Category: Asia Pacific

Visas, Immigration & Nationality

The World’s Most Powerful Passports 2023

The Henley Passport Index has just released the world’s ‘most powerful passport’ for 2023. The Henley Passport Index is a comprehensive list that compares passports using data from the International Air Transport Association, specifically looking at holders able to gain visa-free access. The index uses a scoring system to establish the most powerful passports globally,…
Read more

China Reopens for International Travel

China has removed almost all of its border restrictions, bringing an end to pandemic measures that effectively closed off the nation from the rest of the world for three years. China reopened on 08 January 2023 to international travel both for Chinese citizens leaving the country as well as for international inbound travellers after nearly…
Read more

UK Visa Application Processing Reduced Back To 15 Days For Indians

The United Kingdom is back to processing visa applications within the standard of 15 days, with priority visas being processed within five days. With a surge in travel demand post-pandemic, the UK, like many other countries, has been struggling with immigration backlogs. “Good news for those travelling from India to UK- visit visas now within…
Read more

EU Member States Agree To Impose Pre-Departure Testing of Travellers From China

After EU Member States had been divided over the necessity of pre-departure testing of travellers coming from China for the past week, an emergency meeting of the Council’s Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) took place on 04 January to establish a coordinated approach. The European Union Member States have agreed to recommend that all Member…
Read more

Visit Visa to the US is Needed After Stay in Cuba

As the United Kingdom is part of the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), British visitors to the US can enter through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). However, the US government advised that any visit to Cuba since 1 March 2011 disqualifies British holidaymakers from the ESTA scheme. Instead, they must spend $160 on…
Read more