Life & Health
Millions of Westerners are quietly rebuilding their lives in Asia-Pacific — for the healthcare, the property, the retirement they can’t get at home. Here’s how, honestly.
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Feb- 2026 -24 February
Japan’s departure tax triples in July 2026 — adds $55 per family
Japan's international departure tax, currently set at ¥1,000, will triple to ¥3,000 starting July 1, 2026. This increase applies to all travelers departing Japan on international flights. This change represents…
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24 February
Bhutan implements 5% GST on all tour packages effective January 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, Bhutan introduced a mandatory 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on all tourism-related services, including hotels, private guides, and transport. This replaces the previous fragmented sales…
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24 February
Tuvalu: Inaugural national cultural festival in May 2026 — high demand expected
Tuvalu will host its first-ever national cultural festival in the capital, Funafuti, in May 2026. This five-day event is designed to showcase and preserve traditions from all eight inhabited islands.…
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24 February
Indonesia volcano alerts updated February 2026 — check exclusion zones
As of February 12, 2026, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to within several kilometers of multiple volcanoes in Indonesia, including Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, Mount…
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24 February
Israel: Mandatory ETA-IL travel authorization required for 2026 travel — adds $8 USD per application
Effective for travel in 2026, Israel now requires a mandatory Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) for visitors from visa-exempt countries, including the United States and Canada. This is a new pre-screening…
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24 February
China: Australian government warns of new embassy phone scams
In a January 2026 update, the Australian government's Smartraveller service issued a specific warning about phone scams targeting travelers in China. Scammers are impersonating the Australian Embassy's official phone number…
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24 February
Kiribati entry simplified — health form scrapped as of January 2026
As of January 1, 2026, Kiribati has discontinued its online health declaration form. This pandemic-era requirement is no longer necessary for entry, streamlining the arrival process for all international travelers.…
