Policy changes, fee updates, and travel advisories that affect visa applications from Dubai. All information verified from official government sources.
On 17 September 2026 Australia announced that a “No Further Stay” condition will be applied to all visitor visas, so a visitor could not apply for most other visas while in Australia. As of 28 September 2026 it has not commenced and no start date is published. OraVisa explains what it would change.
India Now Lets You Move an e-Visa to a New Passport Online — What UAE Residents Need to Know
As of 28 September 2026, India’s official e-Visa portal offers a service to transfer an e-Visa (ETA) to a new passport online. India already lets travellers enter on a new passport if they also carry the old passport the e-Visa was issued on. OraVisa explains which route suits UAE residents.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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