Tirol extends ID-Austria digital identity to foreign residents from 1 April 2026
Madrid defends historic plan to regularise 500,000 undocumented migrants despite political backlash
Finnish Border Guard confirms Ukrainian-made combat drone crashed on frozen lake near Russian frontier
Latest News
India switches off paper disembarkation forms: Digital e-Arrival Card now compulsory
From 1 April 2026 India has scrapped paper arrival forms. All foreign nationals and OCI card-holders must now submit a digital e-Arrival Card within 72 hours of travel and present the QR code at immigration. The change is part of the IVFRT 2.0 border-digitisation programme and is expected to shorten queues, improve data quality and save ₹28 crore annually. Global mobility teams should update travel check-lists immediately.
Supreme Court Hears Trump Administration Bid to Curb Birthright Citizenship
The Supreme Court appeared skeptical of the Trump administration’s effort to limit birthright citizenship after hearing arguments on April 1. A ruling against the order would preserve automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to foreign parents, while a ruling in favor could create compliance headaches for employers of foreign workers. Either way, global-mobility programs should prepare for significant policy shifts.
Brazil sets 20-day deadline for hotels to adopt 100 % digital guest-registration system
From 1 April, Brazilian hotels have 20 days to migrate to the mandatory FNRH Digital guest card. The on-line system slashes check-in times, eliminates paper storage and feeds anonymised data to the Ministry of Tourism, promising cost savings and better traveller analytics for companies.
UK clarifies no-travel-ban stance on Cyprus after FCDO wording raises alarm
The British High Commission confirmed that the UK has not advised against travel to Cyprus, correcting sensational UK media reports that followed a standard FCDO text update after the 2 March drone strike on RAF Akrotiri. The misinterpretation had already caused a spike in cancellations, threatening Cyprus’s key British tourist market. Corporate travel teams should update risk assessments and communicate the unchanged advisory to avoid unnecessary trip disruptions.
Federal Judge Reinstates Immigration Status for 900,000 Migrants Processed via CBP One
Judge Allison Burroughs ruled that DHS illegally stripped parole from almost 900,000 migrants admitted via the CBP One app, restoring their immigration status and work authorization. The decision averts immediate workforce disruption for U.S. employers but could spark an appellate battle that again places employment eligibility in flux.
Dubai Tightens Remote Work Visa: Six-Month Bank Statement Now Required
From 1 April 2026 Dubai’s Remote Working (digital-nomad) Visa requires six months of bank statements instead of three, effectively raising the stability bar for applicants. The change filters out less-established freelancers and recent job-switchers, signalling a wider global trend toward quality-over-quantity digital-nomad programmes and obliging corporate mobility teams to plan longer lead times.
EU and UK clinch Gibraltar mobility pact set to remove the physical frontier with Spain
EU member states have approved a draft agreement with the UK that will abolish physical border checks between Gibraltar and Spain while safeguarding Schengen rules. The pact, expected to take effect on 15 July 2026, promises seamless daily commutes for 15,000 cross-border workers and easier business travel for UK companies with Gibraltar operations. It is the first major expansion of mobility rights in the EU-UK relationship since Brexit.
EU’s Digital Entry-Exit System to Go Live on 10 April: What Belgian Travellers Need to Know
The EU confirmed that its biometric Entry-Exit System will be fully mandatory from 10 April. Belgian airports and ports will activate the kiosks the same day, ending passport stamping for non-EU nationals. Authorities expect initial queues but promise long-term security and efficiency gains—important news for Belgian companies that move staff in and out of the Schengen zone.
Australia doubles PALM scheme training support, boosting skills for 31,000 Pacific workers
From 1 April 2026, Canberra will cover 60 % of job-specific training costs (up from 40 %) for PALM visa holders and double the annual cap to AUD 600 per worker. The move benefits more than 31,000 Pacific workers and the Australian employers who rely on them, improving productivity and portability of skills.
UAE Bars Most Iranian Passport Holders From Entry and Transit
Effective 1 April 2026, Emirates and flydubai state that Iranian nationals are barred from entering or transiting the UAE, with only limited exemptions such as Golden Visa holders and immediate family of Emiratis. The sudden measure freezes a vital mobility and trade channel for the large Iranian community in Dubai and forces businesses to re-evaluate staffing and asset-management plans.
China projects record 2.3 million daily border crossings for Qingming holiday
China’s immigration authority expects cross-border passenger volumes during the 4–6 April Qingming Festival to top 2.3 million per day, up 11 percent on 2025. Expanded visa-free transit rules and easier short-stay entry have driven a sharp rebound in foreign arrivals and are now stress-testing airport capacity. Business travellers should prepare for crowded flights and longer immigration queues but will benefit from streamlined visa policies.
Bundestag freezes family-reunification visas for two years
Germany’s parliament has approved a two-year suspension of family-reunification visas for migrants who hold subsidiary protection, affecting an estimated 388,000 residents—mostly Syrians. Business groups warn the move could hurt talent retention, while NGOs decry the humanitarian cost.
EU gives final nod to Gibraltar border-free deal, clearing path for Schengen-style controls from 15 July
EU ambassadors approved the long-awaited post-Brexit Gibraltar agreement, allowing provisional application from 15 July 2026. Spanish officers will manage Schengen controls, dovetailing with the EU Entry/Exit System that goes live on 10 April. The deal removes physical border checks for people and goods, easing pressure on 300,000 Andalusians and cross-border businesses. Firms should prepare staff for biometric pre-enrolment and new overstay alerts.