UK Updates India Travel Advice: Mandatory Ebola Screening and e-OCI Documentation Added
UK Updates India Travel Advisory: e-OCI Guidance and Mandatory Health Self-Declaration Added
EU Clarifies Entry/Exit System Exemptions—Key Take-aways for Indian Travellers
Latest News
Nathu La Pass to Re-open: India–China Border Trade Resumes After Six-Year Hiatus
Akashvani News reports that India and China will restart border trade through Sikkim’s Nathu La Pass on 1 August 2026, the first time since Covid-19 closures in 2020. Enhanced infrastructure, RFID trader permits and a capped list of duty-free goods aim to double the corridor’s pre-pandemic trade while boosting local economies and offering companies a revived over-land route for goods and personnel.
India Grants Visa Extensions and Overstay Amnesty for Foreigners Affected by West-Asia Conflict
India has introduced a 30-day, fee-free visa extension and full overstay-penalty waiver for foreign nationals unable to depart because of West-Asia flight disruptions. Employers must regularise staff through the e-FRRO portal but can avoid fines and negative immigration histories while the regional crisis continues.
Mumbai Customs Updates Unaccompanied Baggage Rules; Extends Window for Pre-Arrival Shipments
Mumbai Customs has extended and clarified its rules for unaccompanied baggage: shipments may now arrive up to two months before or, with approval, up to a year after the traveller lands. The circular also formalises CPD vehicle imports and introduces e-filing for baggage declarations—changes that cut lead times for corporate relocations into India’s financial hub.
FRRO Jaipur Deports Nine Foreign Spa Workers in Largest Visa-Overstay Sweep of 2026
The FRRO in Jaipur deported nine foreign women working illegally in spa centres on expired visas, underscoring India’s stricter enforcement of immigration rules in the service sector. Businesses accommodating or hiring foreigners must verify visas and file C-Forms promptly to avoid fines, blacklisting and possible closure.
Embassy of India in Finland Makes Biometrics Mandatory for OCI-Through-Marriage Applications
India’s embassy in Helsinki now requires biometric capture for spouses seeking OCI status and offers postal delivery for the finished cards. The stricter identity check aims to curb document fraud and brings Finland in line with wider MEA standards, adding a new logistical step for Indian expatriate families.
Brazil Mission Updates OCI Document List, Adds Yellow-Fever Card Requirement
India’s embassy in Brazil has overhauled its OCI checklist, mandating Yellow Fever vaccination proof for applicants and clarifying document requirements for spouse cases. The update tightens health controls and streamlines processing, affecting Indian-origin residents and corporate assignees across South America.
Smoke Alert Forces Dubai–Mumbai IndiGo Flight to Divert to Rajkot; 194 Evacuated Safely
IndiGo’s Dubai–Mumbai service made an emergency landing in Rajkot after suspected smoke was detected, leading to the safe evacuation of 194 passengers. The diversion highlights ongoing lithium-battery risks and may prompt renewed DGCA scrutiny, affecting flight-safety protocols across India’s busiest international route.
India issues urgent advisory for seafarers after five deaths in Black Sea attacks
After five Indian seafarers were killed in recent attacks, India’s MEA on 26 July 2026 warned nationals against taking up jobs on vessels in the Black Sea. The advisory urges stricter due-diligence, comprehensive insurance and constant communication with Indian missions. Multinational shipowners and crew-supply firms must reassess routing, contracts and risk-mitigation measures.
India grants one-month visa extension and waives overstay fines for foreigners stranded by West Asia conflict
Indian missions announced on 26 July 2026 that foreigners stranded due to West Asia flight disruptions will receive a free 30-day visa extension and a complete waiver of overstay penalties. The measure shields visitors and corporates from unexpected fines while regional airspace remains restricted.
Depression in Bay of Bengal triggers red-alert weather advisory, ports hoist cautionary signal
A depression over the Bay of Bengal prompted India’s IMD on 26 July 2026 to issue red-alert rain warnings for parts of Odisha and to ban fishing activities. Ports hoisted caution signals, flights and trains face potential disruption, and mobility teams are activating weather-contingency protocols for travellers to eastern India.