Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

The National Immigration Administration forecasts more than 2.1 million cross-border passenger movements per day over the 1–3 January 2026 break, up 22 percent year-on-year. Airports in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing, as well as land ports in Zhuhai and Shenzhen, will see the heaviest flows. The surge reflects looser visa rules and revived business travel, but HR and travel managers should prepare staff for congestion and ensure compliance with China’s new online arrival-card requirement.

The UAE will replace its single-entry Mission Visa with a two-year, multiple-entry version that allows stays of up to 60 days per trip, capped at 180 days annually. The reform will make it far easier and cheaper for companies to send project staff in and out of the country without resorting to full residency permits.

A federal judge blocked DHS from ending TPS for citizens of Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua, keeping 89,000 workers eligible for work permits and protection from deportation. The decision prevents sudden labor losses for U.S. employers and signals that termination attempts based on allegedly biased reasoning will face strong judicial scrutiny.

Germany has extended its internal Schengen land-border checks until 15 March 2026, citing people-smuggling and security concerns. Random ID inspections will continue on roads and rail lines from all eight neighbouring countries, impacting business travellers, commuters and logistics flows. Companies should expect delays, carry correct documentation and watch for possible EU-level push-back.

France has set a flat €39,582 gross annual wage as the new minimum for the ‘Talent – Qualified Employee’ residence permit, replacing the old SMIC-based formula. The cut lowers hiring costs by about 8 percent, gives HR teams a predictable compliance target and bolsters France’s competitiveness against rival EU talent visas.

New social-media vetting has doubled H-1B/H-4 processing times, pushing interview slots for many Indians into March 2026. The U.S. Embassy’s year-end warning to obey immigration rules has been criticised as tone-deaf given the backlog. Indian employers must plan for longer lead times or reroute talent to alternative locations.

Eurostar and Le Shuttle traffic has restarted after a 30 December power failure, but residual cancellations and multi-hour delays are expected on 31 December. The disruption affects the high-volume Brussels–London rail corridor during one of the busiest travel days of the year and is forcing companies to activate duty-of-care and contingency-travel plans. Travellers may claim compensation under EU rail rules, but should expect schedule instability until at least 2 January.

A power-supply failure in the Channel Tunnel on 30 December shut down both Eurostar passenger trains and LeShuttle car services for most of the day, sparking mass cancellations and multi-hour delays that spilled into 31 December. The disruption exposes the fragility of the sole rail link between France and the UK and forces companies to activate costly contingency plans.

A severe snowstorm on 30-31 December shut down a 20-km stretch of the S7 motorway, delayed trains and forced flight cancellations at Warsaw airports. Authorities have since restored traffic flow, but residual delays are expected across Poland’s road, rail and air network. Employers should anticipate disrupted business travel and consider remote-work or schedule flexibility for mobile staff.

Federal Police at São Paulo/Guarulhos arrested a Paraguayan homicide suspect carrying a fake Brazilian passport and, in the process, showcased Brazil’s new real-time biometric alert system. Officers have boosted staffing and security sweeps during the New-Year travel rush, signalling tougher routine checks ahead. The development raises compliance stakes for companies moving staff through Brazil’s main hub.

Germany has extended its ‘temporary’ controls at all land borders— including those with Czechia—until 15 March 2026. Random passport and ID inspections will therefore continue to affect business travellers, cross-border commuters and freight services for another 14 months. Companies should budget extra time for trips and ensure staff carry physical identity documents.

Spain published its 2026 GECCO Order on 30 December, cementing collective, multi-year hiring from abroad and adding new worker-protection clauses. A record 25,767 foreigners entered under the scheme in 2025, up 25 % year-on-year. The order gives employers more flexibility, aligns with May’s immigration-rule overhaul and prepares the ground for EU-supported circular-migration pilots such as WAFIRA II.

Shenzhen and Hong Kong will keep Luohu open until 2 a.m. and run Shenzhen Bay checkpoint through the night on 31 December to handle an expected one-million-plus cross-boundary travellers. The temporary measure prevents a post-fireworks bottleneck, safeguards retail and staffing needs, and offers companies extra flexibility for freight routing. Mobility teams should update travellers, pre-book transport and use automated clearance programs.

Dublin Airport processed more than 100,000 passengers on 30 December—the busiest day in its history—capping a 19-day festive rush that will see 1.5 million travellers pass through by 6 January. Smooth security powered by new CT scanners contrasted with severe kerb-side congestion, reigniting calls to lift the airport’s 32 million-passenger cap. Companies should advise staff to allow extra time for early-January flights and keep an eye on forthcoming government decisions that could affect future seat availability and pricing.

A federal court in Massachusetts stopped DHS from ending TPS for South Sudanese nationals less than a week before the program’s expiration, safeguarding work authorization for 300 employees and highlighting the courts’ growing skepticism toward politically-driven TPS terminations.

IRCC has stopped accepting new applications to the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) because the inventory far exceeds the spaces in the 2026-2028 immigration plan. The pause leaves Canadian employers and skilled refugees with job offers in limbo while IRCC redesigns the pilot. Businesses should anticipate no new EMPP intakes until at least 2026 and explore alternative immigration pathways in the meantime.

A decree published on 29 December makes a civic-knowledge exam compulsory for most third-country nationals applying for long-term residence or citizenship from 1 January 2026. Applicants must answer 40 questions and reach an 80 percent pass mark, adding cost and lead-time to corporate relocation cases.

Dubai and Sharjah airports warn of exceptionally heavy traffic on 31 December and advise passengers to arrive early, use metro or city check-in facilities, and expect road closures around key fireworks sites. The alert is crucial for companies moving staff in or out of the UAE during the holiday peak.

China has extended discounted visa fees for applications lodged in Australia until 31 December 2026, cutting the cost of single-entry visas by 49 % and multi-entry visas by about 40 %. The measure complements a new 30-day visa-waiver scheme and is expected to stimulate leisure and project-related travel as airlines ramp up 2026 capacity. Mobility managers should adjust cost models and advise travellers that documentary requirements remain unchanged.