Switzerland joins global coalition granting stranded travellers emergency visa extensions
Japan and South Korea scrap pandemic-era flight caps on Hong Kong routes
Polish Border Guard reports zero illegal crossings from Belarus as internal checks with Germany and Lithuania continue
Latest News
Canada Enacts Bill C-12 Overhauling Asylum and Immigration Compliance
Bill C-12, which received Royal Assent on 26 March 2026 and was highlighted on 9 April, overhauls asylum eligibility, accelerates claims processing, mandates inter-agency data-sharing and digitises immigration documents. Ottawa says the reforms will halve processing times and unclog work-permit backlogs, but employers of refugee-class workers must brace for tighter rules. Consultations on the implementing regulations run until 31 May 2026.
Spanish Cabinet set to approve mass regularisation for an estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants
The Spanish government has confirmed that a Royal Decree to regularise more than 500,000 undocumented migrants will go before the Council of Ministers on 14 April. Applicants must prove presence in Spain before 31 December 2025 but will not need a job offer, making this the most flexible amnesty since 2005. If adopted, the measure will enlarge the legal labour pool, particularly in sectors facing acute shortages, but will also impose new compliance duties on employers.
US expands visa-bond program to up to $15,000 ahead of 2026 World Cup
The State Department has widened its visa-bond pilot, allowing consular officers to require up-front deposits of up to US $15,000 from visitors originating in 50 high-overstay-rate countries. The change, reported April 9, arrives just 14 months before the U.S.-hosted FIFA World Cup and could deter thousands of fans and business travelers. Companies should brace for higher mobility costs, longer visa lead times and potential talent-supply gaps.
Schengen Entry/Exit System Becomes Fully Operational on 10 April—Italian Borders Switch to Biometric Checks
From 10 April 2026 all Italy-bound non-EU visitors will be processed by the EU’s new Entry/Exit System, which replaces passport stamping with biometric recording and an automated 90/180-day stay counter. Italian airports expect initial queues; employers must update travel policies, check assignment calendars and prepare for the forthcoming ETIAS permit.
UAE airlines publish fresh re-booking waivers as British Airways keeps Dubai and Abu Dhabi services grounded
On 9 April the UAE’s major carriers widened fee-free re-booking windows as the country’s airports continued a phased return to service after weeks of conflict-related airspace closures. Emirates, flydubai and Etihad are all operating reduced schedules, while British Airways is still cancelling Dubai and Abu Dhabi flights. Corporate mobility managers should expect longer routings, rolling timetable updates and higher ancillary costs throughout April.
ANAC activates pre-crisis protocol after technical fault briefly shuts São Paulo airspace
A power failure at the São Paulo Area Control Centre stopped flights for 71 minutes on 9 April, prompting ANAC to activate its pre-crisis protocol. While services have restarted, delays are rippling through the national network. Travel managers should expect knock-on disruptions throughout the day and ensure passengers claim their Resolution 400 rights.
Fuel-price protests choke Irish transport corridors, prompting airport and bus diversions
Nationwide fuel-price protests on 8-9 April blocked sections of the M50 and other arterial roads, disrupting Luas, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann services and forcing Dublin Airport to issue passenger advisories. Continued blockades could affect business travel, commuting and air-cargo flows.
Nationwide Police IT Failure Snarls Passport Control at German Airports
A six-hour collapse of the Federal Police database that powers Germany’s e-gates forced manual passport checks at multiple airports on 9 April 2026, creating long queues and missed onward connections. The outage highlights vulnerabilities in border-control IT just months before the EU rolls out its new biometric Entry/Exit System.
Cyprus inaugurates 1,000-bed Limnes pre-removal centre to ease migrant overcrowding
Cyprus has opened the first wing of the EU-funded Limnes Pre-Removal Centre, expanding detention capacity from 128 to 1,000 beds and replacing the ageing Menoyia facility. Authorities say the complex will modernise migration control and relieve police cells, while NGOs warn it could entrench lengthy confinement. The development signals tougher but more structured enforcement that businesses should factor into mobility compliance planning.
Italian Air Traffic Controllers Set for 4-Hour National Strike on 10 April—Hundreds of Flights Already Cancelled
Italian air-traffic controllers will stage a four-hour national strike on 10 April, forcing ITA Airways and other carriers to pre-emptively cancel scores of flights. Guaranteed morning and evening ‘safe’ windows remain, but services scheduled between 13:00 and 17:00 face widespread disruption. Mobility managers should reschedule critical travel, brief employees on EU261 entitlements and monitor airline alerts.
Australia suspends Iranian Visitor Visa holders under new Arrival Control Determination
Australia has invoked new powers to suspend, for six months, the Visitor 600 visa rights of Iranian passport holders who were outside the country on 26 March 2026. Only close family members and travellers with a special exemption may still enter. The move underscores Canberra’s readiness to wield section 84B of the Migration Act to manage security-related risks, and it creates fresh compliance headaches for travel planners and global mobility teams.