇬🇮 Gibraltar joined the Schengen border framework on July 15 under the UK-EU Gibraltar Treaty. Routine immigration checks at the land border with Spain have been removed, and travelers arriving by air or sea now follow Schengen entry rules, including EES. Time spent in Gibraltar counts toward the Schengen 90/180-day limit.
• 🇿🇦 South Africa made its online Traveler Declaration mandatory on July 1 at all ports of entry.
• 🇲🇼 Malawi introduced a mandatory Health Self-Screening Declaration for all travelers on July 8, completed online before arrival.

Mutual visa waivers and exemptions

• 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 The United Kingdom expanded its eTA exemptions to include German school groups, effective August 1, matching the existing scheme available for French school groups. This applies to travelers aged 19 or under traveling as part of a group of five or more pupils.
• 🇯🇵 🇹🇭 Japan extended visa-free travel for Thai nationals for stays up to 15 days through June 30, 2027.
• 🇹🇼 Taiwan extended visa-free travel for Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines through July 31, 2027.
• 🇵🇦 🇩🇴 Panama implemented visa-free travel for Dominican nationals for stays up to 90 days, effective July 1.
• 🇭🇰 🇳🇮 Hong Kong SAR and Nicaragua implemented mutual visa-free travel for stays up to 30 days. Effective July 27 for Hong Kong SAR passport holders traveling to Nicaragua, and August 26 for Nicaraguan passport holders traveling to Hong Kong SAR.
• 🇮🇩 Indonesia expanded its visa exemption to include Macau SAR, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, and Belarus nationals on July 9, allowing visa-free stays of up to 30 days.
• 🇻🇳 🇮🇩 Vietnam implemented visa-free travel for Indonesian nationals for stays up to 14 days, effective July 15.
• 🇦🇿 🇧🇦 Azerbaijan implemented temporary visa-free travel for Bosnia and Herzegovina nationals, effective August 1.

Looking ahead

• 🇪🇺 The EU removed its late 2026 launch target for ETIAS from the official website. The eu-LISA management board is expected to consider a revised timeline at its September meeting.
• 🇲🇪 Montenegro proposed to end visa-free travel for nationals of Russia, Belarus, China, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye, aligning its visa policy with the European Union. Visa-free travel remains in effect until October 31, 2026, pending publication in the Official Gazette.
• 🇦🇺 Australia announced a national rollout of its Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) to all international airports and seaports over the next 12 to 18 months.