Asia

The Asia Travel Information category provides up-to-date information on travel formalities in Asian countries such as China, Japan, India, Thailand, Malaysia and other popular destinations. This category is dedicated to publishing information on visas, passports, mandatory vaccinations, travel restrictions and customs regulations for travelers visiting various Asian countries. Articles published in this category will contain useful tips for travelers, information on precautions to take, recent changes in laws and regulations, as well as updates on known incidents that could affect the safety of travelers to Asian destinations.

South Korea: 5 new nationalities exempt from K-ETA

Electronic Travel Authorization for South Korea, also known as K-ETA, is required for travelers of various nationalities wishing to visit this Asian country. However, according to an update provided by Korean Air citing Timatic, the exemption from this process no longer concerns only 22 nationalities as ... Read the article

Chinese visa waiver for the French kicks off

Planning a trip to China? Good news! French nationals can now take advantage of a temporary visa exemption for tourist stays of less than 15 days in force between today, December 1, 2023 and November 30, 2024. This announcement was made by the Chinese Embassy in France on Friday ... Read the article

e-Arrival Cambodia: a new approach to entry in 2024

The Cambodian government plans to launch the electronic arrival system, known as e-Arrival, at the new Siem Reap-Angkor international airport in 2024. This initiative aims to simplify customs and immigration procedures for international travellers, while reducing the use of paper.

Sri Lanka: confusion over the principle of "free visas

At a time when Sri Lanka's announcement of its "visa-free" policy has created considerable public confusion, it is crucial to understand what is really behind this measure. Numerous media outlets relayed the information by talking about "visa-free", suggesting that a certain number of nationalities could now enter the ... Read the article

MotoGP in India: hundreds of visas not issued

The iconic upcoming motorcycle Grand Prix in India has unveiled a major challenge it faces. Several hundred MotoGP-related people have still not received their visas for India. This unprecedented situation raises the question of organization and administrative formalities on the eve of such an eagerly-awaited sporting event ... Read the article

Thailand: Thapanee Kiartphaiboon takes the reins at TAT

On September 1, Thailand welcomed a new governor for its tourism sector. Ms. Thapanee Kiartphaiboon succeeds Yuthasak Supasorn, whose term of office had expired. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is the official government body that manages all tourism-related activities in Thailand, including the promotion of the country ... Read the article

Will the Indian visa become the "Bharatian" visa?

In an effort to replace Western influence with a more local and traditional identity, India wishes to make known its intention to change its name to "Bharat". This wish comes from the current government led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. This decision would be taken thanks to a constitutional amendment that would pave the way ... Read the article

Sri Lanka launches a "Digital Nomad" visa

Sri Lanka, known as a popular tourist destination, recently approved the granting of a Digital Nomad visa. This initiative aims to appeal to independent workers and freelancers from all over the world who are looking to establish themselves in a new location. According to the information available, applicants for the Digital Nomad visa will need to justify an income ... Read the article

Chinese first to benefit from Philippine e-Visa

On August 24, 2023, the Philippines launched its new e-Visa program, enabling nationals of countries where a visa is required to apply for a visa online. The first tourists to benefit were Chinese in a "pilot" program. They arrived in the country on August 25.

India and Sri Lanka want a bridge to link the two countries

At the end of July, India and Sri Lanka announced their intention to consider building a land bridge, known as the Palk Strait, to link the two countries. This ambitious project aims to strengthen bilateral relations between these two neighboring nations and facilitate access to the key ports of Trincomalee and Colombo.