Changing Visa Rules: Keep Your Travellers Safe

With contributions from Farhan Rafi, Laura Welsh, Lorena Peña and Lorenzo Trevisan

Global business travel is back in full swing, with corporate travel spend projected to reach $1.69 trillion in 2026, up from $1.57 trillion in 2025 and $1.47 trillion in 2024. At the same time, visa and entry requirements are becoming increasingly complex. A single missing form or overlooked authorisation can result in a traveller being denied boarding or refused entry, causing serious consequences for business operations.

“We are living in an extremely volatile period, with geopolitical risks, regulatory changes and global disruptions affecting travel, immigration and security. In the complex world of travel, the word VISA is now daunting due to rules and regulations changing rapidly. Our mission remains to support traveller preparation, embracing these shifting regulations while reducing risk through a human-authored approach,” adds Laura Welsh, Riskline’s Head of Global Partnerships and Customer Success.

For corporate travel teams, security leads and decision-makers, this is far from a theoretical risk. It is an operational challenge that must be addressed before any trip begins. Our team has prepared this regional overview, giving organisations a clear picture of recent changes to entry regulations across key regions.

Europe: Digital borders and authorisation systems

Europe is leading the way in digital border management:

• The European Entry/Exit System (EES) will be fully operational by April 2026. Fingerprints and facial recognition are replacing traditional passport stamps, making entry faster but non-compliance far more visible if travellers exceed the 90/180-day limit.
  
• The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is expected to begin operating in the last quarter of 2026 and will require pre-travel authorisation for most visa-exempt visitors, including citizens of the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.
  
• From 25 February 2026, the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be strictly enforced; travellers without an approved ETA will not be permitted to board transport bound for the United Kingdom.

Americas

• Cuba: Since June 2025, authorities have replaced the physical Tourist Card with a new eVisa.
• Mexico: Brazilians have been able to apply for an eVisa since February 2026.
• Nicaragua: Officials have modified the visa regime, and visas on arrival are no longer available for some nationalities.
• Bolivia: Since December 2025, nationals of the United States and other countries can enter visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism purposes. A visa had been required for US nationals since 2007.

United States: Stricter scrutiny and pre-travel requirements

Across the Atlantic, the United States is tightening visa requirements:

• Travel bans target nationals from several countries, and some visa types (B, F, M, J) are suspended for these nationals.
• Organisations may need to issue an authorised invitation letter to allow travellers entry.
• Immigrant visa processing was temporarily halted for 75+ nationalities; Romania was removed from the Visa Waiver Program.
• Visa applications face stricter scrutiny, including social media checks, in-person interviews and longer administrative processing.
• US authorities are expanding Global Entry to reduce wait times and strengthen border security. Travellers may be photographed and their electronic devices inspected.
• Biometric verification is now mandatory.

Even for countries with historically visa-free access, travellers must be aware of the changing landscape.

Asia: Digital visas and pre-arrival authorisations

Across Asia, entry rules are changing:

• Vietnam has recently expanded its e-Visa programme and the number of entry points to accommodate more visitors. With this update, 83 entry points nationwide now accept e-Visas.
  
• Some Asian nations, including Cambodia, are introducing new digital arrival cards and ETAs (Cambodia e-Arrival system or CeA), while Singapore strictly enforces “no boarding” rules for travellers who do not meet entry requirements.
  
• In China, as of early 2026, nationals of certain countries may enter visa-free for short stays of up to 30 days (extended to 31 December 2026 for many nationalities) or on standard tourist or business visas, though short-term stays do not legally permit work. Proper work permits and residence visas remain mandatory for long-term lawful employment.
• Since November 2025, inbound travellers are required to complete an online Digital Arrival Card in China, replacing the paper form previously submitted on arrival, to streamline immigration procedures.
  

Middle East: Streamlined travel

Several Middle Eastern states are simplifying travel:

• The highly anticipated GCC Unified Tourist Visa will allow travel across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman with a single permit. Designed to function similarly to Europe’s Schengen visa, the initiative aims to boost regional tourism, encourage multi-country itineraries and make travel planning more convenient for international visitors. 
• Since the start of 2025, several countries have updated their entry requirements. Israel introduced the ETA-IL for visa-exempt travellers. Iraq replaced visas on arrival with e-Visas. Egypt launched electronic visas on arrival and digital arrival cards; and Yemen introduced a new e-Visa platform. Somalia also launched electronic visas, although these are not recognised by Somaliland and Puntland.

Africa: Modernising visas and regional mobility

Across Africa, visa rules are evolving:

• Kenya requires an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for most visitors, centralising compliance.
• Mozambique authorities have launched a new eVisa system, allowing inbound foreign nationals to apply for tourist, business or work visas on a single platform. Visa-exempt nationals from 29 countries can also apply for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) on the same platform.
• In recent years, Pan-African mobility initiatives have gradually expanded visa-free travel between countries through bilateral agreements, aiming to boost business and tourism opportunities.
• At the same time, some countries are tightening previously relaxed visa policies. In 2025, Namibia and Malawi revoked their visa-free schemes. More recently, in January 2026, Cabo Verde suspended visa-on-arrival for nationals of 96 countries, requiring travellers to obtain a visa before departure.
• Social media activity is also being reviewed due to security concerns, with applicants required to provide up to ten years of relevant history in the approval process.

With policies varying so widely, accurate, real-time information is no longer optional; it’s critical.

Riskline Visa Check Beta Tool

Visa rules are no longer static. In this complex landscape, they are changing rapidly and can carry significant consequences. Manual spreadsheets, ad-hoc checks and last-minute consulate calls are no longer sufficient.

Corporate travel teams need foresight, not reaction. “Our team constantly monitors news and changes related to visas and entry requirements for travellers, prioritising information from official sources such as governments, foreign ministries and consular representatives. Specialised organisations and media outlets are also taken into consideration, but information is always cross-checked for accuracy, ” adds Lorena Peña, Travel Intelligence Leader.

Riskline Visa Check Beta Tool provides exactly that:

• Instant clarity for 220+ countries: Access verified, human-checked visa information in seconds.
• Actionable guidance: Filter by trip duration and travel type to understand entry and transit requirements before bookings are made.
• Risk reduction: Identify gaps early and prevent denied entry or fines.
• Duty of care compliance: Keep travellers informed, protected and supported.

With our Visa Check Beta Tool, companies can anticipate risks and stay ahead of constantly evolving visa rules. This beta version offers a simplified overview. The full solution includes filters for trip length and type (entry or transit) for more detailed insights. Request a demo.