Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

The Chinese embassy in New Delhi has launched a fully digital visa application system, allowing Indian travellers to complete forms and upload documents online before a single biometric visit. The upgrade is expected to cut processing times, boost business travel and tap India’s fast-growing US$21 billion outbound market.

Canberra will introduce legislation allowing visas to be cancelled or refused if the holder has engaged in hate speech or extremist vilification. The move follows the 15-fatality Bondi terror attack and forms part of a broader anti-extremism package. Employers will need to tighten social-media due-diligence for inbound assignees and short-term travellers.

A December 22 embassy alert confirms that U.S. consulates worldwide are now running algorithmic social-media checks on every H-1B and H-4 applicant. Tech firms are urging visa holders to avoid non-essential travel, and mobility teams should expect longer interview queues and potential administrative processing delays.

IRCC will limit 2026 study-permit applications to about 310,000 and impose new provincial attestation letters. At the same time, it is freezing intake for the Start-Up Visa, Self-Employed Persons and caregiver pilots. The measures aim to cut backlogs and reduce Canada’s temporary-resident population, affecting colleges, universities and businesses that depend on foreign talent.

Berlin has prolonged the temporary controls on all of Germany’s land borders until 15 March 2026. The extension keeps spot checks in place for travellers from eight neighbouring countries, citing migration and security concerns. Businesses must factor in additional time and documentation for cross-border travel and freight movements.

NIA data show foreign arrivals rose 27 % in 2025, with more than half the growth linked to China’s new 10-day visa-free transit scheme covering 55 countries and 65 ports. The policy gives business travellers extra flexibility and is helping spread inbound spending to secondary cities.

A software crash in the EU’s new Entry/Exit System caused three-hour passport queues at Prague Airport on 19 December, delaying flights and prompting warnings from airlines and airport operators. Companies are now advising travellers to add at least 90 extra minutes to departure plans and to expect further glitches as the mandatory EES rollout approaches in April 2026. Why it matters: the disruption exposes corporate travellers and assignees to missed connections, extra costs and potential overstay penalties.

A 72-hour walk-out by French air-traffic controllers has closed three regional airports and slashed capacity at Lyon just as the Christmas rush begins. Multinationals are rerouting travellers, moving meetings online and bracing for further action in January. The disruption underscores ongoing labour-relations risk in France’s aviation sector and the need for robust contingency planning.

Ireland’s International Protection Office says a rapid-decision strategy is driving a spike in court appeals from rejected asylum seekers and could leave taxpayers facing €15 million in legal bills next year. The surge comes ahead of the EU Migration Pact, putting pressure on budgets and raising questions about Ireland’s capacity to enforce deportations while maintaining fair procedures.

Cathay Group carried 2.53 million passengers in November 2025, up 26 % year-on-year, and achieved an 87 % load factor – its best since 2023. Twenty new routes opened this year have expanded the network to 103 cities, while cargo tonnage climbed 10 %. Management now expects full-year profits to surpass 2024. The data confirm that Hong Kong’s air-hub recovery is accelerating, giving employers more lift for business travel and expatriate rotations.

The UAE has confirmed a US $34 billion rebuild of Al Maktoum International and parallel upgrades in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, adding runways, terminals and smart infrastructure by 2026-28. The projects will lift national capacity, create thousands of specialist jobs and redistribute passenger flows across three hubs—key information for companies managing assignee housing, airline contracts and regional supply chains.

IRCC has stopped issuing new Start-Up Visa work permits and will reject fresh SUV permanent-residence applications after 31 December 2025. A new, more selective entrepreneur pilot is slated for 2026. Companies and investors must adjust talent-mobility strategies as the popular pathway pauses.

DHS has tripled its “exit bonus” for undocumented migrants who self-deport, offering US$3,000 and a free flight if they leave by December 31. Officials say the program is cheaper than forced removals and will be processed through the CBP Home app. Employers should prepare for potential labor-force gaps, while advocates warn of due-process concerns.

A combination of UK, Spanish and French strikes and teething problems with the EU’s new Entry/Exit biometric border system is causing cascading delays at Zurich, Geneva and Basel airports. Passenger peaks on 26–28 December could see queues of several hours for non-EU travellers. Businesses should pad itineraries and monitor live updates.

Cyprus’ Aliens & Immigration Service arrested 31 irregular migrants in coordinated raids on 21 December, signalling the government’s tougher stance on enforcement. With 11,500 returns already executed in 2025, employers now face heavy fines and possible closure for hiring undocumented staff. Corporate mobility teams should expect more site inspections and tighten permit-tracking processes.

Finland has scrapped all paper citizenship applications and now requires digital filing via the Enter Finland portal. At the same time, eligibility has been tightened: six years’ residence, sustainable earned income and Finnish/Swedish at A2 level are mandatory. The move accelerates processing but forces employers to lengthen retention plans and offer extra integration support.