Ottawa’s 2026-2028 Immigration Plan will favour temporary residents already in Canada
Software glitch forces 10-day closure – and a second closure – of Cologne Central Station
Australia unveils Ministerial Direction 115, introducing three-tier ‘fast, standard, slow’ lanes for student-visa processing
Latest News
Interior Ministry reveals 7,329 naturalisations under Cyprus’s golden-passport scheme; 373 already revoked
New Interior Ministry data show 7,329 passports were issued through Cyprus’s investment-for-citizenship scheme before its 2020 closure; 373 have already been approved for revocation, with more cases pending. The update signals tougher enforcement and cements the government’s pledge to end passport-for-cash programmes, affecting investors and employers who relied on the documents for EU mobility.
China Installs Facial-Recognition ‘Smart Customs’ Lanes at 12 Major Entry Points
China’s National Immigration Administration activated facial-recognition fast-track lanes at 12 airports and land crossings on 12 November. Eligible mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan travellers can now clear immigration in under eight seconds, with foreign frequent flyers likely to be added later. The move promises faster connections for business travellers but requires companies to update privacy disclosures.
GCC approves ‘one-stop’ travel system; UAE-Bahrain pilot to start in December
The Gulf Cooperation Council has signed off on a “one-stop” immigration and customs checkpoint that will go live on UAE–Bahrain flights in December 2025. The scheme promises to slash airport processing times for Gulf nationals and is viewed as a stepping-stone to the long-awaited unified GCC visa. Faster clearance will directly benefit UAE-based firms whose employees shuttle around the Gulf and could reshape regional mobility policy in the next 12-18 months.
Brazilian Congress Committee Votes to Restore Visa-Waiver for U.S., Canadian and Australian Tourists
A key congressional committee voted on 12 Nov 2025 to scrap the soon-to-be-implemented visitor-visa requirement for citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia. If the bill clears the remaining hurdles, business and leisure travellers from those countries will once again enjoy visa-free entry for stays of up to 90 days, easing last-minute corporate travel and boosting Brazil’s tourism sector.
India launches Passport Seva V2.0 and chip-enabled e-Passports nationwide
The MEA has switched on Passport Seva V2.0 across India and its foreign missions, introducing chip-enabled e-Passports, AI chat-bots, UPI payments and a single cloud platform for all applications. The reform modernises India’s travel documents, promises quicker immigration clearance and gives companies a smoother way to manage large-scale renewals for mobile staff.
UKVI issues fresh guidance to accelerate switch to eVisas
UK Visas & Immigration has published new instructions urging migrants and their dependants to create a UKVI account and convert their physical residence documents into eVisas ahead of the 2025 cut-off. The guidance spells out eligibility, documentation requirements and exemptions. Employers should update right-to-work processes immediately to avoid travel and onboarding disruption.
Canada exempts master’s and PhD students from new international-student cap
IRCC will fast-track and uncap study-permit applications for master’s and PhD students at public universities starting 1 January 2026. The change, part of Canada’s new immigration plan, prioritises high-calibre research talent while keeping overall student numbers in check. Universities see a boost to competitiveness; employers gain a larger pool of PGWP-eligible graduates.
Lufthansa Discover strike extended to Sunday, cancellations mount in Frankfurt and Munich
Pilot and cabin-crew unions have prolonged their strike at Discover Airlines, Lufthansa’s holiday subsidiary, until Sunday. Frankfurt and Munich are already seeing cancellations, and reroutings are pushing up costs and journey times for business travellers heading to leisure destinations or onward long-haul flights.