Vienna Airport Greets Its 32-Millionth Passenger, Signalling Post-Pandemic Mobility Boom
Czech Republic’s New Residence Law for Foreigners Enters Into Force, Launching Fully-Digital Immigration System
Germany Extends ‘Temporary’ Land-Border Checks Until 15 March 2026
Latest News
Shenzhen and Hong Kong keep Luohu & Shenzhen Bay checkpoints open overnight to ease New-Year rush
In a one-night pilot, Luohu stayed open until 02:00 and Shenzhen Bay until 06:30 on 1 January, giving holiday travellers and freight operators extra clearance capacity. The move averted a post-fireworks crunch and provided valuable data for future 24-hour operations, with clear benefits for Hong Kong retailers, hotels and mobility planners.
U.S. Implements Expanded Travel Ban on 39 Countries as Proclamation 10998 Takes Effect
The United States began enforcing Presidential Proclamation 10998 on January 1, 2026, halting most immigrant and non-immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 39 countries. The move tightens earlier bans by removing family-based exceptions and will disrupt staffing, training and travel plans for U.S.-based multinationals that employ or serve citizens of the listed countries.
Amazon lets India-based staff stranded by U.S. visa backlog work remotely until March
Amazon has granted a temporary remote-work waiver to employees stuck in India because U.S. visa interviews were abruptly rescheduled, relaxing its strict office-attendance rule until 2 March 2026. The move highlights growing H-1B processing backlogs and forces companies to craft contingency plans to keep mission-critical staff productive without creating tax or regulatory risk.
New year, new rules: Poland makes MOS e-filing mandatory and raises visa & residence-permit fees
From 1 January 2026 all Polish residence-permit applications must be filed online via the MOS portal, and government fees have risen steeply (e.g., national visas €200, residence permits PLN 400–800). Employers must equip foreign staff with e-signatures and factor in higher relocation budgets, while applicants should expect early-stage portal glitches and tighter document scrutiny.
U.S. travel ban on 39 countries and higher immigration fees take effect; implications for Indian firms
A widened U.S. travel ban and a raft of consular and USCIS fee hikes took effect on 1 January 2026. Although Indians are not directly banned, higher costs and stricter scrutiny will affect Indian corporates sending staff to the United States, especially dual-nationals and frequent business travellers.
Dubai & Sharjah airports issue New Year’s Eve travel alert as passenger volumes surge
DXB and SHJ expect unprecedented New Year’s Eve passenger flows and are telling flyers to arrive early, use 24-hour Metro services and take advantage of off-airport bag-drop points. Extra smart-gate lanes and immigration staff are in place, but road closures around downtown Dubai could add significant transit time. Corporate mobility teams should warn travellers and build extra buffers into itineraries.
Dublin Airport Shatters Single-Day Passenger Record as Holiday Rush Peaks
Dublin Airport processed over 100,000 passengers on 30 December, the highest single-day total on record, thanks in part to new CT scanners that relaxed liquid rules and sped security. While operational performance held, landside congestion and parking shortages revealed infrastructure strain. The daa is again urging Government to raise the 32-million-passenger cap, warning that continued limits could curtail airline capacity and raise fares—a key concern for corporates managing Irish mobility programmes.
Start-Up Visa Shut to New Applications After Midnight Cut-Off
IRCC closed the Start-Up Visa pathway to nearly all new applicants at midnight, 1 January 2026, citing unsustainable backlogs. Only entrepreneurs with 2025 commitment certificates can still apply, and no new optional work-permit requests are allowed. Firms must pivot to alternative work-authorisation strategies until a replacement pilot launches.
Australian passport fee rises to AUD 422 from 1 January 2026
From today, a standard ten-year Australian passport now costs A$422 after DFAT applied its annual CPI indexation. Companies that cover documentation expenses will need to adjust budgets, and travellers are urged to renew early to avoid New-Year bottlenecks. The increase keeps Australia’s passport program fully cost-recovered while funding further biometric enhancements.
UAE unveils two-year, multiple-entry “Mission Visa” for project-based workers
Effective 1 January 2026, the UAE is replacing its 90-day single-entry Mission Visa with a two-year, multiple-entry permit that allows stays of up to 60 days per trip and 180 days per year. The change slashes renewal cycles, links the visa to travellers’ passports for e-gate use, and gives employers a mid-range option between short visits and full residency. Detailed implementing guidelines are due in Q1 2026.
Winter Storm Disrupts Zurich & Geneva Airports, Triggering 244 Flight Delays on New-Year’s Eve
Gale-force winds and freezing rain on 30 December led to 244 flight delays and two cancellations at Zurich and Geneva—an unusually large disruption for normally punctual Swiss hubs. Mobility managers should expect residual delays into 1 January and build extra slack into itineraries.
Türkiye Grants 90-Day Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Citizens Starting Jan 2
A presidential decree published on Jan 1 gives Chinese citizens visa-free access to Türkiye for up to 90 days per half-year, effective Jan 2. The policy is expected to boost tourism and business travel, simplify corporate rotations, and further expand bilateral trade ties.
Cyprus Ends 2025 With 169,844 Valid Residence Permits as Irregular Arrivals Plunge 86 %
Cyprus closed 2025 with 169,844 valid residence permits and an 86 % year-on-year fall in irregular arrivals, according to official statistics released on 31 December. Reduced backlogs and quicker processing give companies a more predictable talent pipeline, but sectoral quotas and pending asylum audits mean compliance vigilance is still required.
UK to raise English-language benchmark for Skilled Worker, Scale-up and Graduate visas from 8 January 2026
From 8 January 2026 first-time applicants for the UK’s Skilled Worker, Scale-up and HPI visas must prove B2-level English rather than B1. The Home Office says the tougher requirement will aid integration, but employers now face higher testing costs and potential onboarding delays. Existing visa-holders extending are exempt.
Mainland forecasts record 2.1 million daily border movements – Hong Kong braces for spill-over
China’s immigration authority predicts a 22 percent year-on-year jump to 2.1 million daily border crossings over the 1–3 January break, with Luohu and Futian among the busiest. Hong Kong employers face both opportunity and risk: revived deal-making but heavier congestion at key checkpoints and airports.