Alerts
Time-sensitive immigration, tax and compliance changes that affect your assignees today.
Canada Adds Five Express Entry Categories, Raises Experience Bar for 2026
IRCC's 2026 Express Entry overhaul adds five priority categories and raises the required Canadian work experience from six months to one year.
Australia Holds Migration at 185,000 Places, Tightens Priority Processing for 2026-27
Australia's 2026-27 migration program holds at 185,000 places while MD119 prioritises healthcare, construction, engineering and education visa applicants.
Ireland Scraps Short-Stay Visa Appeals, Raises Employment Permit Salary Floors
Ireland raised Critical Skills and General Employment Permit salary thresholds in March 2026 and removed short-stay visa refusal appeals from June 2026.
Poland Triples Fines and Mandates Online Filing for Foreign Worker Permits in 2026
Poland's 2026 reforms triple fines for unauthorised work, mandate online residence permit filing via MOS II, and expand the shortage occupations list.
Spain Raises Digital Nomad Visa Income Floor, Tightens UGE Review Standards
Spain's digital nomad visa now requires €2,849/month income and faces stricter UGE document review, with agent-linked fraud triggering broader file audits.
UK Publishes HC 584 — Skilled Worker and Student Visa Changes Land This Autumn
The UK's HC 584 Statement of Changes amends Skilled Worker, Student, and EUSS rules from October 2026, with uneven transitional protection across routes.
UAE Ties Work Permits to WPS Compliance, Tightens Golden Visa Executive Eligibility
MOHRE now checks Wage Protection System compliance in real time before issuing work permits, while Golden Visa Executive applicants need two years with their employer.
Switzerland Holds 2026 Work Permit Quotas Flat, But Salary Floor Keeps Climbing
Switzerland's 2026 quotas hold at 8,500 permits for non-EU/EFTA nationals, but minimum annual remuneration thresholds step up again from March 2026.
UK Publishes Statement of Changes HC 584 — Skilled Worker Rules Shift From October
UK Home Office rule changes under HC 584 take effect from 8 October 2026, reshaping Skilled Worker, student and settlement routes.
UK Publishes HC 584 — Skilled Worker and Student Rule Changes From October 2026
UK Home Office statement HC 584 brings staged Skilled Worker, Student and EUSS rule changes from 8 October 2026. Here's what mobility teams must check now.
Canada Issues 3,500 Healthcare Invitations in Latest Express Entry Draw
IRCC issued 3,500 ITAs at CRS 475 in a September 4 healthcare-targeted Express Entry draw — what it means for employers moving talent into Canada.
France Raises EU Blue Card Salary Threshold to €59,373
France's Decree n° 2026-308 sets the 2026 EU Blue Card salary threshold at €59,373 and fast-tracks visas for shortage-sector talent.
UK Home Office Grants Skilled Worker Visa Holders New Exploitation Protections
The UK's 3 September 2026 rule change lets exploited Skilled Worker visa holders switch employers freely. What it means for sponsor licence holders.
UK Sponsor Licence Holders Face Mandatory MFA From Today
UK Home Office rolls out mandatory MFA for Sponsor Management System users from 3 September 2026, phases out Level 2 users by March 2027.
Kazakhstan's 2027 Foreign Worker Quota Could Shrink by 80%
Kazakhstan's 2027 foreign worker quota may fall to 5,000 from 23,600. Employer applications for next year's quota are due September 30, 2026.
DHS Proposes $103,265 Fee for New H-1B Cap Petitions
DHS published a proposed rule on 25 August 2026 adding a $103,265 fee to H-1B cap-subject petitions. Here's what employers need to know before comments close.
Flanders Adds €180 Fee to Single Permit Applications from September
From 1 September 2026, all Single Permit applications and renewals in Flanders will carry a new €180 administrative fee on top of existing federal retribution costs.
South Korea's Digital Nomad Visa Goes Permanent — Extended to Three Years
South Korea's F-1-D Digital Nomad Visa officially launched 30 June 2026, extending maximum stay to three years with income thresholds from USD 36,963 for under-35s outside Seoul.
Germany's 2027 Budget Slashes Integration Course Funding — Expat Language Access at Risk
Germany's draft 2027 federal budget cuts integration course funding nearly in half — from €1.1bn to €590m — limiting language access for newly arrived foreign workers and their families.
Canada Issues 5,000 French-Language Express Entry Invitations at Record-Low CRS 399
IRCC issued 5,000 ITAs to French-speaking Express Entry candidates on July 22, 2026, with a record-low CRS cut-off of 399. An opening for francophone talent in the HR pipeline.
EU Entry/Exit System Triples Border Wait Times for Travelling Staff
European airport operators report the EU's Entry/Exit System has tripled processing times for non-EU travellers at major airports. How mobility teams should plan for summer and beyond.
Japan to Raise PR Application Fee 20x and Tighten Income Rules from October
Japan raises its PR application fee from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000 and introduces new income and pension thresholds from October 2026. What employers and assignees must prepare for.
DHS Ends Duration of Status for F-1 Students — September 2026 Changes
DHS has finalised a rule ending Duration of Status for F-1 and J-1 holders from 17 September 2026, affecting over one million international students in the US.
Australia Hikes Visa Fees by Up to 25% — Mobility Budgets Need Updating Now
Australia raised visa application fees by up to 25% across all major categories on July 1, 2026. Some visas saw increases exceeding 200%. Assignment budgets need immediate revision.
UK Launches Visa Fee Reimbursement Scheme for Scale-Ups Hiring Global Talent
The UK Government launched a Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme offering up to £25,000 per year to eligible scale-up companies hiring international talent. Closes March 2027 or when funds run out.
UAE Adds 10 Nationalities to Good Conduct Certificate Requirement — Effective Today
The UAE ICP has added 10 nationalities to its Good Conduct Certificate requirement for employment and investor visas, effective July 20, 2026. Here is what HR teams must action now.
Canada Tightens TFWP Wage Rules Across Major Cities as Permit Volumes Fall 50%
Canada raised TFWP wage thresholds on July 17, 2026, with new province-by-province floors affecting LMIA applications in 26 major metros. What mobility teams must check now.
U.S. Court Vacates $100,000 H-1B Fee — But Legal Battle Keeps Employers in Limbo
A federal court struck down Trump's $100,000 H-1B surcharge as an unlawful tax, but a stay reinstated it pending appeal. Here is what global mobility and HR teams must do right now.
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