Visa & Immigration: City Comparison

Just over four months into the rollout of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), early lessons are beginning to emerge, writes Krum Garkov. The EES is part of an ambitious reform. Designed to modernize the management of the EU’s external borders, it replaces manual passport stamping with an automated system that records the entry and […]

The post Opinion: Allowing Pre-Registration Could Improve the Traveller Experience Under the Entry/Exit System appeared first on SchengenNews.

As of February 20, 2026, travellers who need a French visa must book their appointment online, with walk-ins and informal booking routes removed from the process. France has moved to a mandatory online visa appointment system for foreign nationals applying worldwide, covering both short-stay Schengen visas and long-stay national visas, according to SchengenVisaInfo.com. The change […]

The post France Makes Online Visa Appointments Mandatory Worldwide appeared first on SchengenNews.

The “small country trick” that many UAE residents believe allows them to apply to less popular Schengen countries like Luxembourg or Malta to receive visas more quickly has been proven false, according to VFS Global’s UAE Regional Director, Monaz Billimoria; and may even result in a visa refusal. The legal basis for determining which Schengen […]

The post Schengen Visa “Small Country Trick” Leads to Refusals, VFS Global Warns UAE Travelers appeared first on SchengenNews.

Yesterday, the European Union made the decision to eliminate multi-entry Schengen visas for the majority of Russian citizens, representing a major escalation in travel restrictions against limiting Russian access to Europe. The multi-entry visa ban will affect ordinary Russian citizens seeking to travel to Europe for tourism, business, or family visits. But wealthy Russians and […]

The post EU Tightens Visa Rules for Russians, but ‘Golden Passports’ Keep Europe Open appeared first on SchengenNews.

BRUSSELS, Nov 7 – The European Commission issued an implementing decision to impose new restrictions for visa applications made by Russian nationals. Effective today (November 07), the European Commission will stop issuing multiple-entry Schengen visas and will require Russian nationals to apply for a new visa for each trip to the European Union. The Commission’s […]

The post EU Implements Ban on Multiple-Entry Schengen Visas for Russian Nationals appeared first on SchengenNews.

As of October 23rd, 2025, due to the introduction of Law No. 61/2025 which fundamentally changes the way that Portugal handles immigration, the Portuguese government has canceled all appointments for work-seeking visas. The Law was announced through Portugal’s Official Gazette on October 22nd, 2025, and abolishes the previous job seeker visa. Instead, it introduces a […]

The post Portugal Cancels ALL Work-Seeking Visa Appointments Effective Immediately appeared first on SchengenNews.

Seven citizens of Kosovo were arrested this week at the Croatia-Serbia border after officials discovered that they exceeded the allowed stay of 90 days in the Schengen Area within the rolling period of 180 persons according to reports in the Kosovo media Telegrafi and KlanKosova. Border officers overseeing the outbound checks at the Batrovci-Bajakovo corridor […]

The post Seven Kosovo Nationals Stopped at Croatia-Serbia Border for Exceeding Schengen Stay Limits appeared first on SchengenNews.

Severe technical failures and unprepared travelers have characterized a rocky launch of Europe’s digital border transformation this week, news having spread swiftly over social media of chaotic scenes at the early adopting airports. A week after the official launch of the Entry/Exit System (EES) on October 12, Europe’s ambitious digital border transformation has been bedeviled […]

The post EU Entry/Exit System Week One: Only 3 Countries Ready, Brussels Sees 3-Hour Queues appeared first on SchengenNews.

As of October 12, 2025, the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) officially began operations across Schengen external borders. Non-EU nationals entering the Schengen Area now face biometric scanning, automated stay tracking, and real-time enforcement of the 90-in-180-day rule. This represents the most significant change to Schengen border management since the zone’s creation. The shift is […]

The post The 3 Best Schengen Calculators for the EES Era: Track 90/180 Days and Prevent Overstays appeared first on SchengenNews.

One week after going live, Switzerland’s outsourced intake for Schengen short-stay visas in the United States is fully operational, adding a consistent front-office process across four major cities. As of October 1, 2025, US-based applicants who require a visa to visit Switzerland are lodging short-stay Schengen applications through VFS Global centres in New York, Atlanta, […]

The post Swiss Schengen Visa Applications in the US Now Through VFS Global appeared first on SchengenNews.

Washington is preparing a temporary halt to visa services covering 75 countries, according to media reports citing an internal State Department memo. Officials have not publicly released final guidance or a duration. According to reports dated January 14, embassies and consulates have been told to prepare for a suspension beginning January 21. Initial coverage named […]

The post US Pauses Visa Processing for 75 Countries Starting January 21 appeared first on VisaGuide.News.

Mali responded to the U.S. Department of State’s new visa program by saying it will require American tourists or business travelers who wish to enter the country to deposit a maximum amount of $10,000 in cash to secure a visa. This mirrors restrictions the U.S. Department of State put on Malian nationals with respect to […]

The post Mali Imposes $10,000 Visa Bond on U.S. Citizens in Retaliatory Response to Trump Administration Policy appeared first on VisaGuide.News.

Starting 25 September 2025, Morocco is introducing a temporary Electronic Travel Authorization, known locally as AEVM, for supporters from eight African countries who plan to attend AFCON 2025 matches in the kingdom. The measure, which runs until 25 January 2026, covers travelers from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Gabon, Niger, Senegal, Togo, and Tunisia. Royal […]

The post Morocco Adds Temporary E-Travel Pass for AFCON 2025 Fans appeared first on VisaGuide.News.

South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber introduced a national Electronic Travel Authorisation to industry leaders, confirming a phased rollout that begins ahead of G20 events. User acceptance testing starts at the end of September, with the pilot going live in mid October for accredited delegates arriving from China, India, Indonesia, and Mexico at […]

The post South Africa Launches AI ETA, G20 Pilot in October appeared first on VisaGuide.News.

The White House has moved to overhaul the H-1B system by attaching a $100,000 yearly charge to each sponsored worker. Analysts say the policy could reshape hiring in the technology, finance, and consulting sectors. United States President Donald Trump signed a proclamation in Washington on September 19, 2025, introducing a $100,000 fee per year for […]

The post US Imposes $100,000 Annual Fee on H-1B Visas After Trump Order appeared first on VisaGuide.News.

Beijing has activated an online system for Chinese visa applications in the United States to speed up processing and attract more visitors. The development is part of a broader reopening push. China has rolled out an online visa application portal for travelers applying from the United States, aiming to streamline submissions and encourage more trips […]

The post China Launches Online Visa Application for US-Based Travelers appeared first on VisaGuide.News.

Washington has restored Hungary’s full participation in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program after Budapest addressed security concerns, ending years of limits on Hungarian travelers. Two-year, multiple-entry ESTA authorizations resume for applications filed from September 30. The United States Department of Homeland Security said on September 16, 2025 in Washington that Hungary’s status in the Visa […]

The post U.S. Fully Restores Hungary’s Visa Waiver Status, Two-Year ESTA Returns appeared first on VisaGuide.News.

Beginning September 30, 2025, the United States will implement higher entry-related fees, led by a near-doubling of the ESTA charge. The changes also add a fee to EVUS and raise the cost of the paper I-94 at land borders. The United States will raise the Electronic System for Travel Authorization fee to $40 on September […]

The post US Raises ESTA to $40, Adds EVUS and I-94 Fees From September 30 appeared first on VisaGuide.News.

The UK government says a pivot to intelligence-led compliance has driven record sponsor-licence revocations over the past year, with high-risk sectors under close scrutiny. The Home Office has cancelled a record 1,948 employer sponsor licences in the 12 months to June 2025, barring those firms from hiring workers from overseas. The total, confirmed on September […]

The post UK Revokes Record 1,948 Visa Sponsor Licences After Data-Led Crackdown appeared first on VisaGuide.News.

About 200 golden visa applications have been received in New Zealand since April when new changes took effect. Immigration New Zealand announced that it has received 189 applications for the visa since the government applied new changes to facilitate the acquisition of these permits, two months ago, VisaGuide.World reports. In this regard, Economic growth minister, […]

The post New Zealand Receives Nearly 200 Golden Visa Applications in Just 3 Months appeared first on VisaGuide.News.