UAE clarifies visa-on-arrival rules for Indians with US/UK/EU residency
August US Visa Bulletin keeps EB-2 shut, warns EB-1 for India could go ‘unavailable’
India summons Russian envoy after attack on MV Golden Leo kills four Indian seafarers
Latest News
Supreme Court directs seamless passport-visa services after quashing outsourcing tenders
The Supreme Court upheld a Delhi HC verdict cancelling flawed outsourcing tenders for passport and visa services at four Indian missions, but told the MEA to keep desks running through stop-gap contracts. The ruling averts immediate service disruption for expatriates and foreign travellers while raising the bar on transparency for future bids.
India Visa Centres in Saudi Arabia Resume Normal Operations After Technical Glitch
VFS Global has restored full functionality at India Visa Application Centres in Riyadh, ending a technical outage that had halted submissions for several days. Applicants can now book or reschedule appointments, and extra slots have been opened to clear the backlog.
UAE’s five-year multiple-entry tourist visa clarified for Indian frequent flyers
Dubai’s immigration authority has spelt out fees, eligibility and usage rules for the self-sponsored five-year multiple-entry tourist visa. Indian business travellers gain a long-duration, sponsor-free permit that allows 90-day stays per trip, cutting red tape and travel costs.
Consulate in São Paulo warns of surge in fake Indian e-Tourist-Visa websites
India’s São Paulo Consulate (update: 21 July) lists three fraudulent websites posing as the official Indian e-Visa portal and urges travellers to use only the government URL. Victims risk denied boarding and lost fees, so companies should block the fake domains and brief staff immediately.
UK Opens Final 2026 Ballot for India Young Professionals Scheme
The UK Home Office has opened its second and final India Young Professionals Scheme ballot for 2026, running from 21–23 July. Up to 3,000 successful Indian applicants aged 18-30 will gain a two-year unsponsored visa to live and work in Britain, giving employers a flexible pipeline of early-career talent.
Air Suvidha 2.0: new health self-declaration now compulsory 24 hrs before entering India
India has launched Air Suvidha 2.0, requiring all inbound passengers to file a digital health self-declaration within 24 hours of arrival. The QR-coded form—now tied to Ebola surveillance—must be shown at check-in and immigration. Non-compliance can result in denied boarding or fines, so employers need to update traveller briefings immediately.
Air India to relocate New York operations to JFK’s new Terminal 6 from 2028
Air India has signed a deal to operate from JFK’s forthcoming Terminal 6, starting in 2028. The move will offer improved lounges, faster connections with Star Alliance partners and sustainability-focused ground handling. Corporate travel programmes should prepare for back-end system migrations in 2027 and expect a stronger premium-service proposition on US-India routes.
New Delhi summons Russian envoy after four Indians killed in Red Sea vessel attack
After a missile strike on the merchant vessel *Golden Leo* killed four Indian sailors in the Red Sea, India summoned Russia’s senior diplomat to protest and ordered ships to reroute southwards. The incident elevates security costs for Indian seafarers and exporters and strains India–Russia ties.
US Visa Bulletin Flags Imminent ‘Unavailable’ Status for EB-1 India Category
The US State Department’s August 2026 Visa Bulletin says the EB-1 green-card quota for India could become “unavailable” before 30 September because annual numbers are almost exhausted. If that happens, Indian executives and researchers will be unable to receive immigrant visas or file status-adjustment applications until FY-2027 begins on 1 October, delaying corporate transfers and long-term US assignments.
Thailand approves 30-day visa-exempt entry for Indian travellers
Thailand has approved a 30-day visa-exemption scheme for Indian passport-holders, replacing the fee-based Visa on Arrival process. Once gazetted, Indians can enter visa-free for short stays, cutting costs and queuing time for leisure and business trips. Companies should revise traveller briefings to include TDAC registration and 30-day stay limits.
‘Well-oiled’ labour pipeline moves undocumented Bangladeshi workers into India, says TOI investigation
A TOI report details a sophisticated labour-trafficking network that brings Bangladeshi workers illegally into India, supplying factories nationwide with cheap labour. The exposé may trigger tougher employer-sanction laws and disrupt industries dependent on informal migrant labour.
Indian Supreme Court Upholds Tender Ruling, Ensures Continuity of Passport & Visa Services Overseas
The Supreme Court on 20 July upheld the Delhi High Court’s cancellation of India’s overseas passport-and-visa outsourcing tender but allowed interim use of existing or back-up vendors, averting an immediate shutdown of consular services in the UAE, Kuwait, Singapore and Australia. The Court gave the MEA three months to issue a fresh, transparent tender—critical for businesses and travellers relying on uninterrupted document processing.
Supreme Court to rule on contract dispute that threatens passport & visa services at four key Indian missions
A High Court decision cancelling the outsourced CPV contract for Indian missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore and Canberra has halted key passport and visa services. The Supreme Court will hear the government’s appeal on 20 July. Multinationals employing large numbers of Indians in these jurisdictions risk compliance gaps and should plan for extended processing times.
VFS suspends Indian visa & passport applications in Australia after tender dispute
Indian passport and visa processing in Australia has ground to a halt after VFS Global froze new applications, citing the cancelled MEA outsourcing tender. Thousands of travellers and expatriates face missed deadlines and costly work-arounds until a fresh contract is awarded, highlighting supply-chain risk in India’s overseas consular network.
Visa and passport services grind to a halt in Australia after Indian tender dispute
Following court-mandated cancellation of India’s overseas consular tender, VFS Global has halted all new passport and visa applications in Australia. The Economic Times reports widespread travel and immigration disruption, with some applicants flying to India to bypass the backlog. Companies should budget for delays until the MEA appoints an interim or successor service provider.
Indian Embassy in Tehran urges nationals to postpone travel amid escalating Iran conflict
Citing a rapidly deteriorating security environment, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has told citizens to postpone travel to Iran and urged those already there to leave if possible. The advisory forces Indian companies with staff or business interests in Iran to activate contingency plans and may delay forthcoming trade missions.
Air Suvidha 2.0: India makes online health self-declaration mandatory for all international arrivals
An advisory dated 20 July 2026 confirms that India’s Air Suvidha 2.0 health self-declaration is now mandatory for every international passenger before boarding. The digital form links directly to immigration systems, accelerating clearance but imposing a new compliance step for travellers and corporates. Non-compliance can lead to denied boarding or quarantine.
Supreme Court upholds Delhi High Court ruling, directing fresh tenders for India’s overseas visa-processing contracts
India’s Supreme Court on 20 July 2026 dismissed the Centre’s appeal and upheld a Delhi High Court decision that nullified tenders for outsourcing passport and visa services at four Indian missions. The Court allowed stop-gap arrangements but ordered the MEA to issue fresh, transparent tenders within three months, signalling near-term service disruptions but long-term process reform. Mobility teams should plan for delays at missions in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore and Canberra.
Tanzania mission reminds certain nationals of mandatory 2-month gap between India visits
India’s Dar es Salaam mission has restated that tourists from seven high-risk countries must leave a 60-day gap between visits unless exempted. The reminder indicates stricter enforcement and could disrupt back-to-back trips for consultants or relatives of expatriate workers. Sponsors should plan itineraries carefully and apply early for FRRO exemptions where necessary.
India advises citizens to postpone all travel to Iran amid escalating conflict
The Indian Embassy in Tehran has told Indians to postpone all travel to Iran and advised those already there to consider leaving due to rising violence and US-Iran tensions. The notice immediately affects business-travel approvals, project deployments and insurance coverage for Indian companies with interests in Iran. Mobility teams should track staff, review evacuation options and update risk-assessment protocols.
UK Updates India Travel Advisory: e-OCI Recognised, Ebola Screening Added
The UK’s 20 July FCDO update confirms that India’s new electronic OCI card is fully accepted at immigration, while also flagging mandatory Ebola health-screening and self-declaration for all arrivals. Employers moving staff between the UK and India should update documentation procedures and brief travellers on the new health and security requirements.
Indian missions worldwide renew warning against fake e-Visa websites
Several Indian embassies have re-issued synchronized advisories warning of a surge in fake e-Visa websites. Travellers are told to use only the official indianvisaonline.gov.in portal. Firms should update travel policies, block rogue domains and double-check visa confirmations to avoid costly disruptions.
Supreme Court upholds Delhi HC order scrapping MEA’s global visa-outsourcing tender
India’s Supreme Court has confirmed the Delhi HC decision voiding the MEA’s tender for outsourcing passport and visa services in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Singapore and Canberra. Interim suppliers may remain but the MEA must issue a fresh, transparent tender within three months, meaning short-term disruptions and longer processing times are likely. The ruling forces the government to tighten procurement practices and could reshape how India delivers consular services abroad.
Indian Consulate in São Paulo warns travellers against fake e-Tourist-Visa websites
India’s São Paulo Consulate has issued an alert about three fraudulent e-visa portals that charge excessive fees and issue invalid documents. Corporates and travellers must ensure they apply only on indianvisaonline.gov.in or risk being denied boarding or entry.
Indian Consulate in São Paulo Warns of Surge in Fake E-Tourist-Visa Websites
India’s São Paulo Consulate has flagged a wave of bogus e-Visa websites copying official branding and tricking travellers into overpaying or receiving invalid documents. Businesses and tourists are advised to use only the government’s e-Visa portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in) and incorporate the verified link into corporate travel policies.
India reiterates two-month cooling-off rule for repeat tourist-visa entries from high-risk countries
A 20 July 2026 notice from India’s mission in Tanzania reiterates the longstanding requirement that certain nationals (Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Bangladesh and stateless persons) must leave at least 60 days between tourist-visa entries. Mobility planners must build the gap into multi-country itineraries or seek alternative visa categories.