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16 Oct 2026
Dubai Golden Visa 2026

Dubai Just Handed Out 66,000 Golden Visas — Here’s Who Actually Qualifies

Categories Immigration, Visa Updates

Dubai’s long-term residency program is still pulling in applicants at a record pace, even as other global investment-migration routes face tightening rules. New figures show the Dubai Golden Visa 2026 program issued 66,000 Golden Visas in the first half of the year alone, part of more than one million new residency permits the emirate processed over the same six-month period.

Gulf News and Khaleej Times both reported the figures, which come from Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) and cover January through June 2026. The agency also confirmed a surge in five-year tourist visa applications alongside the Golden Visa numbers, pointing to broader growth in Dubai’s population of long-term foreign residents and frequent visitors alike.

Who actually qualifies for the Dubai Golden Visa 2026

The UAE’s Golden Visa program grants renewable long-term residency, typically for five or ten years, to applicants across several routes: real estate investors above set purchase thresholds, business owners and entrepreneurs, specialized professionals in fields the UAE has prioritized, and outstanding students or graduates. Each route carries its own minimum financial or professional criteria, and the program does not require the applicant to give up residency or citizenship elsewhere.

Legal and relocation advisories tracking the program, including Savory & Partners’ analysis of the H1 2026 figures, note that the real estate and business-investor routes continue to account for the largest share of approvals, consistent with Dubai’s broader strategy of using residency incentives to support its property and business-formation sectors.

Why the numbers keep climbing

Dubai’s government has steadily expanded Golden Visa eligibility criteria since the program’s 2019 launch, lowering some investment thresholds and widening the list of qualifying professions, changes that immigration advisories say are a direct driver of the rising application volume. The parallel surge in five-year tourist visas suggests the growth isn’t limited to people seeking permanent relocation — many of the new permits are going to frequent visitors and remote workers using Dubai as a long-stay base without necessarily relocating full-time.

Dubai Golden Visa 2026

That dual trend — rising permanent residency alongside rising long-stay tourism — has made Dubai one of the more closely watched destinations globally for both relocation seekers and tourism-dependent businesses, even as immigration advisers caution that approval criteria, while broad, still require applicants to document their qualifying investment or professional status thoroughly before applying.

What happens next for applicants

GDRFA has not signaled any plan to tighten Golden Visa criteria in response to the record volume, and officials quoted in Gulf News’s coverage framed the H1 2026 numbers as evidence the program is working as intended rather than a volume problem to manage. The agency’s next reporting checkpoint will be its full-year 2026 figures, which will show whether the H1 pace held through the second half of the year or whether the record first-half numbers reflected a temporary surge tied to specific announcements earlier in 2026.

For related coverage of regional business and residency rules, see Tamara News’s reporting on the UAE’s Commercial Companies Law amendments and Saudi Arabia’s property and company registration rules for non-Saudi firms.

Frequently asked questions about the Dubai Golden Visa 2026

How many Golden Visas did Dubai issue in the first half of 2026?

Dubai’s GDRFA issued 66,000 Golden Visas in the first half of 2026, as part of more than one million total new residency permits over the same period.

Who is eligible for the Golden Visa?

Eligible routes include qualifying real estate investors, business owners and entrepreneurs, specialized professionals in prioritized fields, and outstanding students or graduates, each with its own minimum criteria.

How long does the Golden Visa last?

The visa is typically granted for five or ten years, depending on the qualifying route, and is renewable.

Do I need to give up my citizenship elsewhere to get it?

No. The Golden Visa does not require applicants to relinquish residency or citizenship in their home country.

Why are five-year tourist visa applications also rising?

GDRFA figures show a parallel surge in five-year tourist visas, suggesting growth in long-stay visitors and remote workers using Dubai as a base without necessarily seeking permanent relocation.

Is Dubai expected to tighten Golden Visa rules given the record demand?

Officials have not signaled any plan to tighten criteria in response to the record volume, framing the numbers as a sign the program is working as intended.

Sources

16 Oct 2026
South Korea K-ETA exemption

South Korea Just Quietly Extended a Travel Perk Millions Rely On

Categories Immigration, Visa Updates

Travelers from a long list of countries can keep skipping South Korea’s electronic travel authorization for another year. The South Korea K-ETA exemption has been extended through December 31, 2026, according to a notice published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continuing a temporary waiver that has now been renewed multiple times since K-ETA itself launched.

The extension covers short-term visitors from a list of mostly visa-exempt countries that already includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and most of the EU, meaning those travelers can enter South Korea for short stays without applying for the electronic authorization that would otherwise be required alongside their visa-free entry. VisitKorea’s official tourism site confirmed the extended exemption period in its own traveler guidance.

What the South Korea K-ETA exemption actually covers

K-ETA — the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization — was introduced as a pre-screening system for visa-exempt travelers, similar in concept to the US ESTA or Europe’s upcoming ETIAS. Since its rollout, South Korea has repeatedly paused mandatory enrollment for citizens of specific countries rather than requiring it universally, citing a desire to keep tourism and business travel friction low while the system’s processes matured.

The current extension, confirmed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official notice system, keeps that pause in place through the end of 2026 for the covered nationalities. Travelers from countries not on the exemption list, or planning longer stays that fall outside the visa-free framework, still need to apply for the appropriate visa or authorization before departure.

Why South Korea keeps extending rather than finalizing the rule

Government notices on the exemption have not detailed a specific reason for each renewal, but travel industry sources tracking the policy point to South Korea’s broader push to grow inbound tourism, alongside a desire to avoid adding a new application step for travelers from its largest source markets while the government works through system upgrades. South Korea has also waived group visa fees for travelers from several countries this year, part of a wider pattern of lowering entry friction rather than tightening it.

South Korea K-ETA exemption

That approach contrasts with the direction some other destinations are taking: the EU’s own ETIAS system, Europe’s answer to K-ETA, has faced its own repeated delays but is still expected to eventually require pre-registration for visa-exempt travelers, unlike South Korea’s current pattern of extending exemptions rather than winding them down.

What happens next for travelers to South Korea

With the exemption now confirmed through the end of 2026, travelers from the covered countries can plan trips through the rest of the year without budgeting time or cost for a K-ETA application. Whether the exemption gets renewed again into 2027 will likely depend on how South Korea’s immigration authorities assess the system’s readiness and tourism trends over the coming months; past renewals suggest an extension is more likely than a sudden reversal, but travelers planning trips into early 2027 should check for updated guidance closer to the date.

For more on visa-exemption policies elsewhere in the region, see Tamara News’s coverage of Thailand’s visa exemption rules and the UK’s own ETA enforcement for visa-exempt travelers.

Frequently asked questions about the South Korea K-ETA exemption

How long has the K-ETA exemption been extended?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has extended the temporary exemption through December 31, 2026.

Which travelers does the exemption apply to?

It covers short-term visitors from the list of countries already eligible for visa-free entry to South Korea, including the US, Canada, the UK and most EU member states.

Do I still need a visa to enter South Korea?

If your country already qualifies for visa-free short-term entry, you still don’t need a separate visa; the exemption only removes the additional K-ETA application step during the waiver period.

What is K-ETA normally required for?

K-ETA is South Korea’s electronic pre-screening system for visa-exempt travelers, comparable to the US ESTA, intended to vet visitors before they arrive.

Will the exemption be extended again after 2026?

There’s no guarantee, but South Korea has renewed the exemption multiple times since K-ETA launched, making another extension more likely than a sudden reversal based on the pattern so far.

Where can I check the current status before I travel?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official notice page and the VisitKorea tourism site both publish updates on the exemption’s status.

Sources

16 Oct 2026
expedited US visa interview

$750 Expedited US Visa Interview: Pilot Ends 31 December

Categories Immigration, Visa Updates

The US is running a pilot that lets business and tourist visa applicants pay $750 for an expedited US visa interview at selected posts, and it ends on 31 December 2026. The State Department’s temporary final rule, published in the Federal Register on 9 June 2026, creates the fee for B-1/B-2 applicants only, from 1 July through 31 December. With about eleven weeks left, here is how it works and what it does not do.

In this explainer

How to request a slot

According to the rule text, applicants first complete the DS-160 form, pay the standard visa fee and book a regular appointment. They then ask for an earlier date and, where expedited slots exist, are shown options within ten business days. After choosing a slot, they have a short hold, described as five to ten minutes, to pay $750 online. If the payment is not made in time the slot is released and the original appointment stays. Law firm Cozen O’Connor describes the fee as paid in addition to the standard $185 application fee.

What the fee does not buy

The fee pays for an earlier interview slot and nothing else. Cozen O’Connor says it does not speed visa adjudication or administrative processing, and that slots are offered only where capacity exists, capped at a share of each post’s appointments. The rule says only a limited set of overseas posts take part, with the list kept by the Bureau of Consular Affairs on travel.state.gov, and it does not name them. An applicant who does not attend or who cancels forfeits the expedited fee, and the rule does not address refunds more generally. Existing no-fee expedite options remain, so some urgent cases may still qualify at no charge. Before paying, check the post’s own appointment page, because availability is decided post by post and slots can disappear during the short payment hold. Keep your DS-160 confirmation and payment receipts, and arrive with the documents your embassy lists for the interview.

Who should consider it

The route suits someone with a fixed business trip and a standard appointment that falls after it. Consider a hypothetical case. Arjun is an Indian engineer invited to a trade fair in Chicago in six weeks, with a regular interview slot booked for three months away. If his post takes part in the pilot, paying $750 could bring the interview forward, but it would not guarantee approval or remove any security checks. If the trip can move, waiting may cost nothing. Applicants should also be ready for the interview itself, since the rule leaves the usual eligibility standards unchanged.

What happens after 31 December

Cozen O’Connor describes the programme as a proof-of-concept pilot and says further updates may follow once it ends. Nothing in the sources says whether it will be extended, widened to other visa classes or dropped. Anyone planning travel in 2027 should not assume it will return. Other US costs and rules are changing too, as covered in our reports on the H-1B payment and the public charge rule. Our visa eligibility checker can help you compare destinations if timing is the problem.

Expedited interview questions

How much is the expedited US visa interview fee?

$750 per person, on top of the standard $185 application fee, according to Cozen O’Connor and the Federal Register rule.

Which visas does it cover?

B-1/B-2 business and tourism visas only, according to the rule text.

When does the pilot end?

31 December 2026. It began on 1 July 2026.

Does it guarantee a visa?

No. It only brings forward the interview slot. It does not speed adjudication or administrative processing.

Is it available at every embassy?

No. Only a limited set of posts take part, and the list is kept on travel.state.gov.

What if I cancel the appointment?

The rule says an applicant who does not attend or who cancels forfeits the expedited appointment fee.

Sources

16 Oct 2026
Japan residence permit fees

Japan Residence Permit Fees Rise From 1 October 2026

Categories Immigration, Visa Updates

Japan residence permit fees rose sharply on 1 October 2026. Foreign nationals now pay between ¥10,000 and ¥75,000 to extend or change their status, depending on how long the permission lasts, and ¥200,000 for permanent residence, up from a flat ¥10,000. According to Metropolis Japan, the Cabinet approved the ordinance on 25 August 2026, and fees depend on the date an application is received. Applications accepted on or before 30 September pay the old rates.

At a glance

The new fee table

Until 30 September, an extension or change of status cost ¥6,000 in person or ¥5,500 online, whatever the length of permission. The fee now rises with the length of stay, according to the table published by Erickson Immigration Group, which links to Ministry of Justice materials:

  • Up to 3 months: ¥10,000 in person and online.
  • 3 to 6 months: ¥18,000 in person, ¥15,000 online.
  • 6 to 12 months: ¥25,000 in person, ¥21,000 online.
  • 1 year: ¥33,000 in person, ¥27,000 online.
  • 1 to 3 years: ¥48,000 in person, ¥42,000 online.
  • 3 to 5 years: ¥64,000 in person, ¥56,000 online.
  • 5 years or more: ¥75,000 in person, ¥65,000 online.

The online discount applies to every band above three months. Metropolis Japan adds that a Certificate of Eligibility remains free.

Permanent residence

The largest change is permanent residence. The fee is ¥200,000 and, according to both sources, the online option does not apply, so applications are made in person. Metropolis Japan reports that the Immigration Services Agency framed the revision as recovering processing costs, and that Justice Minister Hiraguchi Hiroshi described its aim as an orderly society coexisting with foreign nationals. Reduced fees are available to some applicants in financial difficulty, including people recognised as refugees, but the sources give no amounts or criteria.

Entry visa fees

This is the second increase this year. The Nation reported on 23 June that the Cabinet had approved a fivefold rise in consular visa fees from 1 July 2026, the first revision since 1978. Single-entry visas went from ¥3,000 to ¥15,000 and multiple-entry visas from ¥6,000 to ¥30,000. The article names no primary government document, so check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or your nearest Japanese embassy for the current schedule.

Who pays more

Everyone who renews, changes status or applies for permanent residence in Japan. Metropolis Japan lists extensions, changes of status such as to Business Manager, and permanent residence among the affected procedures. Consider a hypothetical case. Wei is a Chinese researcher with a two-year permission who renews in person next spring. Under the new table that falls in the one-to-three-year band, so he would pay ¥48,000 in person or ¥42,000 online, against ¥6,000 or ¥5,500 before. For a family renewing together, the cost multiplies by each person.

How to plan renewals

Check how long your current permission lasts and which band your renewal is likely to fall into. Use the online route where it is available, since it is cheaper in every band above three months. Note the received date, not the date you prepare the paperwork. Employers sponsoring staff should budget for the longer-permission bands. For other regional fee changes, see our reports on Singapore’s ONE Pass and New Zealand’s visa fees, and use our visa eligibility checker if you are comparing destinations. The Immigration Services Agency’s official site is where fee tables are published.

Japan fee questions

When did Japan’s residence fees rise?

On 1 October 2026. Fees depend on the date an application is received, so those accepted by 30 September pay the old rates.

How much is permanent residence now?

¥200,000, up from ¥10,000, according to Metropolis Japan and Erickson Immigration Group. Applications are made in person.

What does a one-year extension cost?

¥33,000 in person or ¥27,000 online, according to the published table.

Are online applications cheaper?

Yes, for every band above three months. For stays of up to three months the fee is ¥10,000 either way.

Did Japan also raise visa fees?

The Nation reports a fivefold rise in consular visa fees from 1 July 2026, with single-entry at ¥15,000 and multiple-entry at ¥30,000.

Is there any reduction?

Metropolis Japan says reduced fees apply to some applicants in financial difficulty, including refugees. Amounts are not given.

Sources

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