Freshness engine
Visa policy changes we're tracking
Every entry carries its source, a before → after value, and links to the affected routes we re-verified.
- · confirmed · DESTINATION JP145 yuan (≈ the prior fee) → 715 yuan for the revised category (effective 1 July 2026) — Japan raises consular visa feesaffects 12 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION CNPrevious China visa fees charged to Japanese citizens → From 14 Sep 2026 (in JPY): single 16,750 · double 25,100 · 6-month multiple 33,500 · 1-year multiple 50,250 — China adjusts visa fees for Japanese citizens under reciprocal arrangementaffects 0 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION NZSome visitor and transit visa applications could be lodged on paper → From 1 Oct 2026 those applications must be submitted through Immigration Online (paper intake ceases for these categories) — New Zealand moves selected visitor & transit visas fully onlineaffects 53 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION KRE-9 workers were assigned to a specific site; transfer to another site permitted only in limited cases → Allowed to transfer to another site belonging to the same construction company (same employer) where the new site meets E-9 requirements — South Korea loosens E-9 worksite transfer rulesaffects 15 monitored routes
- · reported · DESTINATION TH60 days → 30 days — Thailand halves visa-free stay from 60 to 30 daysaffects 30 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION CNThe 240-hour transit and Hainan 30-day visa-free schemes did not yet cover Kyrgyzstan or Vietnam → From 20 Aug 2026 both countries are covered — 240-hour transit now applies to 57 countries; Hainan 30-day entry to 61 — China adds Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam to 240-hour transit & Hainan visa-freeaffects 0 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION EGPaper visa on arrival at Egyptian airports → Digital QR visa on arrival; pilot at Cairo International Airport terminals — Egypt launches digital visa on arrival, replacing paper VOAaffects 1 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION USDuration of status (D/S) — admitted for an unspecified period since 1978 → A fixed period of admission, up to a maximum of four years — US ends 'duration of status' for F/J/I; fixed period up to 4 yearsaffects 1 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION AUSubclass 417 Working Holiday not open to Cyprus, Finland, Germany or South Korea → From 1 Jul 2026 passport holders of Cyprus, Finland, Germany and South Korea may apply for 417 (ages 18–35); Uruguay added to Work and Holiday (462) with up to 1,500 places per programme year — Australia expands Working Holiday (subclass 417) eligibilityaffects 3 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION KHChinese citizens needed an e-Visa or visa on arrival for Cambodia → Pilot 15 Jun–15 Oct 2026: visa-free, multiple entry, ≤14 days per entry; an electronic arrival card is still required — Cambodia runs a visa-free pilot for Chinese passport holdersaffects 189 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION LKA paid tourist Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) was required → From 25 May 2026 the tourist ETA is fee-free for 40 nationalities incl. China, for 30 days; the ETA itself is still mandatory before travel — Sri Lanka makes the tourist ETA free for 40 countriesaffects 2 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION INPaper arrival/departure (disembarkation) card completed on arrival → Foreigners and OCI holders must submit the e-Arrival card online within 72 hours before arrival at boi.gov.in — India replaces paper arrival card with a mandatory online e-Arrivalaffects 159 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION PHChinese citizens needed a prior visa for the Philippines → From 16 Jan 2026 visa-free for tourism/business, up to 14 days (pilot, ~1 year), via NAIA/MCIA; no extension or status change — Philippines grants visa-free entry to Chinese touristsaffects 30 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION TRChinese citizens needed an e-Visa or sticker visa for Türkiye → From 2 Jan 2026 visa-free for tourism/transit, up to 90 days within any 180-day period; passport ≥6 months valid with a blank page — Turkey introduces visa-free entry for Chinese touristsaffects 5 monitored routes
- · confirmed · DESTINATION MXShort-stay visa applicants generally needed in-person fingerprint capture → Through 31 Dec 2026, fingerprinting is waived for short visas of ≤180 days (not for D/J1/Q1/S1/X1/Z residence-track visas) — Mexico waives in-person fingerprinting for short-stay visa applicantsaffects 71 monitored routes