Japan has taken a significant step toward revitalizing its tourism industry by launching a new electronic visa (eVisa) system that simplifies the entry process for travelers from ten countries. This initiative, effective from May 23, 2025, reflects Japan’s commitment to welcoming more international visitors in a fast, secure, and convenient manner following the easing of global travel restrictions.

By allowing eligible tourists to apply online and receive approval within days, the eVisa system eliminates the traditional requirement of visiting Japanese embassies or consulates, thereby reducing wait times and administrative burdens. This move is part of Japan’s broader strategy to boost inbound tourism, which is a vital component of the country’s economy, especially as it prepares to host several international events and expand cultural exchanges.

The eVisa permits stays of up to 90 days for tourism and short-term visits, making Japan more accessible to travelers from Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

How to Apply for the Japan eVisa

Eligible travelers can follow these steps to apply for the eVisa:

Check Eligibility and Prepare Documents:

Applicants should first confirm their eligibility based on nationality and residence. Required documents typically include a valid ordinary passport, a recent passport-sized photo, proof of financial means (such as bank statements), a detailed travel itinerary (including flight and accommodation information), and, if applicable, a letter of invitation.

Create an Account and Start Application:

Visit the official  official JAPAN eVISA website and register an account with your email and personal details. After logging in, select “new registration” to begin your application.

Fill Out the Application Form:

Enter your personal information and travel details. Upload all required documents, ensuring that your passport’s photo page and your photo meet the specified guidelines.

Submit Application and Pay Fee:

Double-check all details for accuracy, then submit your application and pay the visa fee online using a credit or debit card. You will receive an email confirmation upon successful submission.

Application Review:

Standard processing time is about five business days, but may be longer if additional documents or an interview are required. Applicants will be notified by email if further information is needed.

Receive and Present the eVisa:

Once approved, you will receive a “visa issuance notice.” This must be displayed on your smartphone or tablet with internet access when checking in for your flight or at the port of entry. Printed or screenshot copies are not accepted.

Special Notes and Requirements

The eVisa is a single-entry permit valid for up to 90 days and is only for tourism or short-term visits. Extensions are not permitted; travelers must leave Japan before the visa expires.

The eVisa is only valid for those entering Japan by air or on specified international ferries.

• For Chinese and Vietnamese nationals, special procedures apply: Chinese applicants must use accredited agencies, and Vietnamese applicants must join designated package tours.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan recommends applying at least 1.5 months before your planned departure to avoid delays, as there are no expedited processing services.
• Applicants may be asked to attend an interview at a Japanese overseas establishment if further verification is needed.
• Travelers should beware of unofficial or fraudulent websites and always use the official JAPAN eVISA portal.

Japan’s eVisa initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize its border procedures and promote tourism, offering a more convenient and efficient entry process for eligible travelers. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, refer to the  official Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website or the Japanese overseas establishment with jurisdiction over your place of residence.

On July 26, 2025, Maldives marked its 60th Independence Day with a landmark event: the grand opening of the long-awaited new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport (MLE). President Mohamed Muizzu hailed the $585 million facility as “a pillar of economic independence,” spotlighting the terminal’s pivotal role in transforming the island nation’s tourism-driven economy.

Spanning 72,000 square meters and designed to accommodate 7.5 million passengers annually—more than triple the previous capacity—the terminal is the largest building ever constructed in the Maldives. It features 47 check-in counters, six self-service kiosks, 20 immigration counters, six boarding gates, and 12 aerobridges, along with state-of-the-art baggage handling and real-time tracking systems. The design elegantly blends modern architecture with Maldivian motifs, reflecting the natural beauty and culture of the islands.

Tourism accounts for roughly 21% of the Maldives’ GDP, and this expansion aims to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks that previously restrained growth. According to the World Bank’s April 2025 report, the facility could bolster average economic growth by 5.2% in the medium term, while the International Monetary Fund expects the expanded terminal to sustain tourism momentum crucial to the country’s prosperity.

The project has a complex political and financial history. Originally initiated with India’s GMR Group in 2010, the contract was canceled in 2012 amid political shifts, leading to alternate funding from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and OPEC development funds alongside national budget contributions. These delays and shifting partnerships have significantly increased Maldives’ foreign debt, which now exceeds $8 billion.

Recent years saw diplomatic strains with India, including a 2024 “Boycott Maldives” campaign. However, relations have warmed considerably post Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2025 visit, with tourism officials targeting 300,000 Indian visitors in 2025 through enhanced air connectivity and marketing featuring Bollywood star Katrina Kaif. Early 2025 arrivals rose 9%, fueled by strong interest from China and Europe, signaling a recovery and expansion in key markets.

The terminal’s inauguration was celebrated nationwide with dazzling drone light shows, fireworks, and cultural performances across Malé and neighboring islands, drawing some 6,000 guests.

With this state-of-the-art terminal now operational, Maldives is poised to solidify its standing as a premier global destination, supporting the government’s ambitious $5 billion tourism revenue target for the year. Experts and officials alike regard the enhanced airport capacity and facilities as essential to accommodating growing tourist numbers, diversifying market segments such as multi-generational travel, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), adventure, and wellness tourism, and securing the nation’s economic future.

Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport (AUH) has reached a significant milestone by securing Level 3 accreditation in the Airports Council International (ACI) Customer Experience Accreditation programme, awarded in July 2025. This achievement highlights the airport’s unwavering commitment to delivering world-class guest experiences and reflects its progress in integrating customer experience into every facet of operations, placing passengers at the core of its service philosophy.

The accreditation comes amid strong passenger growth, with AUH welcoming 15.5 million passengers in the first half of 2025—a 13.2% year-on-year increase. This follows impressive growth rates of 28.1% in 2024 and 44.5% in 2023. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, noted, “As we celebrate 17 consecutive quarters of growth, including a strong performance in the first half of 2025, we remain sharply focused on enhancing the guest experience. Achieving Level 3 accreditation demonstrates our ability to balance expansion with service excellence.”

To earn the Level 3 status, AUH introduced several passenger-centric initiatives praised by ACI. These include dedicated passenger focus groups to gather traveller insights and a guest shadowing programme where staff experience the end-to-end airport journey from a passenger’s viewpoint. Enhanced collaboration is fostered through internal sharing of Voice of the Customer reports and strong cooperation with service partners, embedding a customer-centric approach across the operational ecosystem.

The ACI accreditation, the only global programme evaluating how airports integrate customer experience into their core strategies, reflects a deeper cultural transformation at Zayed International Airport. Employees, stakeholders, and passengers actively contribute to shaping the guest journey, underscoring a commitment to continuous improvement.

This achievement reaffirms Abu Dhabi Airports’ vision of elevating every passenger touchpoint through innovation, collaboration, and service excellence, setting new benchmarks in the global aviation industry.

A 25-year-old Chinese national is slated to face court on August 10 following his arrest for allegedly stealing from a fellow passenger aboard a flight from Dubai to Singapore.

The incident came to light early on August 8 at around 5:30 a.m., when the police received a report regarding a suspected theft in the business class cabin of the flight.

Preliminary investigations revealed that while the victim was asleep, his wife witnessed the suspect allegedly removing the victim’s bag from the overhead compartment. Upon being questioned by the victim’s wife, the man promptly returned the bag but aroused suspicion.

The victim was then alerted, and after the plane landed at Changi Airport, authorities from the Airport Police Division confronted the suspect. Unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions, the man was arrested before he could board his next flight.

The specific airline involved has not been confirmed, though the route from Dubai International Airport to Changi Airport is served by Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

If found guilty, the suspect faces a potential prison sentence of up to three years, a fine, or both. This case highlights the vigilance of passengers and the swift response by law enforcement in safeguarding travel security.

A Bangladeshi man was arrested at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on Friday while attempting to travel to Germany using a fake Indian passport, officials said. He entered India legally on a Bangladeshi passport under the name Bibhas Roy from Chittagong but overstayed his visa. To evade detection, he obtained an Indian passport under the assumed name Soumik Barua.

Immigration officials stopped him at the airport for questioning when they noticed discrepancies in his travel documents. During the search, they found his expired Bangladeshi passport, confirming his true nationality. After interrogation, the man was handed over to airport police and formally arrested.

He was traveling to Dubai for a connecting flight to Germany when caught. This arrest comes amid a broader crackdown by state police and the Enforcement Directorate on a passport racket that has helped hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals acquire fraudulent Indian citizenship documents to travel abroad. The probe has already led to arrests, including that of a suspected ring leader who allegedly facilitated the issuance of Indian identity documents such as Aadhaar cards and driving licenses to Bangladeshis, which were later used to procure Indian passports.

This incident highlights ongoing challenges in immigration and border security, particularly with regard to detecting forged or misused travel documents. Indian authorities are continuing vigorous efforts to dismantle such networks and prevent illegal migration and document fraud, balancing enforcement with humanitarian considerations.

In this case, the suspect had entered India through the Haridaspur border with a tourist visa but remained in the country after its expiration. He was intercepted just before boarding his international flight, underlining the importance of thorough immigration checks at exit points.

In a significant stride toward regional stability, Turkey on Saturday warmly welcomed the historic peace agreement brokered between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The accord, signed on Friday during a high-profile meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, also includes plans for a strategically vital transit corridor aimed at boosting energy exports and trade through the South Caucasus.

The newly established peace deal marks a breakthrough in the protracted conflict between the two neighbors. Central to the agreement is the creation of a U.S.-sanctioned transport route passing through Armenia, connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave, which borders Turkey. This corridor, dubbed the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), is expected to operate under Armenian jurisdiction, traversing the area near the Iranian border.

Turkey, a NATO ally and strong supporter of Azerbaijan during past conflicts, expressed hope that this corridor will soon open, describing it as a game-changer for regional connectivity. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, speaking from Cairo, highlighted the corridor's potential to “link Europe with the depths of Asia via Turkey,” calling it “a very beneficial development” for economic cooperation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reinforced Ankara’s commitment to the peace process by engaging directly with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Erdogan praised the agreement and affirmed Turkey’s readiness to support enduring peace in the often-turbulent South Caucasus region.

The region, rich in energy resources and a crucial transit zone bridging Russia, Europe, Turkey, and Iran, has long been mired in ethnic conflicts and closed borders. This breakthrough could open new avenues for energy transport, trade, and diplomacy, overcoming decades of division.

Iran welcomed the accord as a significant move toward “lasting regional peace,” while cautioning against foreign interventions near its borders that might threaten stability.

As regional powers watch closely, this historic peace pact and the proposed transit corridor could redefine the geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus, fostering cooperation and economic growth in an area long marked by conflict.