Government rolls out digital “e-OCI” card, ending the need to carry the blue booklet
Navi Mumbai International Airport opens to the world with thrice-weekly Abu Dhabi service
Thailand restores 30-day visa-free entry for Indian travellers
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India-UK Free Trade Agreement takes effect – mobility benefits but no new work visa
The India-UK FTA, in force from 15 July 2026, does not create a new immigration pathway but secures and marginally widens existing short-term business-mobility routes. Benefits include a quota of 1,800 visas for select cultural professionals and a bilateral social-security waiver, yet standard UK visa fees, sponsorship duties and settlement rules remain intact.
Navi Mumbai International Airport launches first overseas route to Abu Dhabi
Air India Express has launched the first international flight from Navi Mumbai International Airport to Abu Dhabi, officially opening the airport to global traffic. The twice-weekly service offers faster access for businesses on Mumbai’s eastern corridor and is expected to reduce congestion at the city’s main airport, stimulate regional investment and attract additional foreign carriers.
Thailand keeps visa-free entry for Indians but halves the allowed stay to 30 days
Bangkok has decided to retain visa-free entry for Indian passport holders but will cut the permitted stay from 60 to 30 days once the change is published in the Royal Gazette (expected mid-August). Trips longer than 30 days will now require a visa in advance. The move restores traveller confidence while tightening immigration controls; travel managers must review itineraries that exceed the new limit.
Navi Mumbai International Airport launches its first overseas route with Abu Dhabi flight
Navi Mumbai International Airport entered the global arena on 15 July with Air India Express flight IX207 to Abu Dhabi, giving Mumbai’s eastern suburbs a direct Gulf connection and relieving pressure on the city’s main airport. The thrice-weekly service offers lower fares, faster immigration via e-gates and new air-cargo capacity, with additional Asian routes planned by year-end.
CIC tells Delhi University to publish data on foreign and OCI students, citing transparency gap
India’s Central Information Commission has instructed Delhi University to compile and publicly disclose annual data on foreign and OCI-card admissions within six weeks, citing lapses under the RTI Act. The move should improve transparency for expatriate families and policy monitoring of India’s growing OCI student cohort.
US national’s arrest on India–Nepal border highlights tightening immigration checks
Outlook India reports that a US citizen was arrested on 11 July while trying to cross into Nepal without a passport, reflecting heightened enforcement along India’s northern land borders. The case illustrates the risks foreigners face when travelling overland without correct papers and reinforces the need for employers and tour operators to double-check documentation for cross-border itineraries.