Vietnam’s immigration services will experience a temporary halt due to the Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays in February 2026. The Vietnam Immigration Authority, along with Vietnamese embassies and consulates worldwide, will remain closed from 14 February to 22 February 2026. As a result, visa applications, approvals, and other immigration-related services will not be processed during this period, potentially leading to delays for travellers.

What Travellers Should Know

Travellers planning a trip to Vietnam around these dates are strongly encouraged to apply for their visas well in advance. Tet is the country’s most significant holiday, and the combination of office closures and increased travel demand can affect processing timelines. Planning ahead, allowing extra buffer time, and completing visa formalities early will help avoid last-minute disruptions and ensure a smooth travel experience.

Thailand has introduced several new travel updates that visitors should be aware of before planning their trip. A major change is the launch of the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which replaces paper arrival forms and must be completed online within 72 hours before entry. Travelers will need to present the QR code at immigration, making advance preparation essential. Alcohol regulations have also been clarified, allowing sales and consumption between 11:00 AM and midnight, while remaining restricted overnight. These updates aim to improve efficiency while maintaining public order for both locals and visitors.

Getting Around and Paying Digitally in Thailand

Tourists can now enjoy greater convenience through Thailand’s expanded QR-based payment system, which allows digital payments at many shops, markets, and transport services, though carrying some cash is still advisable. Ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Bolt have also introduced stricter identity verification requirements, including passport and phone number checks, to enhance passenger safety. While these steps may take extra setup time, they contribute to a smoother and more secure travel experience, helping visitors focus on exploring Thailand with confidence.

Air travel between India and Saudi Arabia is becoming easier and more convenient with Air India and Saudia launching a new codeshare partnership from February. This collaboration allows passengers to book their entire journey on a single ticket, ensuring smoother transfers, coordinated flight schedules, and hassle-free baggage handling. With improved connectivity and simplified booking, travelers can now enjoy a more seamless flying experience between the two countries.

The expanded codeshare agreement also unlocks access to a wider network of cities across both nations. Indian travelers can conveniently connect to multiple destinations within Saudi Arabia, while passengers from the Kingdom gain better access to major Indian cities. This partnership is expected to significantly boost tourism, business travel, and cultural exchange, strengthening air connectivity and making cross-border journeys more efficient and traveler-friendly.

Several Schengen countries will continue or reintroduce internal border checks in 2026, temporarily rolling back the area’s traditional passport-free travel due to security concerns and high migration pressure. Nations such as Germany, France, Poland, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Norway have announced that they will maintain checks at their land, air, and sea borders into early-to-mid-2026. These measures are being taken in response to sustained irregular migration flows, strained asylum systems, and broader security risks linked to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as threats from organised crime and terrorism.

For travellers, this means that even when moving between Schengen states, passport and ID checks may still occur at internal borders, and longer processing times are possible at entry points. It’s advisable to always carry your travel documents, allow extra time for crossing borders, and check the specific requirements of each country before departure. While these controls do not close borders, they reintroduce screening practices that many visitors might not expect in the traditionally open Schengen Zone, so preparation and awareness will help ensure a smoother journey throughout Europe in 2026. 

VFS Global has secured a major five-year global contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic, marking one of the company’s most significant international partnerships to date. Under this agreement, VFS Global will handle visa application processing for Slovakia from 83 countries, including India, strengthening Slovakia’s global outreach and making the visa process more accessible for travelers worldwide.

As part of the new contract, VFS Global will establish 159 Visa Application Centres (VACs) across multiple continents. The rollout will begin in January 2026, with 87 visa centres launching simultaneously in 41 different countries during the first phase. This rapid expansion aims to meet increasing travel demand to Slovakia, particularly for tourism, study, work, and long-stay categories. The remaining centres will be opened progressively throughout the contract period, ensuring full operational coverage in all 83 countries.