Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said new EU migration rules will allow Germany to scrap its internal border checks, first imposed in 2024 to curb irregular migration. The move would reduce delays for hauliers and cross-border commuters and signals Berlin’s confidence that stricter control at the EU’s external frontiers will replace national measures.

All five U.S. consulates in India have pushed thousands of H-1B visa-stamping appointments into 2026 because of a new requirement to review five years of each applicant’s social-media activity. The sudden postponements have stranded many Indian tech workers, prompting legal experts to warn against non-essential travel and forcing employers to activate contingency staffing plans.

A new federal amendment lifts maximum fines for visa and residency abuse to Dh5 million and introduces mandatory jail sentences. The law targets tourist-visa workers, unlicensed recruiters and trafficking networks, and applies the same penalties to employers and landlords who enable violations. Mobility teams must tighten compliance processes immediately or risk severe financial and reputational harm.

The Austrian cabinet has endorsed an overhaul of the Red-White-Red Card system, promising fully digital, one-stop processing and an eight-week service standard. Shortage-occupation indicators will be updated, and adult apprentices trained abroad by Austrian companies will gain a direct path to the permit. The reform should ease Austria’s skills gap and give employers quicker access to global talent.

A Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 suffered a burst tyre on departure from Hong Kong on 10 December and returned safely, delaying the Hong Kong–Melbourne service by nearly seven hours. The runway closure caused wider afternoon delays and underscores the need for robust travel-disruption planning for corporate travellers using Hong Kong as a hub.

Non-EEA residents can again leave and re-enter Ireland on recently expired Irish Residence Permit cards during the Christmas peak, so long as they have filed a renewal and carry supporting documents. The waiver, valid 8 Dec 2025–31 Jan 2026, tackles a six-week production backlog and prevents holiday travel disruptions for assignees and their families.

U.S. authorities want Visa Waiver travellers—including Belgians using ESTA—to provide social-media handles and extensive family information. The draft rule, now open for comment, would lengthen application times and raise privacy concerns, potentially complicating corporate and leisure travel from Belgium to the United States.

DHS has published a proposal that would force all Visa Waiver Program travellers to disclose extensive social-media, e-mail and telephone histories before boarding flights to the United States. Critics say the plan will deter business and leisure travel and raise privacy concerns, while DHS argues it closes security gaps. Companies should anticipate longer lead times for short-term assignments once the rule is finalized.

IRCC invited 6,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates on 10 December 2025 with a CRS cut-off of 520, marking the largest CEC draw in 16 months. The move gives work-permit holders already in Canada a fast track to permanent residence and creates opportunities for employers to retain skilled foreign talent.

A 25-strong EU delegation started the last technical inspection required for Cyprus to join the Schengen Area. Inspectors are testing border-security IT, data-protection safeguards and return-policy capacity. Passing the audit would pave the way for passport-free travel to and from Cyprus by 2026, significantly benefiting corporate mobility and tourism.

The Federal Police released a new public list of migration fines on 9 December, targeting late registration, overstays and unauthorised work. The move signals stepped-up enforcement ahead of Brazil’s 2026 tourist surge and serves as a warning to employers to respect the 30-day post-arrival registration rule.

Ottawa will spend C$1.7 billion to recruit up to 1,000 top researchers under the new Canada Global Impact+ initiative, offering generous grants, infrastructure money and fast-track immigration. The programme positions Canada as a haven for talent amid U.S. visa restrictions and is expected to trigger a wave of academic and family relocations over the next decade.

A cross-party report proposes a capped Youth Experience Scheme offering 44,000 two-year visas to EU and UK citizens aged 18-30. Ministers believe the plan could boost skills and rebuild post-Brexit ties without raising net migration because more young Britons already leave on other schemes. Formal talks with the European Commission begin this week.

Poland’s air-navigation agency will reopen restricted zone EP R129 just before midnight on 10 December, ending a three-month night-flight ban along the Belarus and Ukraine borders. Airlines expect shorter routings and lower fuel bills, while corporate travellers regain evening access to eastern Polish airports.