UK switches to full-digital eVisas for Indian travellers, ending visa stickers
Japan makes appointments mandatory at five VFS centres in India from 2 March 2026
Indian Embassy warns tourists: Jeju’s visa-waiver ‘does not guarantee entry’
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Egypt may raise visa-on-arrival fee to $30 from 1 March—20 % jump for Indian tourists
Egypt’s travel-agency association says the visa-on-arrival fee will rise from US$25 to US$30 on 1 March 2026, a 20 % increase that will hit Indian tourists and business travellers who pay in cash on arrival. Government confirmation is still pending, so companies should monitor updates and advise travellers to carry extra dollars.
UK eVisa means no more passport drop-offs: VFS Kolkata explains new process
VFS Global Kolkata has outlined the practical implications of the UK’s new eVisa: applicants keep their passports after biometrics, receive digital approval online and must ensure passport numbers stay synced. Businesses gain scheduling flexibility but need new record-keeping routines.
Bangladesh reopens tourist visas for Indians after two-month security freeze
Bangladesh’s missions across India restarted full tourist-visa processing on 24 February 2026, ending a two-month election-related suspension. The decision immediately re-opens leisure and short-term business travel between the neighbours, benefiting tour operators, cross-border SMEs and project personnel. Mobility teams should expect an initial application backlog but no new documentation hurdles.
Japan scraps walk-in visa submissions in four south-Indian cities
Effective 2 March 2026, VFS Global will only accept Japan-visa applications by pre-scheduled appointment in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Puducherry. The policy, announced on 24 February, eliminates walk-ins, aiming to reduce queues and improve processing efficiency. Corporate travel teams must now build extra lead-time into Japan trip planning.
Visa-free entry drives 1.6 million Indian arrivals as Malaysia courts MICE and wedding spend
At a 24 February briefing in New Delhi, Tourism Malaysia confirmed that visa-free entry has lifted Indian arrivals to 1.6 million and unveiled new wedding and MICE initiatives ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026. The policy delivers cost and time savings for Indian leisure travellers and corporate groups, though proof-of-funds and return tickets remain mandatory.
IRCC processing-time update shows faster visitor-visa decisions for Indians
IRCC’s 24 February 2026 dashboard shows India visitor-visa processing down to 71 days, with study permits stable at four weeks. Mandatory BIL uploads via VFS Global’s new Appointment Management System also take effect the same day. The update eases planning for Indian tourists, students and short-term assignees heading to Canada, though postal disruptions could still cause delays.