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Starting January 1, 2025, Thailand will roll out an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system in India, the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi said on Wednesday.

However, the 60-day visa exemption for Indian passport holders for tourism and short business purposes will continue to be in place until further announcements.

In its announcement, the embassy said applications for all types of visas must be sent through the website thaievisa.go.th.

“The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi wishes to announce the implementation of Thailand’s Electronic Visa (e-Visa) system in India with the offline payment method,” it said.

The e-Visa system will be effective from January 1, 2025, the embassy said.

It said the processing time will be approximately within 14 working days from the date the receipt of the visa fee is issued.

Planning to visit the Philippines? Indians can now apply for an e-visa, following an announcement last week by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The rollout of the e-visa system has been in development since 2019, with collaboration between the DFA, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Initially tested in 2021, the system allowed limited access for select nationalities and visa types during its pilot phase. By 2023, plans to expand its scope were confirmed, though full activation in India experienced delays.

After beta testing in August 2023, the e-visa system became fully operational on October 28,2024 at the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi, along with consulates in Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

By the end of October 2024, 7,259 e-visas had been issued, according to a DFA press release.

“We welcome the announcement of the Department of Foreign Affairs on the full automation of the electronic visa system for India. This is something the administration has been working on for some time. We greatly appreciate the efforts to launch this, especially since we’re looking at India as a very robust outbound market for the Philippines,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco in an interview with Philippines News Agency (PNA).

“Local destinations are prepared to host more Indian tourists,” she added.

Currently, Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free travel to 62 countries. Russia can reportedly be added to the list as early as spring 2025.

Moscow:
Indian tourists may soon be able to travel to Russia without a visa next year. Since August 2023, Indian travellers have already been eligible for e-visas to Russia, which are typically processed within four days. The new arrangement will further strengthen the tourism ties between the two countries.

Currently, Indian passport holders enjoy visa-free travel to 62 countries. Russia can be added to the list as early as spring 2025, according to a report by India Today.

In May, Nikita Kondratyev, director of the Russian Economic Development Ministry’s Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects said, “India is at the final stage of internal state coordination.”

The consultations between Moscow and New Delhi started regarding a bilateral agreement in June this year to ease visa restrictions, aiming to launch visa-free group tourist exchanges.

“Russia and India are set to strengthen their tourism ties as they gear up for the launch of visa-free group tourist exchanges. The first round of consultations between the two nations is scheduled for June, with an aim to finalise a bilateral agreement by the end of the year,” the minister was quoted by RT News as saying.

Russia granted 9,500 e-visas to Indian visitors in 2023, which was a total of 6 per cent of the total e-visas issued by Moscow. This puts India among the top five countries which were granted easy travel access by Russia.

In recent years, Moscow has been witnessing an upward tick in visitors from India. According to Evgeny Kozlov, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee, 28,500 Indian travellers visited Moscow in the first half of 2024, marking a 1.5-fold increase compared to the same period last year.

“In 2023, India ranked high in terms of travellers coming to Moscow among non-CIS countries, with over 60,000 visitors, a 26 per cent rise compared to 2022,” said Kozlov, according to a report by Business Standards.

Per the report, most Indians go to Russia for business or work. “India ranked third among visitors from non-CIS countries for business tourists in the first quarter of this year. Moscow authorities consider India one of the priority markets due to the strong, time-tested ties between the two countries.” Kozlov added.

Good news for Indians planning to visit the US. From January 1, nonimmigrant US visa applicants will be able to reschedule their interview appointment once without a fee. However, missing an appointment or rescheduling a second time will require applicants to book a new appointment and repay the application fee, the US embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.

These changes are designed to “make sure everyone has a fair chance at getting a visa interview appointment and to reduce wait times,” according to the embassy.

Visitor visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1 visa), for tourism (B-2 visa), or for a combination of both purposes (B-1/B-2 visa).

“Starting January 1, 2025, you can still schedule your first nonimmigrant visa appointment at the location of your choice. If you need to reschedule for any reason, you will be able to do that one time. If you miss your appointment or need to reschedule a second time, you’ll need to book a new appointment and repay your application fee. Since wait times are long, please make sure you can attend on the date you’ve selected,” the embassy explained.

“These changes will make it easier and faster for everyone to get appointments. We encourage applicants to attend their scheduled appointments to keep the process efficient and fair for everyone,” it added.

How much these adjustments will reduce wait times remains uncertain.

Visa appointment slots to expand in 2025

In November, the US government announced plans to expand visa appointment slots by one million in 2025. Speaking on visa operations, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “We will add an additional one million visa appointments in the financial year 2025. That’s on top of the record number of appointments we had this past year.”

A record 11.5 million visas were issued in the 2024 financial year, according to Blinken. “This includes 8.5 million visitor visas, marking a 10% increase over the previous year,” he said.

Cost of a US B1/B2 visa

The application fee for a US B1/B2 visa for Indian citizens is $185, equivalent to approximately Rs 15,730. The fee is non-refundable.

For Indian travelers planning a trip to Malaysia, there’s good news. The country has extended its visa-free entry for Indian nationals until December 31, 2026. With this, the nation is offering a significant boost to tourism and economic growth for both countries. In addition to this, travelers are required to complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC). These initiatives are aimed at attracting more visitors, driving economic progress, and preparing for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Datuk Awang Alik also said that this extension reflects Malaysia’s ambition to become a key travel hub in the region, offering a warm welcome to international visitors while benefiting local businesses tied to the tourism industry.
The announcement, made on December 20, 2024, by Datuk Awang Alik Jeman, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Home Affairs, also aligns with Malaysia’s preparations for its 2025 ASEAN chairmanship. The extension mirrors a similar policy for Chinese nationals, allowing both Indian and Chinese citizens to stay in Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days as part of the country’s visa liberalization plan launched on December 1, 2023.

Eligibility: Indian and Chinese nationals can enter Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days.
Purpose: This move is designed to attract more tourists, foster economic growth, and strengthen Malaysia’s global tourism appeal.
Duration: The visa exemption is valid until December 31, 2026.
Security Measures: The policy ensures national security while boosting tourism.
Visa exemption explained
Visa exemption allows citizens of certain countries to enter Malaysia without needing to obtain a visa in advance. Indian nationals, for instance, can now visit Malaysia for up to 30 days for tourism or business purposes without applying for a visa.

How it works

Conditions: Entry is allowed for tourism, business, or transit.
Duration: Indian and Chinese nationals can stay for up to 30 days without a visa.
Requirements
Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay.
Purpose of Visit: This visa exemption is mainly for tourism but also covers short-term business trips.
Sufficient Funds: You need to show proof of enough financial means to support your stay.
Return/Onward Ticket: A confirmed return or onward ticket is required.
Malaysia Digital Arrival Card: A Mandatory Entry Requirement
In addition to the above, all travelers, including those eligible for the visa exemption, must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online before traveling. This replaces traditional immigration forms, streamlining the entry process.
How to apply
Visit the Official Website: Access the MDAC application portal.
Fill in Your Details: Provide personal, travel, and health information.
Submit Before Arrival: Complete the form at least 48 hours before traveling.
Benefits
Faster immigration processing.
Enhanced security measures.
Quicker entry for international travellers.
This visa exemption extension is strategically timed to coincide with Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2025 and the anticipated Visit Malaysia Year 2026. The government aims to attract more tourists, boost the local economy, and position Malaysia as a leading travel hub in Southeast Asia.