Provinces Gain More Power Under New PNP Regulations Effective 30 March 2026
UK visa application fees to rise by up to £222 from 8 April
China Southern inaugurates nonstop Beijing-Daxing – Helsinki service, opening new Asia–Nordics corridor
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India Introduces Mandatory Digital e-Arrival Card for All Foreign Travelers from 1 April 2026
From 1 April 2026 India will scrap its paper disembarkation form and require all foreign visitors—including OCI card-holders—to file an online e-Arrival Card before travel. The digital form generates a QR code that must be shown at immigration and is expected to cut clearance times in half, but travellers who forget may face delays. Corporates should update pre-trip checklists immediately.
What the new wage-weighted H-1B lottery means for HR compliance in FY 2027
Beginning this H-1B cap season, USCIS weights lottery entries by prevailing-wage level, giving higher-paid roles better odds of selection. The change forces employers to integrate compensation strategy into immigration planning and heightens compliance risks if registration data don’t match final petitions.
UAE’s one-month emergency visa grace period ends, leaving thousands racing to re-enter before midnight
A month-long emergency visa grace period that let UAE residents with expired visas re-enter the country without penalties ends at midnight on 31 March 2026. Tens of thousands are scrambling to beat the deadline amid continued flight disruptions. From 1 April, normal visa-expiry fines and fresh entry-permit requirements return, raising compliance and cost risks for employers and travellers alike.
IRCC Issues 2,250 Invitations in March 31 Express Entry CEC Draw
IRCC’s 31 March 2026 CEC-only draw issued 2,250 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 509—1,750 fewer invitations than the mid-March round. The lower invitation volume suggests IRCC is conserving processing capacity for occupation-based draws later this week. Employers relying on Express Entry should plan for continued volatility in cut-off scores and ensure key talent can maximise CRS points through language tests, job offers or provincial nominations.
India Offers Automatic 30-Day Visa Extension for Foreign Nationals Stranded by Middle-East Flight Disruptions
Visitors whose Indian visas expired after 28 February 2026 automatically receive a 30-day grace period, sparing them overstay fines while Middle-East airspace closures persist. Airlines have been told to accept the expired visas, and hotels to honour current rates. Corporates must brief travellers to keep proof of disrupted flights for exit formalities.
Record 393 Flight Delays at Paris-CDG Trigger Ripple-Effect Across Global Routes
Nearly 400 flights were delayed and eight cancelled at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle between 30 and 31 March, crippling Air France’s global hub and causing knock-on delays at Heathrow, Frankfurt and beyond. The incident highlights staffing and infrastructure fragility just days before France begins full EES biometric checks, signalling that corporates should expect longer minimum-connection times and build contingency plans.
IATA chief tells Oireachtas that Dublin Airport passenger cap is now “a real and immediate risk” to Ireland’s economy
Willie Walsh told Irish lawmakers that the 32 million-passenger cap at Dublin Airport is already deterring airlines from scheduling future growth. He called for rapid passage of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026, warning that slot-allocation deadlines mean airlines will finalise their summer 2027 schedules by October. Lost capacity could permanently erode Ireland’s trade links, tourism receipts and the travel programmes of multinationals based in the State.
South Korea Extends 5- and 10-Year Multiple-Entry Visas for Chinese Nationals
Seoul’s embassy in Beijing confirmed on 31 March that most Chinese nationals with a prior Korean entry will now qualify for a five-year C-3 multiple-entry visa, while residents of 14 major mainland cities—and employees of large Chinese investors—can receive ten-year visas. The change cuts red tape for frequent business and leisure visitors and is expected to boost post-pandemic travel flows between the two neighbours.
Dubai prepares for four sweeping mobility changes as residency grace, school closures and flight bans are lifted in early April
From 1–3 April 2026 Dubai will: 1) restore normal residency-permit rules as the grace period expires, 2) reopen all schools for face-to-face teaching, 3) see Air France and Turkish Airlines resume services while others stay suspended, and 4) enforce app-based banking authentication. HR, travel and finance teams should brief staff and ensure visa validity, flight bookings and mobile-banking apps are in order.
Swiss Airports Hit by 356 Flight Disruptions in a Single Day
On 31 March 2026 Zurich and Geneva airports logged 11 flight cancellations and 245 delays, stranding hundreds of business travellers. The disruption, driven by Middle-East air-space closures, high Alpine winds and staff shortages, underscores ongoing volatility in European aviation and triggers passenger compensation rights under EU261. Corporates should expect knock-on effects over the next two weeks and adjust travel policies accordingly.
Cyprus lodges UN protest over 338 Turkish air and sea incursions
Cyprus has filed an official complaint to the UN documenting 305 air-space and 33 maritime violations by Turkey in the first two months of 2026, citing increased drone, jet and naval incursions. The flare-up is already pushing airlines, shipping firms and corporate travel managers to adjust routes and premiums, underscoring how regional tension can disrupt business mobility. The move pressures the EU and NATO to intervene and could influence future travel-security and insurance costs in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Sri Lanka Opens Visa-Free Entry for Czech Citizens as Part of 40-Nation Tourism Stimulus
Sri Lanka has scrapped ETA fees for visitors from 40 countries, including the Czech Republic, effective 31 March 2026 through 31 October 2026. The waiver cuts costs for Czech holidaymakers and simplifies last-minute business travel, with airlines already eyeing extra capacity. Companies should still check entry requirements and register trips with Czech MFA.