And just when we thought we’d caught our bearings, Q1’s almost done and dusted. While the festive season, crunch time and more importantly, Punch the baby monkey’s plight may have spiked our cortisol levels, there’s a tried-and-tested panacea to bring them back down. That’s right, going on a vacation’s the perfect reset for workplace burnout.
But if you’re already daydreaming about jetting off during the upcoming long weekends, you might want to take note of these new travel restrictions and rules around the world. Most of these concern some of the hottest destinations Singaporeans tend to flock to, so listen up if you’re heading to countries like Japan, Bali, or Taiwan.
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Image credit: Agoda
Starting with the closest travel hotspot in terms of proximity to us, Johor has implemented an RM3/night (~S$0.98) hotel tax which all travellers, including Malaysians, will have to pay when they stay overnight at accommodation licensed by the state.
This new tax was introduced on 1st January 2026, and the money collected will be used to improve the state’s public facilities and tourism infrastructure. The hotel tax will be imposed on top of the RM10 (~S$3.26) tourism tax, so don’t be too alarmed when you see extra charges when you check out of your hotels on your next JB escapade.
Image credit: Indonesia Travel Agency
For those seeking a tropical escape to Indonesia, just take note that you’ll have to complete a new, mandatory digital arrival card when entering the country. Launched in 2025, the All Indonesia digital arrival card has consolidated multiple older arrival forms into one online submission, providing travellers a fuss-free way to provide their basic travel details.
You can submit your All Indonesia arrival card 72 hours before you touch down via the All Indonesia website or app (App Store | Google Play). Simply click on the language toggle in the top right to switch it from Bahasa Indonesia to English, and filling up the card should be straightforward. Submitting the card is free, but make sure to use only the official government website or app to avoid paying any third-party fees.
On top of the aforementioned All Indonesia arrival card, travellers to Bali will also have to pay a Bali Foreign Tourist Levy. Introduced on Valentine’s Day 2024, it’s basically a new tourist tax that you have to be aware of, where all international tourists are subject to a one-time entry tax of Rp150,000 (~S$11.30).
FYI, you’ll have to fork out the Rp150,000 even if you’re only transiting through Bali. You can pay for the levy via the official Love Bali website or app (App Store | Google Play), or at physical levy counters at the Ngurah Rai International Airport. Regardless of which method you choose, after making payment, you’ll receive a QR code that shows you’ve paid for it.
P.S. Singapore passport holders can go through Bali’s automated gates; you just need to apply in advance.
The new rule aims to address safety concerns over lithium-ion batteries, which can overheat and might lead them to combust in the air.
Image credit: Adobe Stock
Come mid-April 2026, you’ll want to make sure your devices are all juiced up before boarding a Japan-bound plane. That’s because the country’s transport ministry will be enforcing a ban on the use of portable power banks on flights to, from, and within Japan. You also can’t charge them using onboard power outlets.
You can still store them in your carry-on, but not in your checked luggage. However, each passenger will be limited to bringing only 2 power banks on board, and they can’t exceed a capacity of 160Wh, or approximately 43,200 mAh, each.
Another change regarding travel in Japan headed our way this year is the increment of the country’s departure tax. On 7th January 2019, Japan introduced a ¥1,000 (~S$8.02) tax to be paid by every foreign tourist and Japanese citizen aged 2 and up leaving the country by air or sea.
Fast forward to today, they’ll be increasing this departure tax, sometimes referred to as “sayonara tax”, by threefold starting 1st July 2026. The extra ¥3,000 (~S$24.06) that could have gone towards your Japan haul will instead be used to fund tourism infrastructure and introduce technology like facial recognition gates at the airport to speed up immigration.
Just like before, the departure tax will automatically be included in your airfare; at least you don’t have to go out of your way to cough it up. Do note that the increased sayonara tax will still apply to tickets purchased before July 2026 if the travel date is after that month. Only those departing Japan before we tick over to July will still pay the original ¥1,000 per person.
Following in Bali’s footsteps is the entire country of Thailand, as they’re planning on implementing a tourism tax of their own. It was supposed to be in effect earlier this year, but has been pushed back to come into play mid-2026.
As for specifics, all visitors, including visa-free tourists, entering Thailand by air will have to pay ฿300 (~S$11.82), while those coming in via land or sea will have to pay ฿150 (~S$5.91). What’s up in the air right now is the exact date that this tax will be imposed, as well as tax payment methods, so keep your eyes peeled for related news if you’re headed to the land of smiles anytime soon.
Similar to Japan’s sayonara tax increment, Thailand will also be hiking up their international departure tax, also referred to as Passenger Service Charge (PSC). The change is substantial; the PSC is rising by over 50%, from ฿730 (~S$28.77) to ฿1,120 (~S$44.14), and it applies to anyone flying out of the country, including Thai nationals.
It’s set to take effect from 20th June 2026 onwards at 6 airports: Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang Airport, as well as the Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, and Chiang Rai airports. Again, the PSC will be automatically paid for when purchasing plane tickets, making paying for it as painless as possible.
Another country that’s going digital with its arrival cards is Taiwan. Before you set your sights on the night markets and Taipei 101, be sure to fill out the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) online via the official TWAC website. If you’d rather not deal with it after you land, you can submit it up to 72 hours before you arrive in Taiwan.
To make things easier for larger groups, you can add up to 16 people in 1 submission, but you’ll still need to fill in each individual’s details. If, for some reason, your phone’s data roaming is not working, there are physical kiosks at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to help with submitting your arrival card.
Over in Europe, you might have to deal with their Entry/Exit System (EES) on your cross-continent travels. Since October 2025, certain countries in Europe’s Schengen Area have done away with traditional passport stamping in favour of the new EES digital border-control system.
Image credit: Getty Images
Across 29 destinations like France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Greece to name a few, travellers who are not citizens of an EU or Schengen state will have to scan their passport, have a facial photo taken, and provide fingerprints upon their first entry to the country. On subsequent entries, you can then make use of automated checks to breeze through immigration.
You can’t prepare for this beforehand either; the process happens right at border crossing points, so be sure to account for longer processing times at said borders on your initial visit.
Each successful ETA is valid for multiple entries to the UK and lasts for 2 years or until your passport expires.
Image credit: ATPI
Elsewhere in Europe, the United Kingdom has rolled out a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) that all visitors have to obtain prior to travelling to the UK. This scheme first kicked into effect on 25th February 2026, and requires all tourists from visa-exempt countries – Singapore included – to apply for one before setting foot in the country.
If you’ve applied for one to visit Australia, it’s pretty much the same process. You can apply for a UK ETA via the official GOV.UK website or app (App Store | Google Play), and each application costs £16 (~S$27.20). It’ll take them around 3 days to process your ETA application, but to err on the side of caution, do send them in a little earlier for some leeway.
If you’ve not visited these countries for vacation in a hot minute, do your due diligence and read up on some of the newer travel restrictions and rules they might have in place. Quite a few of them are only scheduled to come into effect later this year, so you’ll want to make sure you get your ETAs and arrival cards all sorted out for a smooth holiday.
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Cover image adapted from: Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, ATPI
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