Air-traffic controllers suspend overnight strike at Brussels South Charleroi Airport
Hong Kong expects 1.29 million mainland visitors over National Day Golden Week
State Department Targets ‘Birth Tourism’ With New Visa Restriction Policy
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Smart Border Austria completes digital switchover, mandatory e-customs processes from 1 October
The Finance Ministry announced that Austria’s Smart Border programme has finished digitising customs posts; paper forms are abolished and e-clearance via ACCS becomes mandatory on 1 October 2026. Faster lanes and QR-code processing will cut wait times for cross-border goods and support EU EES/ETIAS data sharing, but companies must pre-register shipments or face automated fines.
New Ministerial Direction 122 reshuffles skilled-visa processing queue
A new Ministerial Direction 122 took legal effect on 19 September 2026 and, as explained in today’s Migration Star briefing, completely re-orders the processing queue for ten skilled-migration subclasses. Applications linked to construction, healthcare, teaching, agriculture and other priority sectors now jump to the front, ahead of all on-shore cases. Employers and applicants in non-priority occupations should expect longer wait times and revisit project staffing plans.
Ottawa Tightens LMIA Rules, Cracking Down on Staffing Agencies and Misclassification
New LMIA guidance effective this week blocks staffing agencies from securing work permits for third-party placements and bans treating Temporary Foreign Workers as independent contractors. Companies must show they directly employ and pay foreign hires or face refusals and penalties. HR and mobility teams need to revise LMIA strategies and audit contractor relationships immediately.
India Tightens Airport Transit Security After Delhi Immigration Lapse
After a security lapse that let three Italians bypass Delhi departure-immigration, India has introduced extra document checks, CCTV oversight and a dual-signature clearance protocol at its hub airports. Air India suspended the staffer involved, and the home ministry has warned carriers of penalties for further breaches. Business travellers should expect longer connections until new biometric e-gates are deployed.
White House Extends $100,000 ‘H-1B Entry Fee’ for Another Year
A proclamation published 23 September 2026 extends the Trump-era rule that bars most new H-1B entrants unless their employer pays an extra US$100,000. Citing lower fraud and a shift toward higher-paid talent, the administration says the surcharge will now run to 21 September 2027. Employers must budget accordingly or seek alternative visa strategies.
Prague Airport and Interior Ministry Fast-Track Non-Schengen Arrivals Ahead of EES Roll-out
Prague Airport and the Czech Interior Ministry unveiled new queue-busting measures for passengers from outside the Schengen Area, including re-routed corridors, more assistance staff and dynamic police redeployment. The steps aim to offset delays caused by the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) ahead of its full implementation and will be used to model future capacity increases across Czech borders. Business travellers should experience faster arrivals but are urged to complete kiosk registration in one go.
Cyprus presses UK for fast-track Schengen entry during New York summit
During a bilateral meeting in New York on 22 September, President Christodoulides asked UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to back Cyprus’ bid to join the Schengen Area. London signalled support, saying it sees economic and security benefits. Full Schengen membership would abolish systematic passport checks, ease business travel and expatriate rotations, and position Cyprus more competitively as an EU services hub.
UAE airports hit by wave of cancellations and long delays as regional aviation tensions escalate
Dozens of flights at UAE hubs were delayed or cancelled on 23 September after new US sanctions on Iran reverberated through regional air-space. Airlines advised travellers to check status updates and expect knock-on disruptions for the next 24 hours—a reminder to corporates of the need for dynamic travel-risk management.
Europol-led raids dismantle Schengen-airport people-smuggling ring with German support
Europol and 17 national police forces— including Germany’s—arrested six suspects on 22 September for moving hundreds of migrants through Schengen airports to the UK using genuine visas and forged identities. The bust highlights tighter document-fraud surveillance, higher carrier liability and the coming EU biometric border systems that will affect travellers passing through German hubs.
China’s Stricter Exit-Entry Rules Rattle Tech Firms and Foreign Talent
A regulation that took full effect on 15 September tightens China’s exit-entry controls, allowing immigration officers to scrutinise travel purposes and inspect digital devices. Tech multinationals say the policy is already causing delays and complicating short-term assignments, forcing them to recalibrate compliance and data-security procedures. The changes raise the cost—and risk profile—of sending foreign talent into mainland China.
UAE airports hit by wave of flight cancellations and delays on 23 September
More than 30 flights were cancelled and at least 25 delayed at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah airports on 23 September, disrupting both regional shuttles and long-haul connections. Fog, residual storm reroutes and tight turn-around slots were blamed. Companies are being advised to add buffer time to itineraries and to monitor airline apps for live updates.
Austria publishes 23-September update on ‘Smart Border Austria’ roll-out, confirms nationwide switch to fully digital customs crossing from 1 October
Austria’s Finance Ministry released a 23 September bulletin confirming the nationwide switch to fully digital customs procedures under the Smart Border Austria programme. The paper-based “Laufzettel” system ended on 16 September and, from 1 October, all lorry crossings must be pre-cleared online using QR codes. Companies that ship goods or relocate staff across Austrian land borders need to update processes immediately to avoid fines or refused entry.
Charleroi air-traffic controllers call off nightly strike as mediation gets underway
Skeyes air-traffic controllers at Brussels South Charleroi Airport have suspended their nightly strike after the Belgian government appointed an external mediator to broker talks on night-shift allowances. Airlines can now begin restoring schedules, but unions warn action could resume if negotiations fail, so companies should keep contingency plans in place.
GPS glitch grounds over 80 Azul Embraer E2 flights across Brazil
A global GPS instability disabled navigation systems on Embraer E2 jets, prompting Azul to cancel more than 80 domestic flights on 22–23 September and stranding about 8,000 passengers. The disruption underscores the dependence of Brazil’s corporate travel network on reliable satellite navigation and is expected to fast-track regulatory moves toward multi-constellation avionics and stronger contingency planning.