Aer Lingus to end all Manchester long-haul routes, shifting traffic via Dublin
Record 697 Million Cross-Border Trips in 2025 Show China’s Visa-Free Strategy Is Working
Third Day of Belgium’s Five-Day Rail Strike Brings Uneven Disruption for Business Travellers
Latest News
Half of New Immigrants to France in 2025 Were Students or Refugees
France issued a record 384,000 first residence permits in 2025. Humanitarian and student categories accounted for 50 % of all newcomers, while low-skill economic permits fell 13 %. The data signal strong opportunities for universities and high-skill employers, but tighter vetting for seasonal and lower-skill roles.
Home Office confirms sweeping rule changes to Skilled Worker, GBM and Scale-up routes
An insight note dated 28 January 2026 reveals the detail behind July’s Immigration Rule overhaul: skill level raised to RQF 6, salary thresholds up to £41,700 and overseas recruitment banned for most care-worker roles. Transitional protections last until 2028, but new hires after 22 July must meet the stricter criteria, pushing up mobility costs and narrowing talent pools.
Texas Governor Orders Freeze on New H-1B Visa Filings at State Agencies and Universities
Governor Greg Abbott has frozen new H-1B petitions by Texas state agencies and public universities through 2027, allowing exceptions only with Workforce Commission approval. The unprecedented state-level action will stall recruitment of foreign professionals, particularly in health care and research, and forces mobility teams to find alternate visa strategies or relocate roles. The move exemplifies how sub-federal politics can abruptly reshape U.S. talent flows.
UAE tightens Remote Working Visa: six-month income proof now mandatory
Effective 28 Jan 2026, Remote Working Visa applicants must submit six months, not three, of bank statements to prove they meet the income threshold. The new rule lengthens the qualifying period for newly hired staff and freelancers, meaning businesses will need to plan relocations further in advance or consider alternative residence categories.
Virgin Australia to Launch Canberra–Bali Flights, Bringing First International Service to ACT
Virgin Australia will begin nonstop Canberra–Denpasar flights on 22 June 2026, creating the ACT’s first regular international air service and reducing travel times for public- and private-sector travellers based in the capital. The three-weekly Boeing 737 operation adds 40,000 seats a year, offers intro return fares from A$399 and integrates with Virgin’s domestic network. Mobility managers gain a quicker, potentially cheaper routing to Indonesia but should brief travellers on e-VOA formalities.
Entry/Exit System phase-two snarls Spanish airports, industry calls for contingency plans
As the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System ramps up to 35 percent coverage, long queues at Malaga, Tenerife South and other Spanish airports are delaying flights and angering tourists. ACI Europe and CEHAT say urgent staffing and contingency measures are needed before the system reaches full 100 percent rollout on 10 April 2026.
EU Migration Chief Unveils Plan for Stricter Border Controls and Speedier Deportations
The European Commission on 28 January proposed tougher external-border checks, ten-year re-entry bans for deportees and ‘return hubs’ outside the EU. Germany cautiously supports the move, which could mean more spot checks for business travellers in the near term but, if successful, less administrative backlog for work-permit processing later on.
Poland prepares employers for post-March 2026 rules on hiring Ukrainians
Fragomen announced a 28 January webinar that reveals how Poland will regulate the stay and employment of Ukrainian citizens once the current UKR temporary-protection regime expires on 4 March 2026. Draft rules will require full work authorisation for Ukrainians, introduce a new three-year “CUKR” residence card, and place standard social-security obligations on employers. HR and mobility teams have little over a year to convert simple notifications into residence-and-work permits, schedule biometrics, and budget for higher compliance costs.
Indian Consulate Opens One-Stop Application Centre in Seattle
India has opened a dedicated Consular Application Centre in Seattle, giving Indian passport holders, OCI card-seekers and visa applicants in the Pacific Northwest a local, full-service location for the first time. The facility, operated with VFS Global, streamlines paperwork, offers Saturday hours and supports Global Entry verification—reducing travel and processing costs for businesses and the diaspora.
UK government proposes sharp rises to ETA, citizenship and sponsorship fees
Draft regulations published on 28 January 2026 would raise the ETA from £10 to £16, double the Certificate of Sponsorship fee to £525 and add £105 to the cost of naturalisation. The Home Office says the move will generate £269 million and reduce reliance on general taxation, but employers fear higher mobility costs and are rushing to issue sponsorship certificates before the hike takes effect.
French Minister Floats 3-Year Freeze on Legal Immigration
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has proposed suspending most legal immigration for up to three years, excluding select professionals and some students. The politically charged idea enjoys public support but faces legal hurdles and raises red flags for employers that rely on foreign talent.
CGTN: China Extends Visa-Free Access for Finns, Urges More Two-Way Tourism
CGTN confirmed on 28 January that China’s 30-day, visa-free entry scheme for Finnish citizens has been extended through 2026, giving Finnish businesses and tourists rare two-year planning certainty and fuelling a surge in flight searches and trade-fair interest.