Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

The UK has begun enforcing its ETA programme, meaning visitors from 85 visa-exempt countries must hold a £16 digital permit before boarding transport to the UK. Carriers face hefty fines for non-compliance and have integrated real-time checks into their systems. Business-travel and mobility teams must update policies immediately, as staff without an ETA will be denied boarding.

Spain’s Supreme Court has annulled the rule that caused temporary-residence permits to be cancelled after six months’ absence abroad. The clause’s removal gives remote workers, frequent business travellers and other expats far greater flexibility while safeguarding compliance for employers. Companies should update mobility policies immediately.

Hong Kong’s 2026-27 Budget confirms that more than 270,000 professionals – including 100,000+ under the Top Talent Pass – have secured Hong Kong visas since 2024. New measures this year include a HK $500 million Talent Integration Fund, three-year initial visas for TTPS holders and a digital “Talent Wallet”. The changes further upgrade Hong Kong’s competitiveness for regional HQ assignments and corporate transfers.

Aer Lingus has introduced a passport-only policy for all Republic of Ireland–Great Britain flights from 25 February 2026. Driving licences and other photo ID are no longer accepted, bringing the Irish flag-carrier into line with Ryanair and tightening compliance ahead of full UK ETA enforcement. The rule adds cost and planning complexity for business travellers and school groups who previously relied on simpler forms of ID.

From 25 February 2026, Australians cannot board flights, ferries or Eurostar services to the UK without an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The £16 digital permit links to the traveller’s passport and is now mandatory for 85 non-visa nationalities. Corporate mobility teams must integrate ETA checks into booking workflows or risk trip disruptions and uninsured cancellations.

Italy will roll out a nationwide electronic visa platform from June 2026, allowing applicants to file and pay online while airports expand biometric e-gates. The change promises faster processing and clearer tracking for business and leisure travellers but may cause short-term confusion as legacy paper procedures overlap with new digital workflows.

Germany has activated a fully digital skilled-worker visa portal, cutting average Blue Card processing time from 66 to 27 days and eliminating paper submissions. The move is central to Berlin’s wider digital-government strategy and promises quicker onboarding for foreign talent, though employers must still manage local registration on arrival.

The UK Home Office confirmed that its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme is being extended to EU nationals, meaning Czech citizens will soon need to apply online and receive digital approval before travelling. The permit costs GBP 10 and should be requested at least 72 hours in advance. While visa-free travel continues, failure to secure an ETA will result in denied boarding, making immediate policy updates essential for Czech companies that send staff to the UK.

From 25 February 2026, the UK has scrapped passport-sticker visas for Indians and moved to an electronic visa that is verified pre-departure. Travellers keep their passports after biometrics and airlines will deny boarding to anyone without a valid eVisa or ETA. The shift promises quicker turnaround for business travellers but does not relax documentary requirements. ([timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/uk-to-issue-evisas-from-today-no-need-to-hand-over-passports-during-processing/articleshow/128760929.cms?utm_source=openai))

IRCC has introduced a temporary policy that exempts FIFA-invited foreign nationals from providing biometrics when applying for a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa. The measure, effective February 25 2026, covers new and pending TRV applications filed between November 25 2025 and July 20 2026 and is designed to streamline entry for World Cup-related travelers.

Hermes Airports has asked travellers at Larnaca and Paphos to show up three hours before departure after a spike in evacuation and commercial traffic stretched terminal capacity. The advisory may translate into longer duty hours, potential overtime costs, and tighter connection margins for business travellers. Companies planning assignments to or through Cyprus should pad schedules and pre-book services until the crunch eases.

Snow totals approaching three feet and wind gusts near 90 mph forced more than 11,000 flight cancellations and statewide road bans across the U.S. Northeast. Although bans are lifting, power outages and limited runway capacity mean business travel, relocations and supply-chain movements will remain disrupted for several days.

A 24-hour nationwide strike on 12 March 2026 will hit Belgian airports, with Brussels Airport expecting a near-total halt of departures and severe delays for arrivals. Airlines have already started proactive re-booking and waiver programmes, and mobility managers should reroute or defer travel where possible. The walk-out highlights infrastructure bottlenecks and the need for stronger contingency planning.