Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

Germany’s new conservative government has cancelled two special programmes that would have resettled roughly 640 at-risk Afghans waiting in Pakistan, arguing the promises were not legally binding. NGOs say the U-turn endangers those individuals and damages Germany’s reputation. Firms with personnel affected should review risk and evacuation plans.

The Austrian cabinet has approved a full digital overhaul of the Red-White-Red Card, cutting processing to eight weeks and updating shortage-occupation rules. Employers will use a one-stop portal, and new job categories will earn points under a modernised matrix. The change should ease Austria’s skills gap and shorten project lead-times for multinationals, but HR teams must prepare for stricter, fully electronic document submission.

The White House opened applications for a “Gold Card” that grants U.S. permanent residency in exchange for a US $1 million payment, plus a US $15,000 processing fee. Officials claim the program will raise billions, while critics say it monetizes immigration and undercuts equity. Mobility managers are weighing the card’s usefulness for fast-tracking key talent.

A fresh Migration Advisory Committee model shows Skilled Worker and Health-and-Care visa holders will add £47 billion to UK coffers over their lifetimes, with top earners averaging £2.7 million each in tax. The findings undermine arguments for sharp visa caps and strengthen business calls to moderate fee rises and maintain family-re-union rights.

Ottawa is putting C$1.7 billion behind a new Global Impact+ initiative that offers major research grants and fast-track immigration to attract up to 1,000 world-class scholars. The programme adds priority work-permit and PR processing to generous funding, positioning Canada as a premier destination for frustrated H-1B holders and other mobile researchers. Universities and corporate R&D leaders should prepare to leverage the scheme’s accelerated timelines and spousal-support requirements.

A 25-strong EU delegation has launched the final technical audit of Cyprus’ borders, the last hurdle before Schengen accession. Officials cite €80 million in IT and surveillance upgrades and hope to join the passport-free area in 2026, promising faster travel and lower compliance costs for companies. The inspection will scrutinise migrant-return procedures and data-sharing systems.

Law 179/2025, published on 11 December, converts Italy’s new ‘decreto flussi’ into law and releases 497,550 work visas for 2026-28. Faster online procedures, stricter compliance rules and an early 12 January click-day give employers fresh but highly competitive channels to hire non-EU talent.

Effective 9 December 2025, Poland raised the fee for an *oświadczenie* (fast-track work declaration) from PLN 100 to PLN 400 and removed Georgia from the list of eligible nationalities. The hike will significantly raise 2026 staffing costs for employers who rely on short-term foreign labour, but it funds new digital compliance checks mandated by Poland’s overhauled foreign-employment law.

Hong Kong’s new southbound private-car pilot drew more than 100 applications on day one, filling the 23 December quota within hours. The scheme lets lottery-selected Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan and Jiangmen motorists drive into Hong Kong’s urban areas via the HZMB, subject to pre-booking and inspections. The move offers corporates a new door-to-door option for mainland staff but quota caps and insurance requirements require advance planning.

Australia has welcomed its first 27 “climate migrants” from Tuvalu under a capped scheme offering 280 places a year to residents of the sinking island nation. The pilot provides work-rights, a pathway to permanent residency and targeted regional settlement support, positioning Australia as a pioneer in climate-linked mobility policy. Businesses gain a new Pacific talent channel, but must factor in the visa’s generous family benefits. The program’s success will shape future climate-migration strategy across the region.

A federal decree published on 11 December drastically increases penalties for drug-related offences and makes deportation compulsory for convicted foreigners. Employers must tighten compliance and prepare for automatic visa cancellation of affected staff.

Finnair will cancel roughly 300 flights on 9 and 13 December after its pilots’ union confirmed a two-day strike, affecting an estimated 33,000 passengers. The disruption highlights the vulnerability of Finland’s key aviation hub and forces companies to rebook travellers, re-assess itineraries and check Schengen-area compliance for alternative routings.

Ryanair will cut one million seats and 20 routes from Brussels Airport and Charleroi for winter 2026-27 in protest at Belgium’s rising aviation taxes. The move threatens higher travel costs and fewer direct options for Belgian business travellers and multinational employers. Airport revenues and regional tourism could face a multi-million-euro shortfall, pushing corporates to re-route trips via neighbouring countries.

Gale-force winds knocked out electricity to 1.4 million customers and forced the cancellation of nearly 400 flights at São Paulo’s Congonhas and Guarulhos airports on 10–11 December. Business travellers face widespread delays, missed connections and scarce ground transport while Enel works to restore power. Companies should build extra buffers into itineraries, remind employees of passenger-rights rules and monitor rebooking options as the disruption may last another 24–48 hours.

Madrid has formally asked London to create a mutual 90-day visa-free regime for service providers. The scheme would cut costs and lead times for short business assignments, easing post-Brexit frictions for Spanish and British companies alike. HR teams should watch for legislative timetables and start scenario-planning now.

České dráhy’s freshly released 2026 timetable adds new international trains to Austria, Poland and Denmark, boosts premium Railjet frequencies and makes seat reservations compulsory on the high-demand Prague–Ostrava route. More modern, barrier-free rolling stock and higher compensation rules raise the service baseline for corporate travellers. The changes, effective 14 December 2025, strengthen Czechia’s role as a rail gateway for Central Europe.