Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

Innsbruck switched on the EU Entry/Exit System on 21 November, capturing biometrics from every non-EU traveller during a four-month test that coincides with the ski season. The move ends reliance on passport stamps to track the 90/180-day Schengen limit, forcing companies to upgrade compliance tools and pre-brief staff. Innsbruck is Austria’s third airport to go live ahead of full EU-wide enforcement on 10 April 2026.

After record immigration levels, Swiss lawmakers have voted to impose annual caps on several categories of foreign workers, roll out biometric checks at land borders and cut asylum-processing times. The overhaul, expected to take effect on 1 July 2026, gives companies earlier visibility on permit availability but will require new compliance processes.

A 22 November travel advisory confirms that Finland’s entire land border with Russia remains closed and that emergency legislation letting guards turn back asylum seekers is in force until at least 2026. Businesses face higher logistics costs and must route travellers via air or sea. Mobility managers should maintain contingency routing and brief staff on altered asylum procedures.

Germany has switched on AI triage in three overseas visa sections, cutting some skilled-worker processing times by more than half. ‘Low-risk’ files are auto-flagged for near-instant approval, while complex cases still go to human officers. The move could ease hiring bottlenecks for multinationals and is likely to expand worldwide if the pilot continues to deliver.

More than 2,000 demonstrators gathered in Madrid on 22 Nov 2025 to protest slow residency processing and opaque immigration rules. Organisers want more staff, automatic extensions and a fully digital filing system to clear a 580,000-case backlog. Delays already disrupt corporate onboarding and foreign residents’ access to work and social benefits, making the issue critical for employers that relocate staff to Spain.

Poland went live with the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System at 38 crossings on 21 November, replacing manual passport stamps with a digital record of every non-EU traveller. The system promises shorter queues for repeat travellers and real-time overstay alerts, but first-time entrants should expect longer processing. The nationwide roll-out—due to cover all 178 checkpoints by 4 December—paves the way for ETIAS and is billed as a key element of Poland’s security posture after recent hybrid attacks.

India has expanded its visa-on-arrival scheme for UAE citizens to nine airports and removed the annual trip cap. The upgrade shortens lead times for business, tourism and medical travel and supports the fast-growing UAE–India commercial corridor. Firms should update travel policies and remind Emirati staff of documentation and fee requirements.

Cyclone Fina has forced the complete closure of Darwin International Airport, leading to widespread flight cancellations and triggering special rebooking policies by Qantas, Jetstar and Singapore Airlines. The disruption affects FIFO workforces, freight supply chains and business travellers across northern Australia, underlining the need for contingency plans. Travellers should expect delays of at least two to three days and adjust itineraries accordingly.

EU Home-Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner said the Commission “fully supports” Cyprus’ push to join the Schengen Area in 2026. The endorsement signals that technical gaps have been closed and shifts the focus to winning unanimous approval from existing Schengen members. For businesses, Schengen entry would eliminate duplicate visas and passport checks, lowering compliance costs and easing intra-EU travel for staff based in Cyprus.

Effective 10 November 2025, newly arrived Ukrainians will receive just 30 days of free State accommodation instead of 90. The government argues the cut is necessary to ease pressure on reception centres, but NGOs warn it risks homelessness. Employers relocating Ukrainian talent must now budget for private housing almost immediately.

Former president Jair Bolsonaro was arrested on 22 November after burning his ankle monitor, allegedly to flee to a foreign embassy. The episode has triggered an inter-agency review of security around Brazil’s 131 diplomatic missions and may lead to stricter roadblocks, longer airport transfers and new geofencing of court-ordered tracking devices. Mobility and security teams should expect short-term disruption in Brasília’s embassy district and a possible overhaul of embassy-access rules.

A UK-based Hongkonger group has begun lobbying against new Home Office proposals that would add tighter English-language and income requirements to the BN(O) route. Campaigners say the plans generate “acute anxiety” among 160,000 BN(O) visa holders, while employers may need to help staff meet the thresholds. The consultation runs until February 2026, with changes potentially taking effect from April 2026.

A 24–26 November general strike will halt most Belgian trains, urban transport and outbound flights, forcing Eurostar and Brussels Airport to cancel services. Multinational firms should expect major travel disruption, cost increases and possible road checks, and activate remote-work or re-routing plans.