Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

Islamabad and Abu Dhabi have agreed to pilot a pre-immigration-clearance facility at Karachi airport that will let Pakistani visitors complete UAE entry checks before departure. Travellers who use the service will be able to walk straight out of UAE airports, cutting arrival times and reducing missed-connection risk for employers. The move promises significant efficiency gains for corporate mobility programmes that deploy talent between Pakistan and the UAE.

Sikkim has stopped issuing on-site Protected/Restricted Area Permits to foreign tourists. All PAP/RAP applications must now be filed online via the national e-FRRO system before entering the state. The digital shift streamlines security checks but forces travel agents and business travellers to adjust pre-trip workflows.

Zurich Airport expects about 1,000 extra flight movements for the World Economic Forum 2026, driven by business jets and government aircraft. Extended operating hours, sustainable-fuel availability, and pop-up security zones are planned to manage the surge without disrupting scheduled services. Travel managers should secure slots, parking and lodging immediately, as capacity is already tight.

The International Protection Bill 2026 sets a six-month statutory limit for asylum decisions and appeals, establishes a new appeals tribunal, and delays family-reunification eligibility to three years. Faster processing should ease accommodation pressures and give employers quicker access to authorised workers, but the tighter reunification rules will require careful HR planning.

Inetum has won a €3.2 million deal to install EES/ETIAS biometric controls at Algeciras and Tarifa ferry terminals, with operations slated to start before summer 2026. All non-EU travellers will submit fingerprints and facial data, a shift that will lengthen processing times and force operators to revamp passenger flows—critical for logistics firms and Moroccan-Spanish commuters who rely on the Strait of Gibraltar crossing.