Bangladesh Restarts Visa Services at Missions in India, Paving Way for Cross-Border Travel
France Makes Online Appointments and Biometrics Mandatory for All Visa Applicants Worldwide
Italy Unveils Digital E-Visa PDFs and 150 Biometric E-Gates Ahead of ETIAS Roll-out
Latest News
UK to scrap visa stickers for Indians: fully digital e-Visas begin 25 February 2026
The UK Home Office announced on 21 February that, from 25 February 2026, Indian citizens will receive visitor visas exclusively in digital form. Passports will no longer be held for sticker printing, reducing turnaround times for multi-country itineraries. Companies should update traveller checklists and ensure staff can access their UKVI online accounts at the border.
India rolls out DigiYatra biometric boarding at six more airports, taking the programme nationwide to 13 hubs
India activated DigiYatra facial-recognition boarding lanes at six additional airports on 21 February 2026, extending the paper-less travel programme to 13 locations nationwide. The expansion will speed terminal processing for millions of domestic business travellers and paves the way for foreign-passenger enrolment later this year. Companies should update traveller guidance and ensure staff download the new DigiYatra app.
Japan ends walk-in visa submissions in South India; online appointments mandatory from 2 March 2026
VFS Global announced on 21 February 2026 that Japan visa centres in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Puducherry will stop accepting walk-in files from 2 March. All applicants must pre-book slots online, a move aimed at easing congestion but one that lengthens lead times for last-minute trips. Southern India’s corporates and tour operators need to adjust travel planning cycles accordingly.
Delhi issues final-day traffic advisory as AI Impact Summit draws record international turnout
Delhi Traffic Police issued special route diversions on 21 February 2026—the summit’s newly added final day—to manage heavy VVIP and delegate movements for the India AI Impact Summit. Business travellers were advised to allow extra transit time to Indira Gandhi International Airport and to use the Airport Express Metro where possible.