• The Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational across European borders on 10 April 2026 for non-EU travellers.
• Until 6 September, member states could temporarily suspend biometric data collection, such as fingerprints and facial scans, to alleviate congestion.
• This flexibility will expire, meaning border authorities will no longer have this option to ease processing when passport control areas become overwhelmed.

 India positive

• The Bureau of Immigration announced that international travellers will experience quicker clearance.
• This new policy, effective from 1 September, means physical and electronic boarding passes will no longer receive an immigration stamp upon departure.
• Previously, immigration officers manually stamped physical boarding passes for all departing international passengers.

 New Zealand critical

• From October 1, 2026, Immigration New Zealand will no longer accept paper forms for 24 Visitor Visa categories and the Transit Visa.
• Applicants must instead submit their requests through the Enhanced Immigration Online system.
• Affected categories include general tourism, business, and specific group visas, as well as those needing a transit permit.

 Brazil positive

• The Brazilian government announced the digital issuance of temporary visas (VITEM) for certain foreign nationals.
• This new system, which officially began on 1 September 2026, applies to those from countries already exempt from visitor visa requirements (VIVIS).
• It affects travellers requiring VITEM for purposes such as study, work, family reunification, or digital nomad status, rather than short tourist or business trips.

 Egypt standard

• Egypt issues electronic visas through visa2egypt.gov.eg, the government platform that handles applications and payment.
• Reporting indicates authorities are weighing an increase of roughly fifteen dollars from 2027.
• No amended fee schedule has been published on the official platform, which continues to display current pricing.

 Malaysia critical

• The updated policy, effective from 1 September 2026, significantly tightens access to the Malaysia Multiple Entry Visa (MEV).
• Previously available more broadly, the MEV is now exclusively offered to applicants from 31 specific nationalities.
• Furthermore, the visa's purpose is limited to business, fly and cruise, medical treatment, or wedding tourism only.

Confirmed at source: Albania, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Azerbaijan and 131 more.

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