World Visa Academy – Daily Global Visa and Immigration Update

Date: 22/07/2026

United Arab Emirates
Indian passport, visa and attestation services in UAE move to a new provider today

What it means:
Starting today, all Indian passport, visa, and document attestation services across the UAE are being handled by a new provider, Al Hind Tours and Travels, through 16 Indian Consular Application Centres nationwide. This follows a Supreme Court of India ruling that upheld the cancellation of the previous provider's contract, but the court also made sure services would continue without interruption while a fresh tender process is completed.

Impact:
Any Indian national in the UAE with a pending or upcoming passport renewal, visa application, or attestation request should book their appointment through the newly launched Consular Seva UAE portal rather than the old system. Consultants should tell clients to double check they are booking through this new channel to avoid confusion or missed appointments during the transition.

Canada
Express Entry sends 2,000 more invitations, and Ontario finally reveals its new PNP rules

What it means:
IRCC ran another Express Entry draw for the Canadian Experience Class, issuing 2,000 invitations at a CRS score of 516. This is the sixth Express Entry draw this month, and Canada looks to be back on a steady two week draw pattern rather than the unpredictable monthly bursts seen earlier this year.

Separately, and more importantly for anyone eyeing Ontario, the province has finally published the complete rules for its brand new Ontario Workforce Priority Stream. Ontario shut down all eight of its old immigration streams in June and replaced them with just one stream split into three pathways, one for skilled workers, one for essential workers, and one specifically for self employed physicians. The application portal itself is still under maintenance and is expected to reopen later this summer.

Impact:
Candidates sitting around a CRS score of 510 to 520 should keep their profiles updated since small score changes matter a lot right now. For anyone considering Ontario PNP, this is the moment to prepare. Consultants should help clients figure out which of the three new pathways fits their occupation, confirm language test scores meet the new CLB requirements, and get educational credential assessments in order now so they are ready the moment the portal reopens.

Taiwan
Visa free entry for Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines extended for another year

What it means:
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is extending its 14 day visa free trial for travellers from Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines for a full year, running from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027. This removes any risk of a gap since the old arrangement was due to expire at the end of this month. At the same time, Cambodia is being removed from two related simplified entry programs starting 1 August.

Impact:
Travellers and agents from Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines can continue booking Taiwan trips without worrying about a visa requirement suddenly appearing. Consultants working with Cambodian clients should flag that their access under the simplified group tour and conditional entry channels ends on 1 August, so any travel plans after that date need a fresh review of what documents are actually required.

Australia
Travel warning raised for Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia

What it means:
Australia's Smartraveller service has raised its travel advice for Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia to Level Three, meaning Australians are told to reconsider non essential travel. This puts these three countries alongside Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, all already at the same warning level, while Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen remain at the highest do not travel level.

Impact:
This is a travel advisory rather than a visa rule, but it still affects planning. Consultants advising Australian clients on business or family trips to Jordan, Oman or Saudi Arabia should mention the updated warning, check that travel insurance still applies under the new advice level, and remind travellers that flights and airspace in the region can change with little notice.

No major new policy changes or big announcements reported from other countries worldwide today.

Pro Tip for Immigration Consultants
When a country closes an old immigration stream and replaces it with something new, as Ontario just did, do not wait for the application portal to reopen before preparing clients. Use the downtime to sort out language tests and credential assessments so they are first in line when applications open.