Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

India has added 166 nations to its e-Tourist Visa portal, bringing total coverage to 211 countries and including a refreshed e-Business Visa option for 180-day multiple entry. The digital process cuts approval times from weeks to hours and is expected to drive inbound tourism and corporate travel under the “Visit India 2030” plan. Businesses should update travel tools quickly as employees from the newly added countries will soon bypass consulates entirely.

Russia has unilaterally waived visas for Chinese nationals for stays of up to 30 days, effective immediately and lasting until mid-September 2026. The reciprocal step removes costly paperwork, sparked an instant jump in flight searches and is expected to boost tourism, trade missions and short-term staff visits. Companies should revise mobility policies and remind travellers that work activities still require proper authorisation.

Effective 1 December 2025, employers can put Ukrainian S-permit refugees on payroll with a one-day online notification instead of a full work-permit application. The shift removes weeks of bureaucratic delay, helping fill labour shortages and supporting faster integration while preserving wage-protection safeguards.

• Immigration Department will replace identity cards and travel documents for Wang Fuk Court fire victims free of charge, aiming for 48-hour turnaround. • Broader package includes waivers for public-hospital fees, outstanding taxes, rates, utilities and telecommunication charges. • Measure removes a major barrier to international travel and cross-border work for displaced residents, ensuring business continuity for employers that rely on affected staff.

Austrian embassies have opened a seven-day booking window (1–8 December 2025) for next year’s quota-based non-work residence permits. Because annual places are strictly capped, the window is the first—and often decisive—hurdle for financially-independent migrants and dependants of corporate assignees. Companies should act immediately, verify pre-registration codes and plan travel to avoid Schengen overstays.

The Federal Council has left Switzerland’s headline work-permit ceilings unchanged for 2026: 8 500 slots for non-EU/EFTA talent plus separate envelopes for posted EU/EFTA service-providers and UK nationals. The unusually early decision gives multinationals 13 months of visibility and allows HR teams to align 2026 staffing plans with quota availability. Bottlenecks remain likely in high-demand cantons, so early filings and active quota monitoring are still essential.

Cyprus’ Ombudswoman says the national CY-Login digital ID system excludes asylum seekers because their confirmation letters are not accepted for verification. The gap blocks access to work-permit renewals, social benefits and even school enrolment, leaving employers and NGOs scrambling for manual fixes. The Commissioner urges ministries to create an interim pathway, warning that fundamental rights are at stake.

Russia has been joined by France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea in offering 30-day visa-free stays for Chinese visitors. The synchronised push aims to accelerate tourism and business exchanges as China’s outbound market rebounds, giving companies and travellers unprecedented itinerary flexibility.

Liberal senator Sarah Henderson has re-floated legislation to cap international student intakes at 25 % (rising to 30 % if universities add housing). The proposal—backed by conservative cross-benchers—contrasts with the Albanese Government’s expansion plans and reignites debate over migration’s link to housing and labour shortages. Businesses and universities now face renewed policy uncertainty heading into 2026.

India has resumed issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens, completing the phased rollback of restrictions imposed after the 2020 border crisis. The move is expected to reboot a USD 1 billion tourism corridor and ease corporate travel for both sides, though standard biometric and e-Arrival Card requirements remain.

From 3 December 2025, tourists and business travellers can extend UAE visit visas entirely online, avoiding costly ‘visa runs’. The ICP platform delivers electronic extensions within 24 hours, though overstay fines remain. The move eases compliance for employers and is expected to lengthen average stays, supporting tourism and project work.

USCIS has ordered an immediate pause and re-review of all immigration petitions from nationals of 19 countries already subject to a June travel ban. The move halts green-card and naturalization processing, threatens business start-dates and signals a broader crackdown on legal immigration framed as a security measure.