Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

The GCC on 8 February unveiled the application pathway for a single electronic tourist visa covering all six Gulf states. Once live later in 2026, the permit will allow travellers—including those based in the UAE—to move freely across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman using one online form and fee. Companies expect major cost and time savings on regional business travel and assignments.

India extended its fast-track e-Tourist Visa scheme to 166 countries on 8 February 2026, adding nine more nationalities and reinforcing the shift to digital entry processes. The wider coverage will ease short-term business travel and reduce visa-processing costs for Indian employers hosting overseas staff.

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos is in Washington urging the United States to include Cyprus in the Visa Waiver Program by July 2026. Cyprus says it has met all security and data-sharing benchmarks, and business groups project millions in cost savings and a double-digit rise in bilateral travel if the waiver is approved. The move would remove the need for costly U.S. visitor visas and boost the island’s attractiveness as a regional headquarters hub.

Storm Marta has forced the closure of 179 roads, including three key highways, leaving freight and commuter traffic paralysed across Spain. Business travellers and logistics operators should expect diversions and shipment delays until weather fronts ease.

From 25 February 2026, the cost of a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation will rise from £16 to £20. The 25 % increase coincides with the date on which airlines, ferry companies and Eurostar must refuse boarding to visa-waiver nationals who do not hold an ETA. The change raises travel costs for tourists and globally mobile staff and puts new administrative pressure on employers.

Deník N reports that the Czech government has agreed a moderate tightening of the ‘Lex Ukraine’ regime: income-tested housing aid, targeted labour-market tests and closer monitoring of time spent outside Czechia. The measures fall short of far-right demands but will still require employers and refugees to adjust procedures when they come into force, likely mid-2026.

The GCC released the first detailed application guide for its Unified Tourist Visa on 8 February 2026, confirming that one digital permit will soon grant entry to all six Gulf states. Indian businesses should prepare for simplified regional travel and adjust compliance processes ahead of the pilot launch later this year.

A heavy snowstorm on 7-8 February crippled operations at Toronto Pearson, causing hundreds of delays and dozens of cancellations across six major carriers and stranding thousands of passengers. The incident highlights the vulnerability of Canada’s main international hub to winter weather and the importance of flexible booking strategies for corporate travellers.

Paris has published two decrees that (1) allow French consulates to consult the AME database and (2) tighten the document list for filing AME applications. The government says the measures could save €180 million a year while keeping full health-care coverage unchanged for now. For employers and mobility specialists, the reform means closer cross-checks between visa files, border-control biometrics and social-security records, raising the bar on compliance for foreign workers and their dependants.

Emirates confirmed on 8 February 2026 that it is in advanced talks with Indian authorities to raise the long-standing cap on India-UAE flight seats. The airline argues that the current 66,000-seat limit no longer reflects demand, forcing high fares and lost business opportunities. Any quota increase would lower costs for UAE-based firms, widen key Indian gateways, and support mobility programmes that rely on frequent shuttles between the two countries.

Interviews with would-be beneficiaries reveal high hopes for Spain’s April 2026 mass-regularisation programme, which could bring half a million workers into the formal economy and ease talent shortages.

On 8 February China Rail expected to carry 13.25 million passengers and deployed 1,688 extra trains, while aviation authorities forecast 19,614 flights. The scale highlights both the resilience of China’s transport grid and the need for corporate travellers to plan carefully during the Spring-Festival peak.