Visa Blog

Diwali 2026 Trips Without a Visa Headache: Thailand, Dubai, Sri Lanka and Malaysia for Indian Passport Holders

Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026, and the four destinations Indian travellers book most for the long weekend each have a different entry rule this year. Thailand drops to 30 days visa-free from 15 September, Sri Lanka's ETA is free but still mandatory, Malaysia needs the MDAC, and Dubai's visa on arrival depends on what else is in your passport.

EES This Autumn: Half Term, Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Schengen Border

The summer flexibility that let Schengen borders pause biometric checks ended on 7 September 2026. Here is what that means for the October half term, Thanksgiving week and Christmas: what happens on your first crossing, what is stored, how the Dover, Eurostar and Eurotunnel checks work, what to do with children, and why the 90/180-day count is now automatic.

F-1 and J-1 Students: What the End of "Duration of Status" Means From 15 September 2026

From 15 September 2026, DHS admits F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors for a fixed period tied to the programme end date and capped at four years, with extensions filed through USCIS on Form I-539. Here is what changes, what the transition means for students already in the US, and where the $100,000 H-1B fee stands after the courts.

Golden Week 2026: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan Entry Rules for Chinese Passport Holders

National Day Golden Week runs 1-7 October 2026. Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore each give Chinese ordinary-passport holders 30 days visa-free under mutual agreements, but all three now require a digital arrival card. Japan still needs a visa, and since 1 July 2026 it costs ¥15,000 single entry plus a ¥3,000 departure tax. Here is what to sort before the holiday.

India e-Visa for US, UK and Australian Citizens: 30-Day, 1-Year and 5-Year Options for Wedding and Diwali Season

American, British and Australian passport holders can get an Indian e-Tourist visa online in three validities - 30 days, one year or five years - and must also file a free e-Arrival Card in the 72 hours before landing. Here are the official fees for each passport as published on the government portal on 9 July 2026, the entry rules for each option, and how to time an application for Diwali on 8 November or a winter wedding.

Do You Need JESTA for Japan This Autumn? Not Until 2028 - the Fee Rise and Departure Tax You Do Need to Know

JESTA, Japan's planned electronic travel authorisation, became law on 29 May 2026 but is not due to start until fiscal year 2028. Americans, Britons, Canadians and Australians still enter visa-free for 90 days this autumn. What has changed is the money: visa fees for nationals who need one rose fivefold on 1 July 2026, and the departure tax is now JPY 3,000 on most tickets.

UK Graduate Visa Drops to 18 Months on 1 January 2027: What to Do Before 31 December

Graduate visa applications made on or after 1 January 2027 get 18 months instead of two years (PhDs keep three). For students finishing courses in autumn 2026, the date your university reports your completion - not your course end date - decides which rule you fall under. Here is how to plan the final quarter of 2026.

Umrah Visa 2026-27 from Pakistan, India and Nigeria: Licensed Agents, Nusuk and the 30-Day Rule

Pilgrims from Pakistan, India and Nigeria cannot apply for an Umrah visa online themselves - the application goes through a licensed Umrah operator on the Ministry's Nusuk Masar system. The visa now expires 30 days after issue if you have not entered, a one-year multiple-entry option arrived in July 2026, and the 1448 AH season runs until 7 April 2027. Here is how it works.

The $750 Expedited US Visa Interview: Which Posts, and Is India, Nigeria or Brazil Included?

The State Department's $750 expedited B-1/B-2 appointment pilot runs from 1 July to 31 December 2026 at a short list of posts in Mexico, Canada and Central America. India, Nigeria and Brazil are not on it. Here is what the fee buys, what it does not, and who can realistically use it.