México restabelece visto eletrônico (SAE) para turistas e executivos brasileiros
Lufthansa strike grounds nearly 800 flights and strands 100,000 passengers across Germany
Hong Kong prepares for record-breaking 11.38 million border crossings over Lunar New Year
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700 Trains Cancelled Nationwide as Renfe Strike Ends, Hitting Business Travel Hubs
The final day of a three-day national rail strike wiped out about 700 passenger services, paralysing key business corridors and forcing companies to activate emergency travel plans. Although participation was low, critical driver shortages amplified the impact, underlining the need for strike-contingency clauses in corporate mobility policies.
Spanish Police Warn of 'Lost Passport' Scam as Migrants Seek to Qualify for 2026 Regularisation
Police have detected a 60 % jump in ‘lost passport’ reports that appear designed to create proof-of-presence for Spain’s 2026 migrant regularisation. Officers must now perform full ID checks, and filing a false report can derail amnesty bids. Employers should prepare stricter onboarding compliance as authorities combine humanitarian goals with fraud crack-downs.
Student and Care-Worker Visa Numbers Plummet in Latest Home Office Data
Home Office figures for January 2026 show Health & Care Worker visa applications down 97 % from their 2023 peak, while sponsored-study visas slid 31 % year-on-year to a four-year low. The collapse follows higher salary thresholds, an end to most overseas care recruitment and restrictions on student dependants. Employers and universities warn of staffing gaps and steep revenue losses if the trend continues.
DHS Finalizes Weighted H-1B Lottery Rule, Favoring Higher-Paid Jobs from FY 2027
DHS confirmed that, beginning with the FY 2027 cap, USCIS will weight H-1B lottery entries by prevailing-wage level, giving higher-paid positions up to four chances of selection. Employers must document wage data and coordinate with candidates because one low-wage filing can reduce a beneficiary’s odds across all registrations. The rule benefits companies that can pay senior-level salaries but threatens entry-level hiring pipelines, making early planning essential.
Czech Cabinet Green-Lights Five-Year Residency Extension For Self-Sufficient Ukrainian Workers
Prague will keep its flagship residency scheme for economically self-sufficient Ukrainian refugees, offering new five-year permits and a pathway to permanence. The decision secures badly-needed labour for Czech industry but comes alongside promises of stricter immigration enforcement to satisfy populist coalition partners. Employers should prepare applications early, as the renewed quota is limited.
Austria’s draft GEAS law would cap family-reunification visas and delay reunions by up to three years
Amnesty International Österreich says Austria’s draft law to implement the EU asylum pact goes far beyond Brussels’ minimum rules. A proposed annual quota would leave many refugees waiting years to reunite with spouses and children, while shifting permits to the stricter residence act makes dependants’ status conditional on the sponsor’s job and income. Human-rights groups threaten court action, and employers warn of talent-retention risks.
Dubai International Airport breaks global record with 95.2 million passengers in 2025
Dubai International (DXB) processed 95.2 million travellers in 2025, the highest annual international passenger traffic ever recorded, according to data released on 12 February 2026. Sustained growth, strong on-time performance and record baggage handling cement DXB’s status as the world’s busiest international hub, giving employers and mobility teams greater confidence in routing staff through Dubai.
Berlin faces political backlash after Interior Ministry freezes funding for voluntary integration courses
Germany’s Interior Ministry has ordered an immediate halt to publicly funded integration courses for migrants who are not legally required to attend, citing cost savings. The SPD and other parties decry the freeze as self-defeating, warning it will hamper labour-market integration and raise private training costs for employers. Companies should budget for alternative language provision and expect onboarding delays while the political dispute plays out.
China strictly enforces higher salary thresholds for foreign Category A & B work permits
China has reinstated full salary compliance for foreign work permits: Category A must earn at least six times and Category B four times the local average wage. Beijing and Shanghai now require minimum monthly pay of roughly RMB 71.6k and RMB 49.7k respectively. Employers face higher payroll costs, stricter document reviews and longer processing times, underscoring the need to audit expatriate compensation packages now.
Swiss Sets Summer Referendum on SVP Plan to Cap Population at 10 Million
The Federal Council has scheduled a 10 June 2026 referendum on the SVP’s initiative to cap Switzerland’s population at 10 million. Passage would oblige the government to restrict new residence permits and, ultimately, exit the EU free-movement accord—potentially crippling talent pipelines for Swiss-based multinationals and undermining bilateral trade deals.
French MPs Re-open Debate on Municipal Voting Rights for Non-EU Foreigners
France’s lower house opened debate on a constitutional bill that would let non-EU foreigners vote in municipal elections after five years’ residence. The measure, if ultimately approved, would affect around 3.8 million people and could strengthen France’s appeal to international talent, but still needs super-majority backing or a referendum.
16 % year-on-year jump in holiday traffic will test Hong Kong’s control-points resilience
The SCMP contextualises the government’s forecast, highlighting a 16 % surge in cross-border movements versus 2025 and flagging capacity constraints at land checkpoints and hotels. Companies are adjusting travel plans and budgets accordingly.
Cabinet approves Dublin Airport Passenger Capacity Bill, paving way to lift 32-million cap
Ireland’s Cabinet has published the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill, the long-awaited legislation that will abolish the 32-million passenger cap. Removing the limit is expected to boost air connectivity, support exports and tourism, and give businesses greater certainty when planning travel or relocation to Ireland.
Swiss Airports Brace for EU Biometric Entry/Exit System Bottlenecks
Zurich, Basel and Geneva airports warned on 12 February that mandatory biometric enrolment under the EU’s Entry/Exit System could lengthen passport-control times by up to 70 minutes per wide-body arrival. Companies are urged to pad travel schedules from 10 April 2026 and brief employees on the new fingerprint-and-face-scan requirement.