CRS score jumps to 419 in April 15 Express Entry draw targeting French-speaking candidates
Swiss travellers face up to three-hour border queues as EU Entry/Exit System hits its first major test
China Extends 30-Day Visa-Free Entry Scheme Through 2026, Adding UK and Canada
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Dáil passes landmark International Protection Bill, ushering in the biggest overhaul of Ireland’s asylum system in decades
Ireland’s lower house has approved the International Protection Bill 2026, a sweeping reform designed to align the Irish asylum system with the EU Migration and Asylum Pact before the June deadline. The Bill introduces mandatory screening with biometrics, strict decision deadlines of three to twelve weeks, and a new border procedure, all aimed at accelerating decisions and curbing unfounded claims. While the government says the overhaul will save money and bring certainty for employers, critics fear rushed decisions and tougher family-reunification rules will face legal challenges. President Connolly must now decide whether to sign or refer the legislation to the Supreme Court for review.
Brazil Overhauls 2026 Immigration Playbook: Digital-Nomad, Investor and e-Visa Rules Clarified
Brazil’s updated 2026 Immigration Guide consolidates all visa and residency changes enacted since late 2025, including a low-barrier digital-nomad visa, refreshed investor thresholds and the e-Visa requirement for U.S./Canadian/Australian travellers. The resource gives global mobility teams a single reference point for deploying staff to Brazil and highlights shorter timelines to permanent residency, making the country markedly more attractive for remote talent and foreign capital.
EU Entry-Exit System Blamed for Three-Hour Queues as British Travellers Face Post-Easter Chaos
Since the EU’s biometric Entry-Exit System became mandatory on 10 April, UK passengers have faced waits of up to three hours at major European airports, according to a 15 April Guardian report. The initial congestion highlights the operational risks of the post-Brexit border regime and signals that UK firms must factor extra buffer time and costs into continental travel plans.
EU Entry/Exit System Triggers Three-Hour Queues at Italian Airports, Industry Calls for Flexibility
Since EES went live on 10 April, Italian airports have recorded queues of up to three hours, causing missed flights and prompting industry bodies to demand temporary relief from biometric registration rules. Companies are extending recommended airport reporting times and warning of knock-on effects on assignments and business trips.
Cyprus pushes hard-line migrant returns policy as it prepares to lead EU negotiations
Ahead of its July EU Council presidency, Cyprus is championing an aggressive returns regulation modelled on its own programme that now removes five times more migrants than it receives. The policy enjoys support from several member states but faces legal challenges and NGO criticism. Faster corporate-permit processing is a silver lining for employers, but compliance risks rise as workplace inspections intensify.
Immigration‐Office Workers Call Indefinite Strike for 21 April, Threatening Processing of Spain’s New Amnesty
Spain’s main civil-service union has called an open-ended strike of immigration-office staff from 21 April 2026, citing understaffing and IT failures. The walkout threatens to paralyse in-person steps of the new migrant-regularization programme and delay residence permits, potentially disrupting corporate mobility plans during the spring hiring season.