Malaga-Costa del Sol hit by two-hour queues as EU Entry/Exit System falters over Christmas
Biometric Failure Triggers Three-Hour Queues at Prague Airport
Germany Extends Land Border Checks Until 15 March 2026
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Finland Raises Bar for Permanent Residence: Six-Year Stay, New Language & Work Rules from January 2026
From 8 January 2026, Finland will require six years of continuous residence, A2-level Finnish/Swedish and two years’ employment for permanent-residence permits. The tougher rules mean HR teams must extend retention timelines and invest earlier in language support, while eligible employees should file before year-end to beat the change.
Saudi Arabia tops global list for deporting Indian nationals in 2025
Parliamentary data show 24,670 Indians were deported in 2025; Saudi Arabia alone sent back over 11,000, mostly for visa overstays. The crackdown highlights compliance risks for Indian workers and the companies that place them abroad.
U.S. begins mandatory facial-biometric screening for all foreign travelers
CBP’s new rule, effective December 26, makes facial-biometric screening mandatory for every foreign national entering or leaving the United States. The change removes age and nationality exemptions, extends to land and sea ports, and carries fines for non-compliance. Companies must brief travelers on the added step and ensure passport data are current.
France Introduces Mandatory Civic Exam for Multi-Year Residence Permits From 1 January 2026
From 1 January 2026, foreign residents applying for multi-year residence cards, ten-year cards or naturalisation must first pass a 40-question civic exam and score 80 %. The change affects more than 100,000 applicants annually and could lengthen processing times for new hires and internal transferees. Employers should budget for exam fees, preparation courses and potential onboarding delays.
Record 1.25 Million Border Crossings on Christmas Day Underscore Hong Kong-Mainland Re-integration
Hong Kong processed 1.25 million inbound and outbound trips on 25 December—the busiest single day since borders fully reopened. Lo Wu was again the workhorse, and both retailers and hotels saw a holiday sales bump. Businesses should prepare for longer queues and consider using real-time checkpoint dashboards when planning Greater Bay Area day trips.
Brazil leads regional shift to e-visas and biometrics, sets 2026 deadline for digital borders
Brazil has announced that it will expand its e-visa system and roll out a regional biometric travel credential with Peru, Colombia and Uruguay. Dedicated e-gates at major airports and a mobile “cross-border wallet” will enter beta testing in Q2 2026, ahead of COP30. The scheme promises faster assignments and lower compliance costs but raises data-privacy questions for employers.
Vienna Airport warns of 3-hour queues as EU Entry/Exit System glitches worsen
Technical glitches in the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System are causing processing times at Vienna airport to rise by up to 70 %, with queues already stretching to three hours. ACI Europe has asked the European Commission to delay the next rollout phase, while Austrian airports scramble to add counters and staff. Companies should expect longer connection times and brief non-EU travellers accordingly.
Italy’s airports battle long queues as new EU Entry/Exit System falters
Technical failures in the new EU Entry/Exit System are causing three-hour queues at major Italian airports, prompting ACI Europe to demand an urgent review of the roll-out. The delays threaten holiday travel, squeeze business-connection windows and could push premium traffic to competing hubs if not fixed swiftly.
Sudden H-1B visa revocations leave Indians stranded overseas
At least 37 Indian H-1B professionals reportedly received abrupt visa-revocation emails this month; one engineer who returned for a family emergency is now barred from re-entering the US. The unexplained move has rattled Indian tech talent and forced companies to activate contingency travel plans.
UAE unveils biggest visa shake-up since 2019, adding AI-Specialist, Entertainment, Events and Maritime Tourism permits
A Cabinet resolution dated 27 Dec 2025 introduces four new visit-visa categories—Specialist (AI), Entertainment, Events and Maritime Tourism—while increasing salary thresholds for residents who wish to sponsor friends or distant relatives. The move strengthens the UAE’s bid to lure high-skill workers and big-ticket events, but also forces employers to revisit compliance checklists and budget for higher sponsorship costs.
Flanders cuts shortage-occupation list and tightens fast-track work-permit rules
From 1 January 2026, Flanders will remove several lower-skilled jobs from its fast-track shortage-occupation list and impose a nine-week labour-market test before employers can hire non-EU nationals for those roles. The narrower list is meant to prioritise high-skill bottlenecks but will lengthen processing times for many sponsors and could deepen driver shortages. Companies should file renewals before year-end and build extra lead time into 2026 recruitment.
U.S. Rolls Out Mandatory Biometric Entry-Exit Checks, Bringing New Border Formalities for Canadians
Effective December 27 2025, the United States has made biometric exit and re-entry checks mandatory for all non-U.S. citizens—including Canadians—at airports, land and sea ports. The move adds facial imaging and, in many cases, fingerprints or iris scans to the border process, potentially lengthening wait times while infrastructure and travellers adjust. Companies with cross-border staff will need to budget extra transit time and update travel guidance.
China extends fingerprint-free visa processing at eight high-volume consulates
China has extended its fingerprint-collection waiver for short-term visa categories at eight major foreign consulates until the end of 2026, easing paperwork for tourists and business travellers and giving corporates more flexibility in delegating submissions.
Turkey Ends Sticker Visa for Cypriot Passports, Electronic Visa Now Mandatory
From 2 January 2026, Cypriot passport holders will no longer be able to buy a sticker visa on arrival in Turkey. Instead, they must obtain an electronic visa in advance or apply at a Turkish mission, adding extra lead-time and cost for business and holiday travel. Companies should revise travel policies immediately.
Interior Ministry Shuts Immigration Hotlines Until 2 January, Putting January Permit Renewals at Risk
Both of the Interior Ministry’s immigration helplines are offline until 2 January, leaving foreign employees and Ukrainian refugees without phone support during the busiest renewal season. Companies must rely on email, in-person visits or private agents to avoid missed deadlines and fines.
China to grant Spaniards 15-day visa-free entry from 1 January 2026
Beijing has added Spain to its 15-day visa-free pilot from 1 January 2026, eliminating consular paperwork for short business or tourism trips. The waiver simplifies last-minute travel for Spanish firms operating in China but requires strict adherence to the 15-day limit.