News

What is Timatic?

Timatic is an online database that helps travelers find information on health and visa requirements for countries around the world. It is maintained by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and can be consulted on the organization's website.

Israel benefits from US visa-free program early

Faced with the escalating war between Israel and Hamas, the United States activated the visa waiver program for Israelis on Thursday October 19, allowing those wishing to visit the U.S. for 90 days or less to enter without needing to apply for a visa.

Saudi Arabia further expands e-visa program

Saudi Arabia recently lowered the price of electronic visas for visitors, and also added 6 new nationalities to the list of eligible countries. The move is aimed at making the kingdom more accessible to international tourists and boosting the tourism sector.

Democratic Republic of Congo: (real) e-Visa imminent

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has taken an important step in its digital development with the announcement of the forthcoming launch of an integrated electronic visa management platform. This initiative will enable anyone wishing to visit the DRC to submit their application quickly and easily from anywhere in the world.

Four new French visa centers in Africa

In September 2023, VFS Global expanded its presence in Africa by introducing additional physical French visa centers. These centers have been set up in Paria (Cape Verde), Accra (Ghana), Kigali (Rwanda) and Monrovia (Liberia). This expansion is designed to facilitate access to visa services for applicants in these African countries.

Visa Openness Index for Africa shows progress

The 2022 Africa Visa Openness Index report shows that African countries have made progress in terms of free movement policies, most of which were severely restricted by the Covid-19 crisis. The report identifies the visa policies adopted by African governments on the basis of three criteria ... Read the article

Namibia: online tourist visa introduced

On September 22, the Namibian government launched an online visa application service for tourists. The new platform aims to facilitate and speed up the visa application process for potential visitors, which the authorities expect to have a significant positive impact on the African country's tourism industry.

USA: Israel finally joins the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)

From November 30, 2023, Israeli citizens will be able to use ESTA to travel to the United States. This significant easing is the result of Israel's entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which paves the way for closer relations between the two countries and promotes economic and security cooperation.

MotoGP in India: hundreds of visas not issued

The iconic upcoming motorcycle Grand Prix in India has unveiled a major challenge it faces. Several hundred MotoGP-related people have still not received their visas for India. This unprecedented situation raises the question of organization and administrative formalities on the eve of such an eagerly-awaited sporting event ... Read the article