Italy’s New ‘Caporalato’ Residence Permit: Government Approves Six-Month Visa to Protect Exploited Migrant Workers
Switzerland Keeps 2026 Work-Permit Quotas Unchanged, Says Federal Council
China Goes Paperless: Online Arrival Card for Foreign Travelers Officially Launches Nationwide
Latest News
Cyprus Secures EU Backing to Join Schengen Zone by 2026
Deputy Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides says Cyprus has finished the technical work to join the Schengen Area and expects the EU’s evaluation mission to approve accession in 2025, paving the way for political endorsement in 2026. For companies, Schengen membership would abolish routine passport checks on Cyprus–EU routes, shorten transfer times and simplify short-term business travel. The move would also align with the island’s EU Council presidency, giving Nicosia extra leverage to secure support from other member states.
Spain Raises Income Threshold for Parent Family-Reunification Applications
Effective 20 November 2025, Spain has increased by 25 % the income employees must show to sponsor their parents for residence, and it now demands stronger proof of financial or medical dependency. Companies must update mobility budgets and documentation immediately or risk refusals.
UK unveils ‘Earned Settlement’ model: migrants face 10- to 30-year wait and no benefits until citizenship
The Home Office has released details of an “Earned Settlement” system that doubles the standard qualifying time for permanent residence to 10 years and withholds most benefits until migrants become citizens. Waiting periods could stretch to 30 years for irregular entrants, while high earners keep a three-year fast track. Employers must prepare for longer sponsorship costs and new compliance duties.
Ireland publishes 2025-2028 Strategy pledging a “fair and firm” immigration system
Ireland’s new three-year Justice Strategy, released on 20 November 2025, prioritises faster digital processing for work permits and visas, full alignment with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and tougher enforcement against overstays. Businesses should prepare for quicker but more data-driven compliance checks and evolving application portals.
Australia issues Ministerial Direction 115 to rebalance international student flows
Effective 14 November 2025, Ministerial Direction 115 links student-visa processing speed to how closely each provider keeps within its enrolment allocation. The measure is designed to slow growth in crowded city campuses, reward compliant institutions and shore up integrity while maintaining the value of Australia’s international-education sector. Mobility teams should prepare for possible delays if partnering with institutions that exceed their caps.
Arraigo Social Waiting Time Cut from Three to Two Years
From 20 November 2025, migrants need only 24 (not 36) months of prior residence to qualify for Spain’s Arraigo Social permits. The faster path to legal status lets companies retain talent sooner and may ease shortages in key sectors.
IRCC Data Reveal 2.2 Million Applications in System; Backlog Nears One Million
IRCC’s latest inventory snapshot shows 2.2 million immigration files in process and nearly one million exceeding service standards. Temporary-residence categories and study permits are most affected, signalling protracted processing times for employers, students and families through 2026.
India Expands Visa-on-Arrival to Nine Airports for UAE Nationals
India has widened its visa-on-arrival scheme for UAE citizens to nine airports, adding Cochin, Calicut and Ahmedabad. The decision simplifies last-minute travel, supports CEPA trade objectives and is expected to boost medical and business traffic from the Emirates.
Border Force strike triggers two-hour queues at six UK airports as holiday peak looms
A rolling PCS strike by over 1,000 Border Force officers has already caused two-hour immigration queues at major UK airports, with the union warning action could last into January. Contingency staff lack full clearance to process non-UK passports, raising the prospect of widespread delays for business travellers during the crucial holiday season.
Fire Forces Full Evacuation of COP30 Venue in Belém, Disrupting Thousands of Delegates
A fire on 20 November forced the evacuation of the entire COP30 Blue Zone in Belém. No one was hurt, but negotiations were halted just two days before the summit’s scheduled close, creating logistical headaches for more than 30,000 delegates and their employers. Mobility managers should expect schedule extensions, possible venue changes and stricter security screenings.
Home Affairs sounds alarm on spike in student-visa document fraud
The DHA’s 20 November Integrity Alert warns universities of rising document fraud in student-visa applications and threatens risk-rating downgrades for lax checks. Stricter verification and looming fee hikes could lengthen processing times for genuine students and their dependants, affecting talent pipelines from South Asia.
DHS Confirms 2026 Visa-Fee Hikes: Brazilians to Pay More for ESTA, EVUS and Parole Requests
Starting 1 January 2026, the U.S. will almost double ESTA fees and raise EVUS and parole charges. Dual-national Brazilians who rely on ESTA for U.S. trips, as well as companies budgeting for 2026 mobility programmes, will face higher costs and should update travel-policy guidance.
100 Chinese Ports Can Now Issue On-Arrival Permits for Taiwan Residents
From 20 November, 100 Chinese ports can issue one-time Mainland Travel Permits to Taiwan residents on arrival, up from 58. The expansion covers 56 airports and nearly all major seaports and land crossings, slashing detours and wait times for last-minute cross-strait business trips.
Three-Hour General Strike to Disrupt 54 Flights at Larnaca and Paphos Airports
A three-hour general strike on 20 November will disrupt at least 54 flights and more than 15,000 passengers at Cyprus’ two international airports. Airlines are cancelling or retiming services, and companies are warning assignees to expect immigration queues and cargo delays. Unions say further industrial action could follow if wage talks fail, highlighting Cyprus’ reliance on air transport for business mobility.
‘Cita Previa’ Appointment Crisis Delays On-Boarding of Foreign Talent
Spain’s overburdened online appointment system is delaying residence-card issuance by up to three months, creating costly project slippage and compliance risks for employers who move staff to Spain.
EU Council Approves Digital Travel Application—Finland to Pilot Seamless QR-Code Entry in 2026
The EU has cleared the Digital Travel Application regulation, creating a biometric pre-clearance system that Finland plans to pilot as early as 2026. Travellers will upload passport and facial data before departure and receive a QR code for rapid entry, potentially halving border-control times at Helsinki-Vantaa. Finnish employers stand to gain from smoother business-travel compliance and reduced risk of overstays.