Graduate visa fee doubles overnight – except for Pacific neighbours
Spain guarantees free healthcare for undocumented migrants through new royal decree
KLM Halts Dubai Flights Until 28 March as European and Asian Carriers Bypass UAE Airspace
Latest News
Passport Appointments Frozen Nationwide as Federal Police Begin Work-to-Rule Action
Federal Police officers have halted routine passport appointments across Brazil, accepting only emergency cases as part of a budget dispute. The freeze jeopardises tens of thousands of leisure and business trips and complicates visa applications that require valid passports. Corporations should audit employee documents and explore remote-work or dual-passport options until the impasse is resolved.
UK cuts asylum ‘move-on’ grace period to 42 days, raising homelessness fears
The Home Office has replaced its 56-day asylum accommodation ‘move-on’ pilot with a permanent 42-day grace period, effective for decisions from 9 March 2026. Homelessness charities say the shorter window will force more newly recognised refugees onto the streets and place extra pressure on councils and employers assisting with integration. Businesses that recruit talent from the refugee workforce should prepare for tighter housing timelines.
Backlogs in Irish Residence Permit Renewals Spark Immigrant Protest
ISD is working through a backlog of 68,000 IRP renewals, leaving many non-EU residents unable to work or travel. Migrant groups will protest on 12 March to demand more staff and the return of a temporary travel facilitation notice. Employers face potential labour-supply gaps and should prepare contingency plans.
Air India to Operate 58 West-Asia Flights on 12 March as Geopolitical Turmoil Continues
Air India and Air India Express will run 58 flights between India and the Gulf on 12 March 2026, including 40 special services to the UAE and two ad-hoc flights to Riyadh. The move safeguards critical expatriate and business links amid West-Asia air-space disruptions and offers fee-free rebooking for affected passengers.
Constitutional Court Concludes Hearing on Controversial ‘Tajani’ Citizenship Law
Italy’s Constitutional Court heard final arguments on the constitutionality of Law 74/2025, which limits citizenship by descent to three generations. A verdict—due next month—will determine whether hundreds of thousands of overseas Italians can still claim passports or must seek alternative immigration routes.
Austria ends paper transit procedures: “Smart Border Austria” enters mandatory digital phase
From 1 May 2026 Austria will require all road-transit goods to be pre-lodged electronically in the EU’s New Computerised Transit System, ending the current paper fallback. Trucks without a digital Master Reference Number will be refused entry and fined. The measure, part of the “Smart Border Austria” initiative, forces hauliers moving between Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the Western Balkans to digitise processes and align with wider EU security and CBAM rules.
Poland to Erect New 4-Metre Fence on Belarus Border as Part of “Eastern Shield”
Poland has begun building a new four-metre fence along sections of its border with Belarus after weather delays. The barrier, part of the broader “Eastern Shield” security programme, adds sensors and radar to deter state-facilitated irregular crossings. Freight operators and cross-border commuters will face rerouting and longer wait times, while NGOs warn of humanitarian impacts.
Zurich Airport traffic up 7.9 % in February as hub prepares for record summer
Passenger traffic at Zurich Airport jumped 7.9 % in February, underlining a robust rebound in Swiss international travel. Higher volumes promise more flight options for corporates but also risk longer queues and tighter hotel inventory around the hub. Firms should prepare for capacity crunches as summer peaks approach.
Belgium drafts law to give Immigration Office authority to impose lifelong entry bans
Belgium’s Interior Committee has endorsed a bill enabling the Immigration Office to impose lifetime entry bans on people listed in the national terrorism and extremism database. Proponents say it closes security loopholes, while critics warn of transparency and proportionality issues—particularly for minors. If enacted, the measure will harden Belgium’s migration stance and could lengthen vetting procedures for international hires.
National strike on 12 March to ground all flights at Brussels and Charleroi airports
A 24-hour general strike on 12 March will halt all passenger departures from Brussels Airport and Charleroi, disrupt public transport nationwide and trigger widespread travel waivers. Foreign ministries have issued advisories, and airlines are scrambling to re-accommodate passengers. Companies should expect severe mobility disruptions and prepare contingency plans.
Cambodia launches four-month visa-free trial for Chinese tourists
From 15 June to 15 October 2026, Chinese citizens can enter Cambodia visa-free for stays of up to 14 days. The pilot aims to accelerate Cambodia’s post-pandemic tourism recovery and simplify corporate incentive travel from China. If successful, officials hint the waiver could become permanent.
EU closes infringement case on Cyprus’ scrapped ‘golden passport’ programme
Brussels has closed its infringement case against Cyprus’ citizenship-by-investment scheme after Nicosia revoked offending passports and rewrote its laws. The move lifts a major regulatory cloud just as Cyprus courts Schengen accession and foreign investment. Mobility teams can expect faster residence processing, but the era of ‘golden passports’ is definitively over.
Prague Airport Warns of Cancellations as Middle-East Airspace Crisis Ripples Across Europe
Prague Airport posted an on-site alert on 11 March warning of flight cancellations and delays caused by Middle-East air-space restrictions. The notice coincided with data from AirHelp showing 190 cancellations and 821 delays across Europe the same day. Czech business travellers face longer journey times, tight connections and limited cargo capacity until routes stabilise. EU-based passengers remain entitled to care and re-routing under EU261, but compensation is unlikely.
Digital-nomad visa eclipses Golden Visa as Spain courts remote talent with ultra-low tax regime
An Idealista report dated 11 March highlights surging demand for Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa after the Golden Visa’s demise and Middle-East instability. The permit offers a six-year flat-tax regime, fast processing and family work rights, making it a strategic tool for multinationals and high-income remote workers eyeing a base in Spain.
Finnish Corporate Leaders Tie Economic Growth to Easier Immigration
An OP Financial Group survey published 11 March 2026 finds that 85 % of Finland’s large companies see higher immigration as essential for future GDP growth. Firms report easing language requirements and plan to recruit mainly within the EU but also from India, Asia and the US. Business leaders are pressing the government to speed up residence-permit processing and expand fast-track schemes, warning that talent shortages risk throttling investment.
France’s Roll-Out of EU Entry/Exit System Hits Technical Snags, Forcing New Contingency Plans
France has admitted it is behind schedule in deploying the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System. Faulty kiosks, software glitches and incomplete links to PARAFE e-gates mean only a third of required registrations have been captured, raising the spectre of long queues and a knock-on delay to ETIAS. Companies are being urged to build extra border time into itineraries and watch for last-minute procedural changes.