Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

The Czech consulate in Dresden has halted most Employee-Card and business-visa filings, citing workload pressures. Companies must reroute cases to other embassies, adding cost and delay, and should pre-book alternative slots quickly. The freeze could last several months.

A UK-wide Electronic Travel Authorisation becomes mandatory on 25 February 2026 for visitors from 85 visa-free nations. The £16 digital permit must be obtained before departure, and carriers face fines for boarding non-compliant passengers. Global Mobility and travel managers should update workflows immediately to avoid last-minute disruptions for staff and clients.

From 1 January 2026 all Polish residence-permit applications must be filed online through the MOS portal, with paper dossiers no longer accepted. Standard fees have quadrupled, forcing employers to budget PLN 400 per employee (PLN 800 for posted workers) and €200 for national visas. Companies must obtain e-signatures and train staff quickly to avoid status gaps.

Austria’s foreign ministry has escalated its advisory for Venezuela to the maximum Level 6, urging all citizens to avoid travel and recommending that those already in-country depart immediately. A crisis cell in Vienna is coordinating 24-hour assistance and mapping evacuation routes, while employers scramble to reroute travellers and review insurance. The move highlights the need for agile travel-risk management when geopolitical events escalate overnight.

The Czech Interior Ministry switched on a fully digital immigration platform on 1 January 2026. Foreigners can now complete almost every residence-permit step online, cutting processing times and paperwork for companies. Employers must update onboarding procedures, but the reform is expected to strengthen Czechia’s talent appeal.

The State Department has extended its visa-bond program to seven additional countries, meaning applicants from 13 nations must now post up to US $15,000 to seek a U.S. visitor visa. While Washington argues the bonds curb over-stays, businesses warn of higher travel costs and possible project delays when hosting partners from the affected states. The policy, effective 1 January 2026, underscores the need for corporate travel teams to budget for bonds or explore waiver options.

Official data released on 5 January show China handled 6.6 million cross-border trips and 142 million domestic journeys during the three-day New Year holiday, with visa-free arrivals up 35.8 percent year-on-year. The numbers confirm that recent visa-waiver and transit-without-visa expansions are translating into real traveller flows, signalling to corporates that China is once again open for high-volume business travel and short-term assignments.

India has widened its e-Visa scheme to 167 countries and nine sub-categories, making it easier for tourists, business travellers and conference delegates to obtain entry clearance online within 72 hours. The move supports New Delhi’s goal of reviving inbound tourism and facilitating short-term corporate travel, while future tech upgrades promise even faster approvals.

IRCC will open 110,000 extra economic-class spots on 6 January 2026, giving Canadian employers quicker access to global talent and signalling lower Express Entry cut-offs ahead. Companies should pre-position LMIAs and job offers, while applicants are urged to finalise language tests and ECAs to capitalise on the expanded quota. The policy supports Ottawa’s goal of meeting labour-market gaps without increasing total immigration beyond current levels.

Government data show 950,000 people entered Hong Kong between 31 Dec 2025 and 4 Jan 2026—40 percent more than last year. Mainland visitors led the rebound, but non-Mainland arrivals also rose. Extended checkpoint hours, extra e-Channels and additional transport kept clearance times low, signalling that the city can now manage pre-pandemic-sized crowds. Companies should expect tighter hotel inventory around Mainland holidays and integrate Hong Kong’s forthcoming live-border API into travel-risk workflows.

EASA’s conflict-zone bulletin effectively bans Austrian and other EU airlines from Venezuelan airspace, forcing detours of up to half an hour on long-haul routes. The measure raises costs, complicates cargo flows and places fresh compliance demands on corporate flight departments, highlighting the operational ripple effects of geopolitical crises.

An advisory issued by NAFSA on 5 Jan 2026 unpacks Presidential Proclamation 10998, which broadened U.S. entry bans to 39 countries as of 1 Jan 2026. While individuals already in the U.S. with valid visas are exempt, new visa issuance is suspended or curtailed for many categories. Employers and universities must review travel plans, identify affected nationals and, where critical, pursue national-interest waivers.

Heavy snowfall on 5 January shut schools, grounded hundreds of flights, and suspended key rail routes—including parts of Eurostar—across the UK. Airlines such as Loganair issued mass cancellations, while AirHelp logged over 1,600 disrupted flights nationwide. Business travellers face cascading delays and scarce hotel space, highlighting the importance of robust winter-weather contingency planning.

Paris-area airports were ordered to cancel 15 % of flights on 5 January as heavy snow and ice hampered de-icing and runway operations. The disruption hits business travellers at a critical planning moment and forces supply-chain managers to divert time-sensitive cargo. Expect knock-on delays into 6 January and tight capacity on alternative routes.

GDRFA-Dubai has opened a temporary immigration centre inside Global Village from 5 January to 5 February, offering on-the-spot visa renewals, entry permits and fine payments. The move brings government services to a high-footfall leisure venue, reducing queues at Al Jafiliya headquarters and giving travellers and HR teams a more flexible way to manage compliance during Dubai’s peak visitor season.