India Raises Passport Fees for First Time in 14 Years, Effective Today
UK Scraps Physical Visa Stickers—Indians Will Receive Digital eVisas Only
Four Countries Roll Out Rule Changes That Impact Indian Travellers From 1 July
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Bureau of Immigration Reminds OCI Card-Holders: Six Activities Still Need Prior Permission
India’s BOI has reiterated that OCI card-holders still need prior approval for research, journalism, mountaineering, missionary work, internships or jobs in foreign missions, and travel to protected areas. Companies and individuals should budget eight weeks for online permits to avoid penalties.
UK Updates India Travel Advice; Adds Ebola-Screening Requirement for Transit Passengers
The FCDO has updated its 1 July 2026 travel advice for India, adding screening requirements for passengers who have recently visited Ebola-affected regions. The notice may trigger tighter airport checks and itinerary disruptions for inbound business travellers.
India launches electronic OCI card, ending booklet re-issue requirement
The Home Ministry has replaced the paper OCI booklet with a downloadable electronic card, allowing India’s five million OCI holders to travel using a QR-coded digital credential. The move slashes renewal headaches for expatriates and cuts government processing time, while integrating OCI data with fast-track immigration lanes. Corporates see reduced compliance overheads, but must note stricter online update rules.
India inks 28 Migration & Mobility Partnership Agreements with 26 countries
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed that India now has 28 Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements covering 26 countries, giving Indian students and professionals more legal, streamlined routes to work and study abroad while tackling illegal recruitment and trafficking. The deals, underpinned by the e-Migrate digital clearance system, should shorten visa timelines for employers and improve skills recognition for assignees, boosting India’s global talent footprint.
India signs 28 Migration & Mobility Partnership Agreements covering 26 countries, says EAM Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced that India now has 28 Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements in force with 26 countries. The deals set visa-issuance deadlines, recognise Indian qualifications and grant work rights to accompanying family members, creating faster and safer pathways for Indian professionals, students and intra-company transferees.
NITI Aayog blueprint calls for 90-day, multi-entry Visa-on-Arrival and radical simplification of India’s e-visa system
NITI Aayog’s new tourism roadmap urges the government to introduce a 90-day, multi-entry Visa-on-Arrival for select markets and collapse more than 30 e-visa sub-categories into five broad visa purposes. It also proposes single-window, fully digital hotel approvals to halve project timelines. If adopted, the changes would make India markedly more accessible for repeat business visitors and unlock faster hotel construction—key advantages for corporate travel programmes.
Navi Mumbai International Airport gets Home Ministry nod as India’s 38th immigration post
The Home Ministry has named Navi Mumbai International Airport as India’s 38th designated immigration post, clearing the way for international passenger and cargo flights from 15 July 2026. The move relieves pressure on Mumbai’s existing airport and offers businesses shorter travel times, while introducing next-generation e-gates for faster processing.
India inks 28 Migration & Mobility pacts with 26 nations to boost legal labour flows
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar revealed that India has concluded 28 Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements with 26 countries. The pacts create structured, legal routes for Indian students and workers, tie in digital verification via the e-Migrate system, and strengthen joint action against trafficking and visa abuse. For businesses, the agreements promise faster, more predictable deployments while helping partner nations plug skill gaps.
India inks 28 Migration & Mobility Partnership Agreements with 26 nations
At the Human Resource Mobility Forum, India announced that it has concluded 28 Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements with 26 countries. The deals create faster, safer channels for Indian talent while giving partner nations structured access to a large, skilled workforce. Companies should watch for new fast-track visa categories and social-security coordination measures that will simplify expatriate deployments.
India launches FCRA 2.0 portal and fully-digital e-OCI card
Home Minister Amit Shah launched the FCRA 2.0 portal and an electronic OCI card on 30 June 2026. The move digitises all foreign-fund registration and renewals and replaces physical OCI booklets with QR-coded e-cards that can be stored on smartphones and read at airport e-gates. The overhaul promises faster processing for NGOs and dramatically simpler travel for 5 million overseas Indians—changes that global mobility teams should factor into compliance and assignment planning.
Government launches e-OCI card, fully digitising overseas citizenship services
Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a fully digital e-OCI card that replaces the paper booklet for Overseas Citizens of India. The card can be applied for, issued and verified entirely online, reducing processing times, cutting fraud and giving returning diaspora members access to upcoming fast-track immigration lanes.
India launches fully-digital OCI card and FCRA 2.0 compliance portal
India has rolled out a downloadable electronic OCI card and a rebuilt FCRA 2.0 foreign-funding portal. The move slashes paperwork for 4.5 million OCI holders worldwide and tightens real-time compliance monitoring of NGOs. Corporates and charities should migrate to the new systems immediately to avoid travel and funding delays.
Government launches e-OCI card and fully digital FCRA 2.0 portal
A new electronic OCI (e-OCI) card will let 5 million members of the Indian diaspora travel with a downloadable digital credential, ending the need to re-issue physical booklets after passport renewals. At the same event, the FCRA 2.0 portal was launched to make all foreign-fund compliance fully online. The changes speed up travel and reduce paperwork, but companies and NGOs must tighten data accuracy as regulators gain real-time oversight.
Where You Apply Matters: US Visitor-Visa Wait Times Now Vary by Six Months Across Indian Cities
New State Department figures show B-1/B-2 interview waits range from four months in Kolkata to nearly ten months in Mumbai. For Indian business travellers, applying at a different consulate could slash visa lead-times and protect project timelines.
India boasts 28 migration & mobility pacts, eyes new corridors at HR Mobility Forum
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced that India has inked 28 migration and mobility partnership agreements covering 26 countries and is negotiating more. The pacts streamline work and study visas, promote social-security portability and underpin India’s strategy to place talent abroad via secure, legal channels.
NITI Aayog urges multiple-entry Visa-on-Arrival and simplified hotel licences
A new NITI Aayog report recommends multi-entry Visa-on-Arrival for key source markets and a single-window, 60-day approval process for hotels. The reforms aim to cut red tape, attract repeat business travellers and boost foreign investment in India’s hospitality sector.
Government launches e-OCI card and FCRA 2.0 portal, ending booklet re-issuance for millions of overseas Indians
Home Minister Amit Shah has launched an electronic OCI card that does away with cumbersome booklet re-issuance and lets diaspora members complete the process entirely online. The upgrade, coupled with a new FCRA 2.0 compliance portal, is set to streamline documentation for the five-million-plus OCI community and cut delays for employers moving talent across borders.
Niti Aayog urges sweeping visa facilitation and regulatory overhaul to triple inbound tourism
A new Niti Aayog report says India must simplify its visa regime and streamline state-level licensing to unlock the tourism sector’s growth potential. Recommended fixes—longer e-Visas, quicker refunds and a trusted-traveller card—could add ₹2 trillion to GDP and make it easier for companies to fly in clients and expatriate staff.
NITI Aayog calls for 90-day multiple-entry Visa-on-Arrival and single-window hotel approvals
A new NITI Aayog report urges India to introduce a 90-day multiple-entry Visa-on-Arrival for select countries, collapse its many e-Visa categories into five, and digitise hotel approvals. The roadmap aims to boost foreign tourist arrivals, shorten project timelines for hospitality investors and create seamless biometric travel. If adopted, the measures would make India markedly more attractive for business travellers and event planners.
Navi Mumbai International Airport notified as India’s 38th immigration post
A 30 June Gazette order makes Navi Mumbai International Airport an authorised immigration post, enabling it to start international operations from 15 July 2026. The new facility will ease congestion in Mumbai, add biometric e-gates for faster clearance and boost connectivity for businesses along the Mumbai–Pune growth corridor.