Visa Rule Changes for Indians in 2026: Monthly Tracker

Published 2026-10-25 · 10 min read · By the Travlys visa team

A dated, monthly-updated list of every significant visa and entry rule change for Indian passport holders in 2026, with what changed, who it affects and what to do.

Latest change (26 October 2026): Indian passport holders now apply for a Chinese visa directly at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai, not at the visa application service centres. Before that, the biggest 2026 changes for Indians were Australia's student visa rules (2 October), Thailand cutting visa-free stays to 30 days (15 September), a free Sri Lanka ETA (25 May) and the Schengen Entry/Exit System going fully live (10 April). This page lists every significant change we could confirm, newest first, and is updated every month.

At a glance: Newest change: China direct visa filing from 26 October 2026. Easier in 2026: Sri Lanka (free ETA), Uzbekistan (visa-free for holders of certain foreign visas), UAE (visa on arrival scheme widened). Harder in 2026: Thailand (60 days cut to 30), Australia student visas, higher UK and Australian visa fees. Unchanged but time-limited: Malaysia visa-free entry ends 31 December 2026 unless extended. Still suspended: Iran visa-free entry, since 22 November 2025. Passport ranking: India 84th, 55 destinations (October 2026, as reported).

2026 visa rule changes for Indians, newest first

26 Oct 2026: China moves visa filing to its Embassy and Consulate

From 26 October, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi and the Consulate General in Mumbai accept visa applications directly. You fill the online form at consular.mfa.gov.cn first, then submit your passport in person after you get an approval email. Mumbai covers Maharashtra and Karnataka; New Delhi covers every other state, including Gujarat, and for now the old Kolkata district. A single-entry visa costs ₹2,900, paid only by bank demand draft for now.

9 Oct 2026: India ranks 84th in the Henley Passport Index

The October 2026 edition puts India 84th, with 55 destinations reachable without a visa arranged in advance. Business Today reports this as up one place from 85th, though other reports had India 81st in July. We could not view the figures on Henley & Partners' own site. The index counts visa-free, visa on arrival and ETA entries, not e-visas, so it understates how easily you can travel.

2 Oct 2026: Australia tightens student visa rules

Most holders of temporary visas in Australia, including Visitor, Working Holiday, Skills in Demand and Temporary Graduate visas, can no longer apply for a Student visa onshore. Most new student applicants cannot include a partner or children, and no student can add family after the grant. Students must now stay 12 months with their first provider before transferring, and a new transfer visa stream starts on 1 July 2027. If you apply from India for a first course, the process is the same; the planning level for new students stays at 295,000 for 2026 and 2027.

30 Sep 2026: US courts keep blocking the $100,000 H-1B fee

A California court blocked agencies from enforcing the $100,000 H-1B payment on 30 September, after a Massachusetts court vacated its guidance in June. Other US rules from 2025 remain: almost every applicant needs an in-person interview, you must apply in your country of nationality or residence, and F, M, J, H-1B and H-4 applicants must keep social media public. The B1/B2 fee is still $185. The $250 visa integrity fee is law, but we found no official notice that collection has started. On 3 August 2026 the US made its visa bond programme permanent; India is not on the list.

15 Sep 2026: Thailand cuts visa-free stays to 30 days

Thailand revoked its 60-day visa exemption for all countries and gave Indian ordinary passport holders a 30-day visa-free stay for tourism. India is not on the new visa on arrival list. Fill the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card within three days before arrival, and get a tourist visa or DTV on thaievisa.go.th if you need longer.

1 Sep 2026: Uzbekistan visa-free for Indians holding certain foreign visas

Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee says Indians holding a valid multiple-entry tourist or business visa from the US, UK, a Schengen state, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan or South Korea can stay up to 30 days visa-free. You need a ticket out to India or a third country. News reports describe wider visa-free entry for all Indians, but the official notice we found covers only this group, so others should use the e-visa.

1 Jul 2026: Australia raises visa charges

Most Australian visa charges went up about 25%. The Student visa now costs AUD 2,500 for the main applicant, a Visitor visa (subclass 600) applied for outside Australia costs AUD 250, and the Temporary Graduate visa costs AUD 5,750. The amount depends on the date Home Affairs receives your application.

1 Jul 2026: Japan raises visa fees worldwide, but not for Indians

Japan's first fee revision since 1978 raised single-entry visas to about ¥15,000 for most nationalities. Japanese missions in India say Indian nationals still pay ₹500 for a single or multiple-entry visa, plus the VFS service fee. Japan also abolished its separate transit visa, and the Consulate General in Mumbai stopped taking applications directly after 20 April 2026, so Mumbai-district applicants now go through VFS Global.

25 Jun 2026: UAE widens its visa on arrival scheme

The UAE's ICP extended its visa on arrival scheme to six more nationalities and kept India on the list. Indians with a valid US visa or green card, a UK or EU visa or residence permit, or a residence permit from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or Singapore can get a 14-day visa for AED 100, extendable once, or a 60-day visa. Some July news reports said UK-only holders would lose access, but official pages still list the UK, so apply online in advance if a UK document is all you have.

25 May 2026: Sri Lanka tourist ETA becomes free

Indians are among 40 nationalities who get a free 30-day, double-entry tourist ETA. You must still apply on eta.gov.lk before you fly; free does not mean no application. Business ETAs and extensions are still charged.

10 Apr 2026: Schengen Entry/Exit System fully live

The EES, which started on 12 October 2025, became fully operational at the borders of 29 European countries, and passport stamping ended. Your entry, exit and face image are recorded digitally, and the system counts your 90 days in any 180. Allow extra time at your first Schengen airport. ETIAS does not apply to Indians, who still need a Schengen visa (EUR 90 for adults).

8 Apr 2026: UK visa fees go up

The standard six-month UK visitor visa rose from £127 to £135, the two-year visit visa to £506, and the Student visa (applied from outside the UK) from £524 to £558. The Immigration Health Surcharge is unchanged at £776 a year for students. The fee you pay is set by the date you apply.

1 Jan 2026: Canada drops the provincial letter for master's and PhD students

Master's and doctoral students at public Canadian institutions no longer need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) with their study permit application. Undergraduate and college applicants still do. IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026, including 155,000 for new students.

Through 31 Dec 2026: Malaysia visa-free entry for Indians continues

Malaysia's visa waiver lets Indians stay up to 30 days for tourism, business or transit, but not work, until 31 December 2026. You must submit the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card within three days before arrival and carry a return ticket and hotel booking. No extension beyond 2026 had been announced when we checked.

22 Nov 2025: Iran suspends visa-free entry for Indians

India's Ministry of External Affairs said Iran suspended its visa waiver for Indian ordinary passport holders from 22 November 2025, after criminal groups used it to lure Indians with fake job offers and kidnap them for ransom. You now need a visa to enter or transit Iran. In July 2026 the Embassy of India in Tehran also advised Indians to postpone travel to Iran. We found no official notice restoring visa-free entry.

Coming up: dates to watch

• 31 December 2026: Malaysia's visa waiver for Indians expires unless Malaysia extends it.
• 1 January 2027: UK Graduate visas for bachelor's and master's graduates drop from 2 years to 18 months. Apply by 31 December 2026 to get 2 years. PhD graduates keep 3 years.
• 1 July 2027: Australia's new Student visa transfer stream starts for students changing provider.
• Not yet dated: the US $250 visa integrity fee and the EU's ETIAS. ETIAS is for visa-exempt nationals, so it will not apply to you on an Indian passport.

Checked, but no 2026 change confirmed

• Philippines: visa-free for 14 days for tourism since 8 June 2025, or 30 days if you hold a valid US, UK, Schengen, Japan, Australia, Canada or Singapore visa or residence permit. Register on eTravel before you fly.
• Kazakhstan: visa-free for up to 14 days per visit, with a cap of 42 days in any 180, under a 2022 decree.
• Laos: we saw claims that visa on arrival ended for Indians but found no official confirmation. Apply for the e-visa to be safe.

Before you book: Visa-free or visa on arrival never guarantees entry. Officers can ask for a return ticket, hotel booking and funds, and can refuse entry. Rules on this page can change with little notice, so check the official immigration site of the country before you buy flights.

How Travlys helps

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Last checked: Every entry on this tracker was checked on 25 October 2026 against the official government sources listed below, or against news reports where we have said so. We update this page monthly. If a date or fee here differs from an official site, follow the official site.