Direct Larnaca–Astana flights and new embassy announced during Cypriot president’s visit to Kazakhstan
Switzerland activates new Schengen powers: Federal Council can now re-impose border checks in crises
Spain records 35% drop in irregular sea arrivals but land crossings to Ceuta and Melilla soar 210%
Latest News
Beijing Waives Guarantee Requirement for Hong Kong & Macau Yachts Entering Greater Bay Area
China’s State Council has scrapped the costly guarantee and temporary registration requirements for Hong Kong and Macau yachts entering the nine mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area. The change, effective 1 June 2026, slashes cross-boundary paperwork and costs, paving the way for a boom in leisure and corporate yacht travel between Hong Kong, Macau and cities such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
DigiYatra Biometric Transit Made Mandatory at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad Airports
Effective 1 June 2026, India has made DigiYatra facial-recognition transit compulsory for international connections at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Passengers must pre-register via the DigiYatra app; non-enrolment triggers manual handling and potential missed flights. The change streamlines transfers but raises fresh compliance and data-privacy obligations for employers moving staff through India’s busiest hubs.
Spanish Ombudsman urges police to halt expulsions during 2026 mass-regularisation window
Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo has asked Spain’s National Police not to deport migrants who are in the middle of applying for the 2026 extraordinary regularisation, which is open until 30 June. The move aims to protect up to half a million people from removal while their cases are assessed, offering businesses that rely on undocumented labour a brief compliance safety net.
Belgium’s Labour Law Overhaul Takes Effect Today, Capping Notice Periods and Liberalising Night Work
Two federal laws that took effect on 1 June 2026 cap dismissal notice at 52 weeks, slash the minimum hours for part-time contracts, abolish the ban on night work and streamline temp-agency formalities. The changes give multinationals clearer cost forecasts and more flexible scheduling options, while complementing Belgium’s shift to fully digital work-permit processing.
Czech Government Tightens Skilled-Worker Immigration Schemes From 1 June 2026
Prague has published fresh rules for its flagship labour-migration programmes. From 1 June 2026, new affidavit templates become mandatory and embassy quotas are re-allocated, with more slots reserved for high-skill applicants and for the Indonesian pilot. Employers must adapt paperwork immediately or risk application refusals.
Northbound Driving Scheme Extended to 2031 as Industry Seeks Faster Border Clearance
Guangdong has prolonged the Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles scheme to 1 June 2031, ensuring that Hong Kong private cars can keep entering Guangdong without dual plates. More than 140 000 vehicles are enrolled, but industry leaders are pressing for joint immigration checks to ease growing border congestion. The extension gives companies certainty for fleet planning, while signalling that further clearance reforms are on the way.
Stage 3 of Germany’s Skilled-Worker Immigration Act starts: Chancenkarte and doubled West Balkan quota
On 1 June 2026 Germany activated the third—and most business-relevant—phase of its Skilled-Worker Immigration Act. Key changes include a points-based ‘Chancenkarte’ job-search visa and the doubling of the West Balkan labour quota to 50,000. The measures give German employers faster access to non-EU talent but success will hinge on administrative throughput at consulates and foreigners’ authorities.
Poland Activates Higher Security Alert Levels Across the Country, Extending to 31 August 2026
From 1 June 2026 Poland moved to stronger BRAVO and BRAVO-CRP nationwide alerts and added a CHARLIE alert on major rail lines, measures that will last until 31 August. The decision enables more intensive identity checks at borders and rail stations, affecting business travellers and logistics flows. Companies should expect longer processing times and ensure that foreign staff carry complete documentation.
Germany transposes EU asylum overhaul: new GEAS laws enter into force
Two adaptation laws that bring German asylum and residence legislation into line with the EU’s reformed Common European Asylum System took effect on 1 June 2026. The measures introduce up to 24-month ‘secondary-migration centres’, expand detention grounds and tighten airport procedures, which could extend processing times for non-EU travellers. Companies moving staff through German hubs should review documentation and connection buffers.
EES rollout snarls European airports, UAE travellers urged to build in 4-hour buffers
The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational on May 31, triggering hours-long immigration queues at major European hubs. UAE leisure and business travellers are missing connections, and travel managers are lengthening layovers and re-routing high-value staff. The disruption highlights how third-country biometric programmes can up-end even the most efficient Middle-East-to-world routings.
Finland Stops Accepting Russian Non-Biometric Passports in Residence-Permit Applications
From 1 June 2026 the Finnish Immigration Service will reject residence-permit applications that rely on Russian non-biometric passports. The change aligns Migri practice with a government resolution that already bans such passports at the border. Employers must now ensure Russian assignees and their families carry biometric documents or risk rejected applications and project delays.
India-Oman CEPA Takes Effect, Unlocks New Mobility Channels for Indian Professionals
The India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force on 1 June 2026. Beyond tariff cuts, it creates visa-on-arrival access for Indian business visitors, doubles quota ceilings for intra-corporate transferees and allows Indian professionals to work in Oman for up to four years. The provisions dramatically shorten project-staffing lead times and give HR teams a treaty-backed path to resolve processing delays.