Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

The UK’s ETA scheme is now fully live: every non-visa national must secure the £16 digital permit before travel. Airlines will refuse boarding to anyone without an ETA and carriers face fines from 25 February. Corporate travel systems therefore need automated checks, and staff must understand that an ETA does not give permission to work.

From 1 January 2026 all Polish temporary-stay permits must be lodged online via the MOS e-portal; paper filings are no longer accepted. At the same time the government quadrupled application fees (PLN 400 for local hires, PLN 800 for posted workers) and raised visa tariffs. The shift promises faster processing but requires employers to overhaul workflows, obtain e-signatures and budget for higher costs.

Bangladesh has suspended visa services at its New Delhi high commission and other Indian posts, citing security worries linked to recent communal unrest. The pause stalls business-travel and work-permit processing, forcing Indian and Bangladeshi firms to seek costly third-country workarounds. The incident shows how bilateral tensions can ripple into day-to-day mobility and supply chains.

A new ordinance effective 1 January 2026 abolishes Brazil’s country-specific humanitarian visas and replaces them with a single, crisis-driven framework. Consulates have paused issuances until an eligibility list is published, creating short-term uncertainty for NGOs and employers that relocate at-risk talent. New applications will require a sponsorship letter from a federally accredited NGO.

Storm Goretti knocked out power to 380,000 homes, forced SNCF to halt all Paris-Normandy rail traffic, and closed several northern ports on 9 January. Business travellers and freight operators face 24- to 48-hour delays, prompting companies to activate remote-work and rerouting plans. The incident highlights the vulnerability of France’s transport spine and the importance of weather-contingency strategies.

From 25 February 2026 Swiss citizens must secure a £16 Electronic Travel Authorisation before travelling to the UK. The digital permit, valid for two years, introduces strict overstay penalties and shifts compliance checks to airlines. Swiss firms should embed ETA checks into pre-trip workflows and warn employees about the new three-day lead time.

On 12 January Italy will open its immigration portal for 88,000 seasonal-work permits. The first-come, first-served “click-day” is part of the 2026-28 Flow Decree and covers agriculture and tourism jobs. Employers must have fully pre-filled applications ready or risk losing out within minutes. Faster 30-day processing and the possibility to convert to long-term status increase the scheme’s attractiveness for businesses facing labour shortages.

IRCC has announced it will keep the Parents and Grandparents Program closed to new sponsorship applications for all of 2026 and will process only 10,000 existing files. Families are being steered toward the super visa, which allows five-year stays but not permanent residence. The freeze affects family-reunification plans and could influence employers’ talent-mobility strategies.