Strike Fallout: 60 Flights Cancelled and 174 Delayed at Brussels Airport
UAE freezes most visit visas for Pakistanis, allowing only diplomatic and ‘blue’ passports
15-hour blackout of Australia’s online visa systems starts tonight
Latest News
Swiss Government Freezes 2026 Work-Permit Quotas for Third-Country Talent
The Federal Council has decided to leave Switzerland’s 2026 work-permit quotas for non-EU/EFTA nationals unchanged at 8,500 (4,500 B and 4,000 L). The move gives companies clarity amid skills shortages and high net migration, but cantons will maintain strict labour-market tests. HR teams should file early, as 2025 quotas ran out before year-end.
Cyprus signs Public-Service contract for year-round Larnaca–Brussels flights ahead of its 2026 EU Presidency
Cyprus’ Transport Ministry has awarded Aegean Airlines a 12-month PSO contract to operate direct Larnaca–Brussels flights from 1 December 2025, capped at €400 one-way. The service will scale between two and five weekly rotations to cover the island’s upcoming EU Council Presidency, restoring non-stop access to EU institutions for officials and business travellers.
Belgium to Double Flight Tax From 2027, Airlines Warn of Higher Fares
Belgium’s 2026 budget will double the flight-ticket tax to €10 for every departing passenger from 1 January 2027. Airlines say travellers — including business flyers — will bear the cost, and some warn of potential capacity cuts. Companies should budget for higher air-travel expenses and review routing strategies.
India–Russia Group Visa Waiver Inches Closer Ahead of Delhi Summit
Indian and Russian negotiators say they are days away from finalising a visa-free scheme for organised tourist groups. The waiver would cut costs and paperwork for Indian travellers, potentially doubling visitor numbers and boosting MICE traffic and airline load factors. The pact is expected to be unveiled at the Delhi summit next week, alongside talks on RuPay-Mir payment integration.
Weekly Bulletin Confirms Swiss Quotas and Extends Swiss-UK Services Mobility Deal to 2029
An EMEA bulletin confirms Switzerland’s 2026 work-permit numbers and reveals that the Swiss-UK Services Mobility Agreement has been prolonged until the end of 2029. British professionals can keep delivering services in Switzerland visa-free for up to 90 days per year, while Swiss suppliers enjoy the same access in the UK. The move removes a major risk for 2026 project planning but increases the need for precise day-count tracking.
Administration Orders ‘Rigorous Re-Examination’ of Green-Card Holders from 19 Nations
USCIS and ICE have been ordered to re-screen millions of green-card holders from 19 “countries of concern,” with potential deportation for any cases deemed fraudulent or risky. The sweeping review injects uncertainty into long-settled immigrant communities and threatens to slow routine benefit processing for all employers.
China’s Expanded Visa-Waiver Policies Spark 35 % Jump in Foreign Arrivals
Beijing says foreign arrivals using visa-waiver or transit-waiver channels have surged 35 % this year, thanks to an expanded list of 65 eligible entry ports and 48 visa-free countries. The boom is lifting traffic at airports and seaports nationwide and giving multinationals greater flexibility for short-notice travel into China.
Rejection rates for UAE visit visas touch 80 % for Pakistani first-time applicants
Travel agents report that up to four out of five first-time UAE visit-visa applications from Pakistan are being rejected, reflecting intensified risk screening. The trend disrupts corporate travel plans and forces companies to reroute regional assignments, adding cost and time. Applicants are advised to bolster financial and itinerary evidence, but approvals are likely to remain limited until bilateral talks ease restrictions.
ONS Data Show 74,000 Indians Quit the UK as Net Migration Slumps 80 %
Britain’s net migration collapse is being driven by a sharp rise in departures—led by 74,000 Indians—after tougher salary rules and dependants bans. Indian firms may face costlier, slower transfers, while returnees swell the skilled workforce at home. UK ministers hail the drop, but industry bodies fear skills gaps and slower growth.
Italy Fast-Tracks Ancestry Path: New Decree Lets 680,000 Brazilians Bypass Visa Quotas for Work and Citizenship
A decree published 27 November lets Brazilians registered in Italy’s AIRE bypass annual work-permit quotas and apply directly for residence, paving a faster route to Italian citizenship. The move affects more than 680,000 people and eases intra-EU mobility for Brazilian talent, while reducing administrative friction for employers.
Home Affairs warns international students: submit complete 2026 visa applications early
Home Affairs has urged 2026 student-visa applicants to file early and with complete documentation, citing surging volumes and a tougher triage regime. Universities and employers that depend on timely student and dependant visas should front-load compliance checks and allow longer lead-times.