The Republic of South Africa has included Ukraine in the list of countries whose citizens can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the country, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Mozambique reported.
The innovation allows Ukrainian citizens to submit an application remotely without personally visiting the South African embassy or a visa center. The applicant must register in the electronic system, complete the application form, upload the necessary documents and a photograph.
According to the Ukrainian diplomatic mission, after submission of a complete package of documents, the application should be processed within no more than 24 hours.
At the current stage, ETA is available to Ukrainians for trips to South Africa for tourism or private purposes. The maximum duration of stay under such an authorisation is up to 90 days.
The issued electronic entry authorisation can be used within 180 days from the date of issuance.
An application can be submitted on the official website of the Department of Home Affairs of the Republic of South Africa: South African ETA. The official system confirms the possibility of applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation online.
At the same time, at the initial stage, ETA cannot be used at all border crossing points. Entry with an electronic authorisation is available through four international airports in the country: O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport, Lanseria International Airport and King Shaka International Airport in Durban.
These airports are equipped with the necessary systems for checking electronic authorisations and passengers’ biometric data.
The embassy recommends that Ukrainians additionally check the current ETA requirements and the conditions for entry into South Africa before traveling, as the procedure for using the electronic system may change as it is further implemented.
The introduction of ETA significantly simplifies the organization of tourist and private trips by Ukrainians to South Africa, since previously obtaining permission required going through the traditional visa procedure.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to revoke up to 200,000 business and tourist visas held by foreign nationals who applied for asylum after entering the country. If the decision is carried out on the stated scale, it will be the largest single mass revocation of visas in U.S. history.
The Associated Press reported this on August 24, citing documents from the U.S. State Department and two U.S. officials.
The measure applies to nonimmigrant visas in the B1 and B2 categories, which are intended primarily for business and tourist travel, visiting relatives, and receiving medical treatment, respectively.
Visas issued between 2016 and 2026 may be subject to this new measure if their holders applied for asylum after arriving in the United States or are continuing the asylum process.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed that the procedure is being prepared but did not specify its final scope.
“We are coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to identify and revoke nonimmigrant visas held by foreign nationals who entered the United States as short-term visitors and subsequently applied for asylum in order to remain here permanently,” the State Department spokesperson said.
According to him, the process will be carried out gradually, so the number of revoked visas remains uncertain for now.
Thus, the figure of up to 200,000 visas is currently an AP estimate based on internal documents and information from U.S. officials, rather than an officially announced quota by the State Department.
The revocation of visas will not result in the immediate deportation of all affected foreign nationals from the U.S.
According to the AP, most people whose asylum applications are pending will be transferred to the appropriate immigration category; however, they will no longer be considered to be in the country as business or tourist visitors.
The administration’s main argument is that B1/B2 visas are issued to people who state that their trip is temporary and that they intend to leave the U.S. The authorities view the filing of an asylum application after entry as possible evidence that the original purpose of the trip may not have matched the stated one.
The large-scale revocation of visas is expected to face legal challenges. The AP notes that the decision could still be reviewed or challenged before it is fully implemented.
The new measure will be a continuation of the significant tightening of U.S. visa and immigration policies.
The State Department reported on August 10, 2026, that more than 175,000 visas for foreign nationals have already been revoked since Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
According to the department, the grounds for revocation included visa violations, criminal offenses, fraud, threats to national security, and other violations. Among the most common reasons cited by the State Department were assaults, driving under the influence, theft, and drug-related crimes.
However, the planned revocation of up to 200,000 visas is unique in that it targets a single specific category of visa holders and is part of a unified administrative campaign. This is precisely why the AP describes it as potentially the largest one-time mass revocation of visas in U.S. history.
In 2025–2026, the Trump administration also expanded social media screening of applicants, tightened requirements for several categories of foreign nationals, introduced or expanded visa restrictions for citizens of dozens of countries, and intensified scrutiny of visas that had already been issued.
The new measure applies to foreign nationals regardless of their specific nationality, provided they meet the specified criteria. Therefore, in theory, it could also affect Ukrainian citizens who entered the U.S. on valid B1/B2 visas and subsequently applied for asylum. At the same time, other mechanisms governing Ukrainians’ stay in
the U.S. are not, in and of themselves, the subject of the announced campaign.
Indonesian authorities have begun reviewing the residency and taxation rules for foreign digital nomads and other remote workers, whose numbers are growing, particularly in Bali and other popular tourist regions of the country.
Hendarsam Marantoko, Director General of the Indonesian Immigration Service, announced at a press conference that the agency, in collaboration with the tax service and other government agencies, is exploring possible legislative changes regarding foreign professionals who are physically present in Indonesia but work for companies abroad.
According to Marantoko, the current system creates a legal conflict. Standard work visas are primarily intended for foreigners employed by Indonesian employers, whereas digital nomads earn their income outside the country. The authorities need to determine whether they should be considered primarily as long-term foreign visitors who spend money on housing, food, and services, or as working residents subject to tax obligations.
That said, a separate legal framework for remote work in the country already exists. The current visa classification includes the E33G Remote Worker category for foreigners who are employed by a company located outside Indonesia and perform this work from within the country.
One of the key issues in the upcoming review will be taxation. According to current guidelines from the Indonesian Directorate General of Taxes, a foreign national can generally obtain domestic tax resident status if they reside in the country for more than 183 days within a 12-month period or demonstrate an intention to reside permanently in Indonesia. These rules may also apply to digital nomads, depending on specific circumstances and international double taxation treaties.
The Indonesian authorities have not yet disclosed the specific details of the new rules or the timeline for their implementation. The Immigration Service has stated that official changes will be announced after the completion of an interagency review. At the same time, the authorities aim to preserve the economic benefits of having remote workers while strengthening oversight of immigration violations, overstaying visas, and undeclared economic activities.
Bali remains one of the world’s largest hubs for digital nomads: foreigners who live here long-term drive demand for rental housing, restaurants, coworking spaces, and other services. Therefore, changes to visa and, especially, tax regulations could directly affect a significant portion of foreigners who use the island as a permanent base for remote work.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering the possibility of introducing refundable security deposits of up to $100,000 for certain foreign nationals applying for immigrant visas and green cards through U.S. consulates abroad.
The proposal is being developed by the U.S. Department of State in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security. A final decision has not yet been made, and official regulations and a list of applicant categories have not been published. The amount of the bond under discussion may be determined on a case-by-case basis and could be either lower or higher than the estimated $100,000.
It is expected that the requirement will initially be tested on citizens of a limited number of countries. The bond could be posted either by the applicant themselves or by relatives or sponsors residing in the U.S.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the money is planned to be returned after the immigrant obtains U.S. citizenship. Naturalization is typically possible no earlier than five years after obtaining permanent resident status. Thus, a significant amount of money may remain frozen for several years.
The State Department stated that it is reviewing existing authorities that allow it to require financial guarantees from certain applicants. The stated goal of the initiative is to confirm that a prospective immigrant has the means to support themselves and will not become dependent on public assistance.
U.S. law allows for the denial of a visa to a foreign national whom a consular officer deems a potential recipient of public assistance. The assessment takes into account the applicant’s age, health, education, professional skills, financial resources, and family status.
Current federal regulations already provide for the possibility of issuing an immigrant visa after a bond is posted, provided that it eliminates the risk of the applicant being deemed a potential financial burden on the government. Such a bond may be released after naturalization, permanent departure from the United States, or the foreign national’s death, provided the conditions have not been violated.
The proposed mechanism should not be confused with the existing pilot bond program for B-1/B-2 tourist and business visas. Under this program, certain applicants from countries with high rates of visa violations may be required to post a refundable bond of up to $15,000.
The introduction of a $100,000 bond could significantly limit access to family-based immigration for applicants with low to moderate incomes. Immigrant visas are most commonly issued to spouses, parents, children, and other relatives of U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
For now, this is only a proposed initiative. Applicants are not required to post such a bond until an official decision is published and they receive a corresponding request from a U.S. consulate.
A new project, LemoCard, has entered the crypto-financial services market, offering users a multi-card service for payments using cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies, the project’s organizers told Open4Business.
The project was created by Swiss and Canadian companies as an alternative to traditional banking amid the implementation of new European MiCA regulations for the crypto market.
The service allows users to top up their balance with cryptocurrency, after which the funds are automatically converted into fiat currency for payments. Thus, customers can use digital assets for everyday payments, paying in retail chains with regular euros or hryvnias.
The platform operates 24/7. It also offers round-the-clock customer support in five languages.
You can set up a virtual account in just a few minutes via Telegram, the official web version of the service, or the mobile apps for iOS and Android.
To fully use the wallet, users must complete the standard KYC identity verification process. This is a mandatory step for financial services that handle payment cards and cryptocurrency transactions.
Currently, the service offers two Mastercard cards in euros. LemoCard also supports direct SEPA transfers between European accounts within the system. The developers plan to add Visa cards in US dollars in the near future.
One of the service’s drawbacks is the 2.5% fee for topping up the card with cryptocurrency converted to euros. The project claims that competitors often offset lower fees with hidden charges.
LemoCard is compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay, allowing users to make contactless payments with the cards. Additionally, users can request a physical card to be mailed to them.
The service also features an affiliate program with a two-tier reward system. Users can earn 0.25% of the financial turnover generated by their referrals and the users they invite.
The launch of LemoCard demonstrates that the market for crypto cards and crypto financial services continues to evolve, despite increased regulation in Europe. For users, such products provide a way to link cryptocurrency assets to the familiar payment infrastructure of Mastercard and Visa.
On April 15, the Georgian Parliament passed a law in its third reading to introduce a new C5 visa category; the text of the law, published in the Official Gazette, stipulates that it takes effect upon publication.
The new C5 visa will be a multiple-entry short-term visa valid for up to 5 years, granting the holder the right to stay in Georgia for up to 1 year. The visa is intended for foreigners visiting the country for tourism purposes and who are permitted to work only on behalf of a non-resident, provided such work is related to that non-resident’s employment outside Georgia. In essence, this establishes a legal framework for remote work for foreign companies or clients.
The law also explicitly provides for the extension of this visa to the spouse and minor children of the primary applicant. Additionally, the regulations allow for expedited processing of applications by separate government decision.
For the C5 visa and its electronic version via a special website, a fee range of $20 to $500 has been established, but the specific amount must be further determined by a resolution of the Georgian government.
According to the drafters of the law, the new visa is intended as a tool to attract high-income, low-risk foreigners from “safe countries.”
