Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

Canada’s Senate has started examining Bill C-12, legislation that would let the federal government pause or cancel entire categories of immigration applications and alter conditions for temporary residents. Business groups fear abrupt work-permit freezes, while rights advocates say refugee access could suffer. Mobility managers should accelerate filings and prepare back-up routes until the bill’s final scope is clear.

The TAR Lazio has suspended a consular refusal that barred a Moroccan applicant from obtaining an Italian work visa, ruling that minor procedural defects cannot annul a valid work authorisation. The order could unblock hundreds of decreto-flussi files and signals stricter judicial scrutiny of consular practices, giving employers clearer recourse when digital-portal glitches derail hires.

According to Brazilian and international media, Brasília has drafted a decree to abolish tourist and business visas for Chinese citizens, with a launch target of early 2026. The reciprocal move follows China’s 2024 visa waiver for Brazilians and is designed to turbo-charge inbound tourism and investment. Companies should prepare for faster executive travel, while tourism operators brace for a surge in high-spending visitors.

All Polish embassies and consulates are closed 24-28 December, halting visa and legalisation services worldwide. Companies should expect onboarding delays for foreign staff, prepare overstay explanations and pre-upload documents to minimise disruption once counters reopen.

Mumbai’s long-awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport opened on 25 December with 48 flights and 4,000 passengers, easing pressure on the city’s overburdened primary airport. The greenfield hub will significantly shorten ground-transfer times for businesses based in Navi Mumbai and is expected to reshape corporate travel patterns once more airlines and immigration services scale up.

From 17 December Finnish citizenship applications are accepted only through the Enter Finland e-portal, ending paper and in-person filings. At the same time the residence period for naturalisation has risen from five to six years. The fully digital workflow is expected to cut processing times by two months and save €4 million a year, but assignees and HR teams must adjust processes immediately.

Beijing has added Spain to its new 15-day visa-free entry scheme starting 1 January 2026. The move slashes red tape for Spanish business and leisure travelers, with immediate cost and time savings, and is expected to boost bilateral trade and tourism. Firms should note the 15-day limit and keep watching for operational adjustments.

The Interior Ministry has prolonged Germany’s land-border checks until 15 March 2026, meaning spot controls with eight neighbouring countries will continue for at least another 11 weeks. Businesses must factor in longer journey times and carry proper documentation for cross-border staff while policymakers gauge whether irregular migration falls enough to justify ending the checks.

IRCC will stop accepting new Start-Up Visa permanent-residence applications on 31 December 2025 and has already closed the related work-permit route. Existing files continue, but future entrepreneur immigration will run through a capped pilot program slated for 2026. Firms relying on SUV should pivot quickly to other work-permit categories.

The NCM warns that rain, fog and low visibility from 25–29 December could slow road and air traffic. Police will impose rolling speed limits, and airlines may face de-icing and departure delays. Companies moving time-sensitive cargo are re-routing, while visitors are urged to extend visas online rather than risk weather-disrupted embassy trips.

All U.S. diplomatic posts in India are closed 24–26 December, pausing routine visa interviews and passport services. The shutdown will intensify visa backlogs, forcing companies to adjust travel and staffing plans for U.S.-bound Indian talent.

DHS has finalized a rule that abolishes the random H-1B lottery in favor of a wage-based, weighted selection. Registrations offering higher prevailing wages will now receive multiple chances in the draw, a move officials say protects U.S. workers. Large U.S. employers face strategic salary and budgeting decisions, while universities and startups warn of talent shortfalls.

More than 500 Australian Federal Police officers are being redeployed to major airports as passenger numbers during the December–January peak are forecast to hit a record 23.4 million. The high-visibility operation, coordinated with the Australian Border Force, aims to keep security queues moving and reduce passenger aggression. Travel managers should budget extra time for departures and monitor dynamic airport alerts.

A two-hour software crash in the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System caused three-hour passport-control lines at Prague Airport on 19 December, delaying flights and straining holiday operations. Airport authorities will add staff and kiosks, but travel managers are warning business travellers to build in extra buffer time and to watch for potential over-stay calculations by the automated system.

A surge in Christmas-week demand, bad weather and staffing shortages triggered 55 flight cancellations and 2,113 delays across Asia on 25 December, with Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu hardest hit. The chaos stranded business travellers, delayed time-critical shipments and forced companies to activate contingency plans.