Visa centre in Dhaka shuts as India warns of security threat; appointments rescheduled
Poland Finalises Digital-Only MOS Portal & Quadruples Immigration Fees From 1 January 2026
India launches digital sponsorship module to speed e-visas for foreign experts
Latest News
MYEFO slashes net-overseas-migration forecast as Canberra tightens student visas
Treasury’s mid-year update cuts this year’s net-overseas-migration forecast from 335,000 to 310,000 and flags further reductions as the government’s student-visa crackdown bites. Universities and employers warn of skills shortages, while ministers say the measures are needed to ease housing pressure. The revision cements migration as a central election issue and means sponsors should brace for longer lead-times and higher costs.
New IRCC data show application backlog tops one million despite overall inventory dip
IRCC’s December 16 inventory update shows 2.18 million applications in the system, with 1.01 million now backlogged—up 10,000 on the previous month. Permanent-resident queues account for more than half the backlog, even as temporary-resident inventories shrink after student and worker caps. The figures signal longer waits for some PR streams and underscore Ottawa’s shift from temporary to permanent pathways.
New Citizenship Act Takes Effect in Finland, Introducing Fully-Digital Applications and Tougher Eligibility
Finland’s re-written Citizenship Act entered into force on 17 December 2025. All applications are now digital-only and applicants must show two years of stable, non-benefit income, pass stricter criminal-record checks and risk citizenship revocation for serious offences. Mobility teams need to reassess eligibility of foreign staff immediately, as files lodged after today face materially higher hurdles.
Migration Advisory Committee urges overhaul of Skilled Worker salary thresholds
The MAC’s 2025 report, published on 17 December 2025, recommends reducing occupation-specific Skilled Worker salary thresholds from the median (50th-percentile) to the 25th-percentile of UK earnings while keeping the overall £41,700 floor. The committee says the move would protect local wages, ease regional skill shortages and boost the visa route’s fiscal contribution. Employers may gain flexibility from April 2026 if ministers accept the advice.
IRCC issues record-breaking 6,000 invitations in French-language Express Entry draw
IRCC held its largest-ever French-language Express Entry draw on Dec 17, 2025, inviting 6,000 candidates with CRS scores as low as 399. The draw brings December’s total ITAs to nearly 20,000 and reflects Ottawa’s strategy to bolster Francophone communities and hit 2026 economic-immigration targets sooner. French-speaking applicants now have an unprecedented window to secure permanent residency, while employers gain faster access to bilingual talent.
Poland Authorises Domestic Production of Anti-Personnel Mines for ‘East Shield’ Border Fortifications
Poland has quit the Ottawa Convention and will mass-produce anti-personnel mines to secure its eastern frontier under the ‘East Shield’ programme. Officials say the move is essential against Russian and Belarusian threats, but critics warn it endangers civilians and could legitimise new border checks that slow freight and business travel. Mobility planners need to factor in longer routes, tighter controls and heightened safety risks.
Switzerland to Pilot Segregated Housing for Disruptive Asylum Seekers
From summer 2026, Switzerland will test segregated housing for asylum seekers who repeatedly threaten or assault others in federal centres. The six-month pilot aims to improve safety and free up resources by placing disruptive adult males in secure wings at two sites. If the trial works, SEM plans to extend the concept nationwide, a move that could ease operational pressure and improve conditions for the majority of well-behaved residents.
Flanders Tightens Chain Liability and Narrows Low-Skilled Work Permit Routes from 1 January 2026
From 1 January 2026 Flanders will: 1) make every contractor jointly liable for illegal employment in its supply chain; 2) re-introduce labour-market tests and close many low-skilled migration routes; and 3) announce an extra regional processing fee for work permits later in 2026. Companies must tighten compliance checks and expect longer lead-times and higher costs.
Austria Extends Suspension of Family Reunification for Refugees Until July 2026
Parliament has prolonged Austria’s stop on family reunification for refugees and subsidiary-protection holders until 2 July 2026. The Interior Ministry cites overstretched schools and security concerns, while critics say the measure violates human-rights obligations. The extension freezes dependants’ entry for at least another six months, complicating workforce-planning and duty-of-care for employers with protected-status staff.
Social-Media Vetting Backlog Leaves H-1B Workers Stranded Abroad for Months
U.S. consulates, especially in India, are pushing H-1B visa appointments into March 2026 as they handle expanded social-media screening. The backlog strands skilled workers abroad, delays U.S. projects and could push employers to look for talent hubs outside the United States.
Lula Threatens to Pull Brazil Out of Mercosur-EU Trade Pact Unless Deal Signed This Month
President Lula set a 31 December ultimatum for the Mercosur-EU trade agreement, threatening that Brazil will quit the talks if Europe fails to sign. The move endangers expected mobility provisions that would have eased visas and work-permit quotas for talent moving between Brazil and the EU, forcing multinationals to prepare fallback compliance plans.
Permanent-Residence Rules Tighten: Six-Year Stay and Language Proof Now Mandatory
From 17 December 2025, permanent-residence applicants must show six years of lawful stay (previously four), A2-level Finnish/Swedish, and a two-year work record. Time spent on student permits no longer suffices unless followed by employment, and absences abroad of two years may void the permit. Firms will need early language-training and absence-tracking strategies.
Migrant Workers Rally at Leinster House to Demand Faster Family-Reunification Rules
Migrant workers staged a protest outside Leinster House on 17 December calling for the elimination of Ireland’s one-year waiting period and income-test requirements for family reunification. Organised by the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, the rally highlights growing social and talent-retention pressure to harmonise rules for all work-permit holders.