Intelligence feed
Rule changes across visas, immigration, airports, health and borders — newest first, each one linked to its official source.
68 updates
Greece has introduced the EU Entry Exit System (EES), affecting non-EU nationals travelling from Turkey, including on day trips to Greek islands. Travellers should allow extra time for border processing.
Turkish authorities report that Iran has closed the Esendere–Serow crossing on its side to daily traders entering and leaving within the same day.
US Customs and Border Protection now requires a selfie photograph for ESTA. Travellers whose ESTA does not contain the required photograph may need to apply for a new authorisation.
From 3 November 2026, passengers flying to or transiting through the US must complete and sign a form before boarding, declaring whether they have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the previous 21 days.
Travellers who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days must undergo a health assessment on arrival in Canada. Those without symptoms must quarantine for 21 days; those with symptoms will be isolated in hospital.
Greece has introduced the EU Entry Exit System (EES), affecting non-EU nationals travelling from Turkey, including visitors taking day trips to Greek islands. Travellers should allow extra time for border processing.
US Customs and Border Protection now requires a selfie photograph for ESTA. Travellers whose authorisation does not contain the required photograph may need to apply for a new ESTA.
The US has introduced temporary entry restrictions for travellers recently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan. Affected travellers should consult their airline before travelling.
Greece has introduced the EU Entry Exit System (EES), affecting non-EU nationals travelling from Turkey, including visitors taking day trips to Greek islands. Travellers should allow extra time for border processing.
US Customs and Border Protection now requires a selfie photograph for ESTA. Travellers whose authorisation lacks the required photograph may need to apply for a new ESTA.
From 1 May 2025, all foreign nationals entering Thailand by air, land or sea must complete a digital arrival card online before arrival.
From 15 September 2026, British citizen passport holders entering Thailand under the visa exemption scheme can stay for up to 30 days for tourism only. Business travellers must obtain an appropriate visa before travelling.
Turkish authorities advise that Iran has closed its side of the Esendere–Serow crossing to daily traders entering and exiting during the same day.
Greece has introduced the EU Entry Exit System (EES), including for non-EU nationals taking day trips from Turkey to Greek islands. Travellers should allow extra time for border processing.
British citizen passport holders can apply online before travel for a Saudi electronic travel authorisation (ETA). It permits multiple entries over 730 days, with stays limited to 180 days in total during that period.
From 1 March 2026, foreign nationals working in Georgia, including remotely or running a business, must have a work permit. After approval, they must apply for the appropriate visa and/or worker’s residence permit.
Recognised modern slavery victims on Skilled Worker visas can now leave abusive employers and work for any employer for the remainder of their visa.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is no longer mandatory for entry to Uganda, according to the FCDO update.
From 15 September 2026, British citizen passport holders entering Thailand under the visa exemption scheme can stay for up to 30 days for tourism only. Business travellers must obtain the appropriate visa before travelling.
US Customs and Border Protection now requires a selfie photograph for ESTA. Travellers whose authorisation does not contain the required photograph may need to apply for a new ESTA.
From 1 March 2026, foreign nationals who want to work in Georgia, including remotely or by running a business, must have a work permit. After approval, they must apply for the appropriate visa and/or a worker’s residence permit.
Hong Kong made it a criminal offense in national security cases to refuse police requests for device passwords or assistance with decryption. The change applies to everyone, including arriving passengers and travelers transiting Hong Kong International Airport.
From 15 September 2026, visa-exempt entry allows stays of up to 30 days for tourism only. Business travellers must obtain an appropriate visa before travelling.
US Customs and Border Protection now requires a selfie photograph for ESTA. Travellers whose ESTA does not contain the required photograph may need to apply for a new authorisation.
Canada is suspending certain immigration documents for residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan until 28 August 2026.
Travellers who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days face a health assessment on arrival in Canada. Those without symptoms must quarantine for 21 days; those with symptoms will be isolated in hospital.
From 1 May 2025, all foreign nationals entering Thailand by air, land or sea must complete a digital arrival card online before arrival.
Travellers arriving from Ebola-affected regions face health screening and mandatory quarantine or self-isolation for at least 21 days.
From 15 September 2026, British citizen passport holders entering Thailand under the visa exemption scheme can stay for up to 30 days for tourism only. Business travellers must obtain the appropriate visa before travelling.
British citizen passport holders can apply online before travel for a Saudi electronic travel authorisation (ETA), valid for 730 days. It allows multiple entries with a total stay of up to 180 days across that period.
Foreign nationals who want to work in Georgia, including remotely or running a business, must have a work permit under rules changed on 1 March 2026. After approval, they must apply for the appropriate visa and/or a worker’s residence permit.
A March 23, 2026 rule change makes refusing to provide device passwords or decryption assistance to Hong Kong police a criminal offense in national security cases. It applies to travelers arriving in Hong Kong and passengers transiting Hong Kong International Airport.
Canada has introduced a temporary suspension of certain immigration documents for residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. The suspension runs until 28 August 2026.
Travellers who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days must undergo a health assessment on arrival in Canada. Those without symptoms must quarantine for 21 days; those with symptoms will be isolated in hospital.
From 1 May 2025, all foreign nationals entering Thailand by air, land or sea must complete a digital arrival card online before arrival.
From 15 September 2026, British citizen passport holders using Thailand’s visa exemption scheme can stay for up to 30 days for tourism only. Business travellers must obtain an appropriate visa before travelling.
Turkish authorities report that Iran has closed its side of the Esendere–Serow crossing to daily traders entering and leaving within the same day.
US Customs and Border Protection now requires a selfie photograph for ESTA. Travellers whose ESTA lacks the required photograph may need to submit a new application.
From 1 March 2026, foreign nationals working in Georgia, including remote workers and people running a business, must have a work permit. After approval, they must apply for the appropriate visa and/or a worker’s residence permit.
Travellers who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days face arrival health assessments and mandatory quarantine or hospital isolation in Canada. Canada is also temporarily suspending certain immigration documents for residents of those countries.
From 1 May 2025, all foreign nationals entering Thailand by air, land or sea must complete a digital arrival card online before arrival.
Travellers arriving in Thailand from Ebola-affected regions face health screening and mandatory quarantine or self-isolation for at least 21 days.
From 15 September 2026, British citizens entering Thailand under the visa exemption scheme can stay for up to 30 days for tourism. Travellers entering before that date will usually retain the period granted on arrival.
Greece has introduced the EU Entry Exit System (EES), including for day trips from Turkey to Greek islands. Travellers should allow extra time for border processing.
British nationals planning to enter Turkey overland from Iran must contact the FCDO to request facilitation from the British Embassy in Ankara before travelling to the border.
US Customs and Border Protection now requires a selfie photograph for ESTA. Travellers whose ESTA lacks the required photograph may need to apply for a new authorisation.
The US has introduced temporary entry restrictions for travellers recently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan. Affected travellers should consult their airline before travelling.
British citizen passport holders can apply online for a Saudi electronic travel authorisation (ETA), valid for 730 days with multiple entries and a maximum total stay of 180 days. It covers tourism, business, study, medical treatment and Umrah outside the Hajj season.
From 1 March 2026, foreign nationals working in Georgia, including remote workers and people running a business, must have a work permit. After approval, they must apply for the appropriate visa and/or a worker’s residence permit.
A rule change effective March 23, 2026 makes it a criminal offense to refuse to provide device passwords or assist Hong Kong police with decryption in national security cases. It applies to visitors and passengers transiting Hong Kong International Airport.
Canada is suspending certain immigration documents for residents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan until 28 August 2026 as an Ebola-related public health measure.
Travellers who have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days must undergo a health assessment on arrival in Canada. Those without symptoms must quarantine for 21 days; those with symptoms will be isolated in hospital.
Border officers across the 29 Schengen countries now register fingerprints and a facial image instead of stamping passports. Your 90-in-180-day allowance is counted automatically.
Visa-free travellers connecting through certain UK airports without clearing immigration must hold an approved ETA before boarding their first flight.
Visa on arrival in Dubai and Abu Dhabi now requires a valid US visa, US green card, or UK/EU residence permit. Everyone else should apply for an e-visa before flying.
The online tourist visa now allows repeated visits over twelve months with stays of up to 90 days each, and it covers Umrah.
Paper forms are gone. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card must be filed online within three days before you arrive, including for land and sea borders.
Complete the online arrival service before landing and you clear immigration and customs with two QR codes instead of paper slips.
Departing travellers are cleared by face and iris scan without presenting a passport. The SG Arrival Card is still required for arrivals.
The visa-free arrangement continues for another year, with security pre-screening carried out through the digital arrival card.
Power banks must stay visible in the cabin, cannot be used to charge devices in flight, and are banned from checked bags across most regional airlines.
Applicants with a clean travel record are increasingly getting multiple-entry visas valid up to ten years, while eTA eligibility widens for past visa holders.
Conditional e-visa holders must carry the supporting visa or residence permit named in the application, or entry can be refused on arrival.
Airlines are verifying certificates at check-in for passengers who transited a risk country, not only those departing from one.
Incoming passenger cards are being replaced by a digital declaration, with biosecurity penalties unchanged and strictly enforced.
Booking an interview in a third country to beat waiting times is now much harder, and non-resident applicants face lower priority.
The unusually long visa-free period stays in place, making Georgia a practical base for long-stay remote workers.
Passengers with a qualifying connection through Doha can enter for up to four days at no visa cost, with discounted hotel rates.
