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Visa Updates for UAE Residents

Policy changes, fee updates, and travel advisories that affect visa applications from Dubai. All information verified from official government sources.

AlertInformational

India Stops Stamping Boarding Passes at Immigration — What Changes When You Fly Out of India

India’s Bureau of Immigration has announced that from 1 September 2026 it no longer stamps boarding passes at immigration counters and accepts e-boarding passes on a phone. It applies to international departures from India. OraVisa explains what changes on your flight home from India — and what does not change on the way there.

India
6 Sept 20264 min readAhmed Al RashidLast verified: 6 September 2026
AlertInformational

Brazil Moves Temporary-Visa Issuance Online — for Visa-Exempt Passports Only

From 1 September 2026 Brazil issues temporary visas — work, study, digital nomad and the rest of the VITEM family — electronically, with no passport handed in and the visa delivered by email. It reaches only nationals who do not need a Brazilian visitor visa. OraVisa sets out which UAE-resident passports that includes, and which it does not.

Brazil
6 Sept 20264 min readPriya SharmaLast verified: 6 September 2026
AnalysisUrgent

Thailand’s 60-Day Visa Exemption Ends on 15 September 2026 — a 30-Day Exemption Replaces It for 60 Countries

Thailand’s 60-day visa exemption is revoked on 15 September 2026 and replaced by a 30-day exemption covering 60 countries and territories, including the UAE, India and the Philippines. The measures were published in the Royal Gazette on 31 August 2026. OraVisa explains what changes for UAE residents, and who is not affected.

Thailand
6 Sept 20267 min readPriya SharmaLast verified: 6 September 2026
AnalysisInformational

China Adds Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam to 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit — Now 57 Countries (August 2026)

From 20 August 2026, Kyrgyz and Vietnamese citizens can use China’s 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit, taking the policy to 57 countries. The list still does not include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines or Egypt, so most UAE residents remain unaffected. OraVisa explains who can actually use it.

ChinaVietnam
20 Aug 20266 min readPriya SharmaLast verified: 20 August 2026
AnalysisImportant

China Adds 1–5 Year Entry Bans for False Visa Declarations — What UAE Residents Need to Know (September 2026)

From 15 September 2026, China’s new State Council exit and entry regulations let immigration and visa authorities bar a foreign national from entering China for one to five years for providing false materials or false statements in a visa application or at a port of entry. OraVisa explains what this means for UAE residents.

China
9 Aug 20267 min readPriya SharmaLast verified: 9 August 2026
AnalysisUrgent

The US Visa Bond Programme Is Now Permanent — Three Bond Levels, Short-Dated Visas, and Air-Only Entry and Exit

On 3 August 2026 the US State Department published a final rule making the Visa Bond Programme permanent, finalising the 12-month pilot that ran from 20 August 2025. Consular officers will require B-1/B-2 applicants who are nationals of covered countries to post a bond as a condition of visa issuance, absent a waiver. OraVisa explains the three bond levels, the shorter visa validity that comes with them, and how UAE residents can check whether their nationality is covered.

United States
7 Aug 20266 min readPriya SharmaLast verified: 7 August 2026
AlertInformational

Russia Extends Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Passport Holders to 31 December 2027

On 20 July 2026, President Vladimir Putin signed an Executive Order extending Russia’s visa-free entry regime for Chinese citizens until 31 December 2027. The arrangement had been due to expire on 14 September 2026. Holders of ordinary People’s Republic of China passports can enter Russia without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, for tourism, business, family visits, exchange programmes and transit. The measure is reciprocal — China extended its own visa-free regime for Russian nationals to the same date in May 2026. OraVisa explains who benefits among UAE residents and who still needs a visa.

RussiaChina
21 Jul 20264 min readPriya SharmaLast verified: 21 July 2026
AnalysisImportant

UAE Visa Rule Changes in 2026 — What UAE Residents and Investors Need to Know

Several UAE visa rules genuinely changed in 2026 — most notably Dubai’s 48-hour single-entry tourist visa and the removal of the AED 750,000 minimum property value for the two-year investor residence visa. Others widely reported online did not. OraVisa separates the confirmed changes from the myths for UAE residents and investors.

14 Jul 20266 min readAhmed Al RashidLast verified: 14 July 2026
AlertInformational

Australia Replaces Paper Arrival Cards with the Digital Australia Travel Declaration

On 13 July 2026, the Australian Government confirmed a national rollout of the Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) — a free digital form replacing the paper Incoming Passenger Card. It is currently available only on eligible Qantas flights, so UAE residents flying Emirates or Etihad still complete the paper card for now. OraVisa explains what changes, and what does not.

Australia
14 Jul 20264 min readPriya SharmaLast verified: 14 July 2026
AlertImportant

Indian Missions in the UAE Launch a New Passport & Consular Appointment Portal (July 2026)

As of 22 July 2026, Indian passport, visa and attestation services in the UAE are provided through Al Hind Tours & Travels, with appointments booked at the official portal consularsevainuae.com. This completed a transition in which — from 2 July 2026 — the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai handled services directly via the interim portal book.passportindiauae.com, which is now closed. OraVisa explains how to book and what to bring.

India
6 Jul 20265 min readPriya SharmaLast verified: 26 July 2026
AlertInformational

India Launches Fully Digital e-OCI Card — What OCI Holders in the UAE Should Know

On 30 June 2026, India launched the fully digital e-OCI (Electronic Overseas Citizen of India) Card. The entire OCI process — applying, uploading documents and downloading the approved card — is now online, and no new OCI booklet is needed when a passport is renewed after age 20. OraVisa explains what it means for OCI holders in the UAE.

4 Jul 20264 min readAhmed Al RashidLast verified: 4 July 2026
AlertImportant

Australia Raises Visa Application Charges About 25% from 1 July 2026 — What UAE Residents Now Pay

On 1 July 2026, Australia raised visa application charges by about 25% across the board. The Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream now costs from AUD 250 when applied for from outside Australia, AUD 630 onshore, and the Frequent Traveller stream AUD 1,845. The old-pricing window — for applications lodged on or before 30 June — has closed. OraVisa explains what UAE residents now pay to visit Australia.

Australia
3 Jul 20264 min readPriya SharmaLast verified: 3 July 2026

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