Kerala High Court: Marriage to Indian doesn’t guarantee visa for Pakistani spouse
Kerala High Court: Foreign spouses do not have automatic visa right under Indian law
US Visa Bulletin for October 2026 Re-opens EB-2 India; EB-1 Advances by Six Months
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IATA Slams Plan to Shift One-Third of Mumbai’s International Flights to Navi Mumbai Airport
Business Standard reports that IATA has formally objected to Mumbai airport operator MIAL’s plan to reroute a third of all international flights to the new Navi Mumbai airport from 1 October 2026. Airlines cite lack of consultation and doubts about NMI’s operational readiness, warning of passenger disruption and higher costs. Companies should re-check Q4 bookings and prepare travellers for possible airport-code changes and longer ground transfers.
Flydubai cockpit attack prompts India to review aviation security protocols
After an alleged mid-air assault on an Indian pilot, the DGCA and BCAS have started a comprehensive review of aviation-security rules, including possible advisories on crew vetting, cockpit access and biometric authentication for foreign carriers. Any new measures could lengthen pre-flight formalities but are aimed at safeguarding India-bound passengers and crew. ([theweek.in](https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2026/10/01/indian-airport-security-boost-after-flydubai-incident.html?utm_source=openai))
India begins live trials of millimetre-wave full-body scanners at major airports
Field trials of millimetre-wave full-body scanners began on 1 October at India’s busiest airports, aiming to slash screening times and detect sophisticated non-metallic threats. Authorities insist privacy is protected by avatar-only displays and deletion of images within 30 seconds. If trials prove successful, nationwide deployment could start in early 2027—potentially easing a major choke-point for business and expatriate travellers. ([timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/full-body-scanners-at-airports-govt-tests-tech-algorithms-to-address-privacy-concerns-before-wider-rollout/amp_articleshow/134620943.cms?utm_source=openai))
Kerala High Court Rules Foreign Spouses Have No Automatic Right to Indian Tourist Visas
The Kerala High Court held on 1 October 2026 that foreign spouses—even of Indian citizens—have no automatic entitlement to an Indian visa. Dismissing a Pakistani wife’s petition, the court affirmed the government’s broad discretion under the Foreigners Act 1946, especially for Prior Reference Category nationals. The judgment signals tougher scrutiny for dependent and visitor visas and reinforces the need for early, well-documented applications.
Terminal Shake-up: Mumbai Flyers Urged to Double-Check Airport Codes as Shifts Begin
From 1 October, a first batch of flights serving Mumbai are being shifted either to Terminal 2 or to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport as part of a phased closure and redevelopment of Terminal 1. Passengers are advised to verify whether their ticket now shows the IATA code NMI or BOM and to allow extra ground-transfer time. Immigration and e-visa facilities are operational at NMI, but staffing remains thin during the soft-launch period.
Delhi High Court clarifies that holding a valid visa does not guarantee entry into India
Delhi High Court held on 1 October that a visa only allows a traveller to present themselves for inspection; immigration officers may still refuse entry on security or public-interest grounds. The decision underlines residual risks for legitimate travellers, compelling companies to review pre-travel compliance checks and maintain contingency plans for refusals at the port of entry. ([prabhasakshi.com](https://www.prabhasakshi.com/national/delhi-high-court-valid-visa-no-automatic-entry-right-foreigners-india?utm_source=openai))
‘Indian Visa Su-Swagatam’ mobile app launched to streamline e-Visa tracking
India has debuted the ‘Visa Su-Swagatam’ mobile app in Nairobi, giving foreign travellers end-to-end e-Visa application, payment and real-time tracking on their phones. The app also supports passport-change transfers and will later tie into India’s trusted-traveller e-gate programme. Corporations sending staff to India can expect faster, more transparent processing once the app is rolled out globally. ([hcinairobi.gov.in](https://hcinairobi.gov.in/index.php/eoinrb_pages/NTcw?utm_source=openai))
Humanitarian plea rejected: Madras HC tells Ukrainian family to use regular visa channel
Madras High Court has refused to direct authorities to grant an e-tourist visa to a Ukrainian woman wishing to visit her ailing grandfather in India, instructing her to apply for a regular visa through the Indian embassy in Kyiv instead. The ruling reinforces that previous overstay history must be resolved via standard channels, not court orders.
Gauhati HC: Passport cannot be refused merely because FIR exists; cognizance by court is key
Gauhati High Court has held that passport authorities cannot invoke Section 6(2)(f) of the Passports Act to refuse or delay issuance solely on the basis of FIRs; a criminal court must have taken cognizance of the offence. The ruling should accelerate outbound travel for professionals in Assam where police complaints are common.
Customs e-gateway warns of RBI system migration outage; payment data exchange resumes 1 Oct
ICEGATE has alerted traders and travellers that data exchange with the Reserve Bank’s foreign-exchange systems was offline from 24–30 September due to RBI migration work, potentially delaying payment reconciliations. Normal service is expected from 1 October, but importers are urged to verify that remittance records have synced.