New Visa Updates For 2025 - All you need to Know
Riddhi Jain22 January, 2025
In 2025, global travel scenarios have changed with new visa-related policies among various nations. All these new changes are mostly positive for international travellers around the world, offering more accessibility and less hassle in acquiring visas.
With the arrival of the E-Visa, getting a visa has become easier and more approachable for many people, which is why Thailand has introduced the Thai E-Visa for all the countries. Furthermore, Cambodia has reduced their e-visa fee to attract more tourism for the year 2025.
All the countries are making efforts to enhance their tourism industry and make travel easier, for example, the one-free rescheduling rule by the US. You can now have a free appointment reschedule, which makes it more convenient, as there will be fewer pending visa approvals, than before.
Furthermore, in order to maintain safety and international standards some of the countries have rolled out strict decisions as well, like Tunisia which has now closed its doors for all the European countries. From 2025 every traveller from any country must carry a valid passport to enter Tunisia, which makes its border more secure as compared to before.
Israel has finally introduced after a little delay the most anticipated ETA-IL System for their travellers. This technology will make the visa process a little simpler and quicker than before.
For any traveller, being fully up-to-date with the visa policies is a must. In 2025, many nations have implemented their pending policies and some have taken a new approach to help all kinds of travellers including students, businessmen and tourists alike.
With the arrival of the E-Visa, getting a visa has become easier and more approachable for many people, which is why Thailand has introduced the Thai E-Visa for all the countries. Furthermore, Cambodia has reduced their e-visa fee to attract more tourism for the year 2025.
All the countries are making efforts to enhance their tourism industry and make travel easier, for example, the one-free rescheduling rule by the US. You can now have a free appointment reschedule, which makes it more convenient, as there will be fewer pending visa approvals, than before.
Furthermore, in order to maintain safety and international standards some of the countries have rolled out strict decisions as well, like Tunisia which has now closed its doors for all the European countries. From 2025 every traveller from any country must carry a valid passport to enter Tunisia, which makes its border more secure as compared to before.
Israel has finally introduced after a little delay the most anticipated ETA-IL System for their travellers. This technology will make the visa process a little simpler and quicker than before.
For any traveller, being fully up-to-date with the visa policies is a must. In 2025, many nations have implemented their pending policies and some have taken a new approach to help all kinds of travellers including students, businessmen and tourists alike.
Thai E-visa expansion
What’s New?
Travelers from all around the world can apply for a Thai e-Visa via the official website, beginning on January 1, 2025. Although travelers have been able to use the Thai e-Visa system in a few places, this is a major development that enables applicants from anywhere in the globe to finish the entire procedure online.
Travelers will be fully covered by this global rollout, which will activate the electronic visa system (e-Visa) across all 94 Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates-General globally. The goal of the Thai e-Visa program is to streamline the visa application procedure and make it easier to use, more accessible, and more efficient.
Who benefits?
Travelers will be fully covered by this global rollout, which will activate the electronic visa system (e-Visa) across all 94 Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates-General globally. The goal of the Thai e-Visa program is to streamline the visa application procedure and make it easier to use, more accessible, and more efficient.
Who benefits?
- This new feature is beneficial for frequent visitors to Thailand.
- Indians will benefit from this e-visa update, as Thailand is a popular holiday and business destination.
What do you need to do?
- Fill out the online application form for e-visa through their official portal only.
- Submit all the required documents and pay the fee.
- Wait to get your approval mail on your registered email ID.
Cambodia Cuts Visa Fees
What's New?
With effect from January 1, 2025, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) decided to lower the cost of e-visas for tourists, business travelers, and regular people.
According to an RGC press release, the RGC has thus directed pertinent ministries and institutions to improve and streamline the processes for granting e-Visas and e-Arrival visas inside the Royal Government's single ecosystem.
The new fees for e-visa for Cambodia are:-
- e-Visa T reduced from $36 to $30
- e-Visa E reduced from $42 to $35
“The government consistently prioritizes the promotion of the tourism sector, and the e-Visas discount is intended to facilitate travel for tourists,” said Tob Sopheak, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism (MoT)
Who Benefits?
According to an RGC press release, the RGC has thus directed pertinent ministries and institutions to improve and streamline the processes for granting e-Visas and e-Arrival visas inside the Royal Government's single ecosystem.
The new fees for e-visa for Cambodia are:-
- e-Visa T reduced from $36 to $30
- e-Visa E reduced from $42 to $35
“The government consistently prioritizes the promotion of the tourism sector, and the e-Visas discount is intended to facilitate travel for tourists,” said Tob Sopheak, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism (MoT)
Who Benefits?
- Tourists who are budget travellers are most likely to benefit from this scheme, attracting more crowds to Cambodia.
- People who frequently visit Cambodia for business purposes.
What Do You Need to Do?
- Apply online for an e-visa or at the Cambodian embassies for a more authentic experience.
US Visa Changes
What's New?
Significant changes to its visa appointment rescheduling procedures have been announced by the US Embassy in India in an effort to increase equity and shorten application wait times.
The new rule was rolled out on January 1, 2025, according to an Instagram post made by the Embassy on their official account.
The announcement stated that U.S. visa applicants will be permitted to postpone their visa interview appointments once at no extra expense. They will have to schedule a new appointment and pay the application fees again, though, if they have to reschedule or miss their postponed appointment.
The Embassy stressed that applicants for first-time nonimmigrant visas will still be able to choose where they want to have their initial appointments. However, there may be extra costs if you need to reschedule more than the one allowed instance.
The action is intended to reduce the high wait times one has to spend for visa appointments, which have been a recurring issue for Indian applicants.
Who Benefits?
The new rule was rolled out on January 1, 2025, according to an Instagram post made by the Embassy on their official account.
The announcement stated that U.S. visa applicants will be permitted to postpone their visa interview appointments once at no extra expense. They will have to schedule a new appointment and pay the application fees again, though, if they have to reschedule or miss their postponed appointment.
The Embassy stressed that applicants for first-time nonimmigrant visas will still be able to choose where they want to have their initial appointments. However, there may be extra costs if you need to reschedule more than the one allowed instance.
The action is intended to reduce the high wait times one has to spend for visa appointments, which have been a recurring issue for Indian applicants.
Who Benefits?
- All types of travellers are benefited from this new change, including students, businessmen and
tourists alike.
What Do You Need to Do?
What Do You Need to Do?
- This new feature only applies to already existing appointments, the rest of the process is the same as before.
- It is recommended that applicants for visas carefully consider the dates they can attend and steer clear of needless cancellations or no-shows, as these might cause the process to drag on.
Israel's ETA-IL System
What's New?
Israel's travel regulations have altered. Beginning in January 2025, travelers from nations that do not require a visa must get an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) in order to enter the state of Israel. You are permitted to enter Israel and remain there for a maximum of 90 days on each visit if your ETA-IL has been approved.
Before departing for Israel, all visitors must have a current visa or an ETA-IL permission. Getting an ETA-IL is a quicker and easier process if all your documents are updated.
Note: An ETA-IL application is not required for Israeli nationals or those who possess an Israeli identity number.
Who Benefits?
Before departing for Israel, all visitors must have a current visa or an ETA-IL permission. Getting an ETA-IL is a quicker and easier process if all your documents are updated.
Note: An ETA-IL application is not required for Israeli nationals or those who possess an Israeli identity number.
Who Benefits?
- Travellers who are from Visa-free countries benefit from this new feature, as it would not be necessary to fill traditional visa applications to enter Israel on short trips.
What Do You Need to Do?
- Find your country’s name in the Visa-Free list, and if your country is on the list, then go on the online portal and apply for ETA for hassle-free travel.
- Remember to submit your ETA application 72 hours before your travel date, for it to get approved.
Tunisia's New Passport Rules
What's New?
All foreign visitors to Tunisia must have a passport that is valid for more than three months as of January 1, 2025.
French diplomacy and the Tunisian Embassy in France have confirmed this new rule, which represents a major shift in the entry requirements for foreign visitors, especially for citizens of some nations who were previously permitted to enter the country using their national identity card (CNI).
Until now, European nationals could enter Tunisia without a passport as long as they were participating in a planned tour or using an authorized travel agency.
Whether they are visiting Tunisia for business, pleasure, or family, visitors must now make sure their passports are valid for at least three months before making travel plans. This modification ends an exception that had existed for a number of years.
Who Affected?
French diplomacy and the Tunisian Embassy in France have confirmed this new rule, which represents a major shift in the entry requirements for foreign visitors, especially for citizens of some nations who were previously permitted to enter the country using their national identity card (CNI).
Until now, European nationals could enter Tunisia without a passport as long as they were participating in a planned tour or using an authorized travel agency.
Whether they are visiting Tunisia for business, pleasure, or family, visitors must now make sure their passports are valid for at least three months before making travel plans. This modification ends an exception that had existed for a number of years.
Who Affected?
- Europeans are most likely to be affected by this new rule, as they now have to carry their valid passports with them to enter Tunisia.
- However, this rule will increase Tunisia’s security and enhance its international presence among other travellers from different countries.
What Do You Need to Do?
- Firstly check your passport's expiration date beforehand.
- Make sure your passport is valid for a minimum of three months from the date of your travel.
- If your passport is not valid, apply for an advance renewal, so you have a hassle-free experience in entering the country.
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