Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

A nationwide strike on 26 November forced Brussels Airport to cancel all departures and most arrivals, shut down Charleroi Airport and slashed rail, bus and metro services. Business travellers face widespread delays and companies are rerouting passengers or switching to remote work as unions protest pension and budget reforms.

DHS has issued a notice terminating TPS for Haiti, ending legal status and work authorization for roughly 340,000 Haitians on 3 February 2026. Employers face a one-year deadline to find alternative visa solutions or lose staff, while advocacy groups prepare legal challenges. The decision signals a broader tightening of U.S. humanitarian immigration programs.

A 24-hour Verdi strike on 26 November shut down ground handling and security at 10 German airports, cancelling about 3,400 flights and stranding an estimated 500,000 passengers. The action seeks an 8 percent pay rise and higher allowances; employers warn of cost spirals. Business travellers face major disruption and renewed debate over minimum-service laws in critical transport sectors.

India and the UAE used their 6th Joint Consular Committee meeting to agree on ‘progressive liberalisation’ of visa rules and to launch projects that digitise document verification and overstayer data. The roadmap promises faster, more predictable processing for Indian professionals and businesses operating in the Emirates, reinforcing one of the world’s busiest labour and travel corridors.

New data show China’s expanded visa-waiver and 240-hour transit-permit programmes have lifted foreign entries by 35 % so far this year, with 60 % of visitors now entering without a traditional visa. The surge is easing corporate mobility bottlenecks and reviving hotel demand, but raises questions about processing capacity at smaller ports.

The Home Office has fixed 25 February 2026 as the go-live date for mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisations. From then on, most non-visa nationals will need an ETA to board transport to the UK. The £16 digital permit is obtained via an app and will be checked by carriers at departure. Businesses should integrate ETA lead-times and costs into travel policies now to avoid disruption.

• India formally protested to China after an Arunachal-born Indian traveller was detained 18 hours during a Shanghai lay-over. • New Delhi says Beijing violated international air-transit conventions, raising the risk of renewed friction in people-to-people links. • Multinational firms should reassess routings for Indian passport holders from disputed regions and update travel-risk protocols.

Beginning 1 December 2025, Austria will issue a dedicated residence-and-work permit for third-country nationals who live in a neighbouring state but commute to jobs in Austrian border regions. The move closes a long-standing compliance gap, promises faster processing than a full Red-White-Red Card and should stabilise labour supply for manufacturers near the Slovak, Czech and Hungarian frontiers.

Uber has begun matching riders with fully driverless WeRide robotaxis in Abu Dhabi, the first such deployment on its global platform outside the US. The launch gives corporate travellers a new low-touch, app-based transport option and signals the UAE’s determination to become a showcase market for autonomous mobility. Companies are advised to revisit ground-transport policies and duty-of-care protocols as the service expands.

Cyprus and Lebanon have finally ratified their EEZ boundary, giving energy and marine-services companies legal certainty to mobilise crews, vessels and project teams between the two countries. The deal should reduce insurance costs, speed up work-permit processing and pave the way for a Cyprus-Lebanon power cable that will further boost business travel. For firms relocating staff, the agreement marks a tangible lowering of operational risk in the eastern Mediterranean.

Qatar has been added to Canada’s Electronic Travel Authorisation programme, allowing Qatari citizens to visit Canada visa-free for up to six months per trip. The eTA, valid for five years, will streamline business and leisure travel and strengthen economic ties between the two countries.

TSA has proposed an $18 fee that would let passengers who forget their Real ID verify identity through a biometric kiosk for up to ten days. The system promises faster checkpoints but adds a new travel cost and fresh privacy concerns for companies and frequent flyers.

From late 2026, asylum-seekers who have jobs will have to contribute 10 %–40 % of their wages (capped at €238 per week) towards their State-provided housing. The Government says the move will save up to €30 million a year and align Ireland with EU practice, but NGOs warn it could push vulnerable workers into the shadow economy. Employers of protection applicants should review compensation packages and payroll processes.

Iberia, Air Europa and Plus Ultra will keep their Madrid–Caracas flights suspended after Spain’s aviation regulator warned of escalating military risks in Venezuelan airspace. About 6,000 passengers and time-critical cargo movements are affected, forcing rerouting via third countries and raising costs for businesses with interests in Venezuela. The move underscores how regional security issues can up-end Spain’s long-haul connectivity and complicate corporate travel planning.