Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

From 1 January 2026 all Polish residence-permit applications must be lodged through the MOS e-portal and government fees will multiply by four, leaving HR teams just two weeks to adapt. The change completes Poland’s 2025 immigration reform and has major budgeting and process implications for multinationals relocating staff to the country.

On 16 December the just-installed Czech government rejected the EU’s migration pact, saying it will not implement mandatory relocation or solidarity payments. The move heightens the risk of legal action from Brussels and foreshadows stricter scrutiny of future humanitarian and work-visa applications. HR and mobility managers should prepare for tougher compliance checks and potential quota squeezes in 2026.

The transport ministry has set 19 January 2026 as the start date for a new €60 monthly pass valid on all Renfe commuter and regional trains plus state intercity buses, with a €30 youth rate. Local metros and trams are expected to join later via regional agreements, so existing tickets remain in force. For corporates the pass offers predictable budgeting and could slash internal travel costs by up to 60 %.

Migri will prolong all Ukrainian temporary-protection permits until 4 March 2027, affecting some 66 000 people. Holders will receive a confirmation letter in January and need take no action unless their card is damaged or their name has changed. The automatic extension gives employers, schools and municipalities a full extra year of certainty and aligns Finland with the EU’s decision to maintain protection.

From 16 December 2025 the UK Immigration Skills Charge rises by 32 %. Sponsors now pay £1,320 per skilled worker per year (or £480 for small/charitable sponsors), adding up to £1,600 to a typical five-year visa. The steep increase will raise employer costs, requiring immediate budget reviews and prompting some companies to accelerate or rethink recruitment plans.

ICP’s new “Taqdeer Package” automatically renews passports and Emirates ID cards for Emirati seniors and people of determination, eliminating applications, fees and in-person visits. The pilot, launched on 16 December, cuts renewal touch-points from three to zero and signals future auto-renewals for other resident categories. Employers should prepare their HR and travel systems for unsolicited document updates.

FOPH warns of a ‘strong Covid-19 wave’ just days before peak holiday travel. No national entry restrictions are planned, but cantons may tighten mask rules and a positive test still triggers five-day isolation. Business travellers face schedule risk and are urged to build buffers, check insurance and allow extra time for Schengen Entry/Exit kiosks.

The FAA unveiled a three-year, $6 billion plan to replace antiquated copper telecom lines and upgrade radar sites that underpin U.S. air-traffic control. The fast-tracked modernization—overseen by contractor Peraton—aims to cut delays, improve safety and save airlines billions in fuel and crew costs. Business travelers and global-mobility teams should prepare for short-term construction-related disruptions but can expect more reliable flight schedules once the overhaul is finished.

Unions representing air-traffic controllers, ground-handling staff and multiple airline crews will shut down Italian airports for four hours on 17 December (13:00-17:00). ENAC warns of widespread delays and cancellations that could strand up to 6,000 passengers and disrupt cargo flows. Business-travellers and assignees are urged to re-schedule flights or build in buffers.

The UK and EU have reached a near-final agreement for Britain to rejoin the Erasmus+ exchange scheme from academic year 2027/28, with talks also advancing on a separate youth-mobility visa allowing young people to live and work across the Channel. The move will widen talent pipelines and could ease future junior assignments between the UK and Europe.

ASTRA, SBB and Zurich Airport predict unprecedented Christmas–New-Year traffic. Motorways, rail services and Zurich Airport all face capacity strains; travellers should book off-peak slots, reserve seats and arrive early. The alert has knock-on effects for visa timing, air-cargo logistics and corporate travel budgeting.

A week after an extratropical cyclone hit south-eastern Brazil, Congonhas and Guarulhos airports have cancelled almost 400 flights and continue to experience rolling delays. Power cuts, flooded roads and crew mis-positioning are paralysing corporate travel at a critical year-end period, prompting airlines to issue flexible re-booking policies and forcing companies to activate contingency plans. The prolonged disruption underlines the vulnerability of Brazil’s main business hub to extreme weather and infrastructure fragility.