Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

Effective 17 February 2026, citizens of the UK and Canada may enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days. The trial scheme lifts long-standing administrative and cost hurdles, broadens China’s visa-free list to 79 countries, and signals a diplomatic reset with London and Ottawa. Companies should update travel protocols to leverage quicker market access and monitor whether the waiver becomes permanent after December 2026.

DETE-mandated salary floors for Irish work permits jump on 1 March 2026. Employers must lift pay for new hires and many renewals or risk permit refusals. Sectors that rely on General Employment and Intra-Company Transfer permits face the biggest compliance gap.

USCIS announced on 17 February that the 18,490 supplemental H-2B visas for returning workers with start dates between 1 January and 31 March 2026 are already gone, after a five-day filing window and a lottery. Two more supplemental allocations remain, but employers will need to act quickly when those filing windows open. The news highlights acute seasonal-labor shortages and the importance of rigorous planning for U.S. mobility and staffing teams.

From 25 February 2026, dual British citizens must show a British passport or a £589 certificate of entitlement to enter the UK; a foreign passport alone will be rejected. The Home Office says the step is needed for the Electronic Travel Authorisation system to work, but more than a million expatriate Britons could face unexpected costs and disrupted trips. Employers should verify staff documents now to avoid denial of boarding.

A leaked Coalition discussion paper proposes suspending all new visa applications from 37 “terror-controlled” regions across 13 countries for three years. The idea has drawn heavy criticism from refugee advocates, business groups and senior Liberals, who say blanket bans would be discriminatory and damage Australia’s skills pipeline. The controversy highlights deep divisions over how national security should shape migration policy.

Effective 17 February 2026, Brazil and India have synchronized their rules so that visitor and business visas issued to each other’s citizens will now be valid for ten years instead of five. The stay limits of 90 days (tourism) and 180 days (business) per visit are unchanged, but fewer renewals will slash compliance costs and speed executive travel between the two G20 partners.

A leaked National Police report indicates Spain’s forthcoming extraordinary regularisation could legalise between 750,000 and 1 million undocumented migrants—double the government’s earlier estimate of 500,000. The wider pool arises because pending asylum seekers will also qualify, and police warn of administrative strain and potential fraud. For employers, the April–June application window could be a fast track to formal work authorisation for currently irregular staff, but capacity constraints are likely.

Italy’s annual quota system for hiring foreign talent kicked off on 16 February with 76,200 non-seasonal permits released in a single morning. Companies that won slots can now progress to visa issuance, while those that missed out must wait for the next click day or seek EU workers. Advance preparation remains critical as demand far outstrips supply.

The Czech government has approved a ‘Special Long-Term Residence Programme’ that lets only economically self-reliant Ukrainian refugees move from temporary protection to full long-term status. Applicants need two years’ residence, no welfare benefits or tax debts, school-enrolled children and household income above CZK 440,000. The move signals a pivot from blanket humanitarian support to selective labour-market integration and forces employers to verify that Ukrainian staff meet the new financial and compliance hurdles.

Effective 17 February 2026, Canadian passport holders can enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, reducing cost and paperwork for tourism and short-term business trips. The waiver, valid until 31 December 2026, follows high-level talks between Ottawa and Beijing and is expected to stimulate bilateral trade and travel. Corporations should review compliance and data-transfer policies but can anticipate meaningful savings on visa fees.

Berlin has informed the EU that the temporary checks at all German land borders will run for another six months, citing security and migration management concerns. The extension affects travel and supply chains by keeping spot-checks in place at crossings with nine neighbouring countries and enabling continued on-the-spot refusals of certain asylum seekers. Companies moving staff or goods across the Schengen interior border should plan for possible delays and ensure robust document compliance. The decision rekindles a domestic political row over the proportionality of long-term internal controls.

Armenia has introduced a temporary visa-free regime for Indian citizens who hold valid residence permits from the US, EU/Schengen or GCC states. From 1 January to 1 July 2026, eligible Indians can stay in Armenia for up to 180 days without a visa, creating new options for business travel and tourism. Mobility teams should note the scheme’s six-month expiry and ensure residence permits remain valid for at least six months on entry.

Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and Bahrain International Airport have begun a pilot in which UAE and Bahraini citizens clear immigration before departure, eliminating arrival checks. The biometric “One-Point Air Travellers” project should cut queues, speed aircraft turn-arounds and lay groundwork for a future GCC-wide smart-border system, benefiting frequent business travellers and regional airlines.

Berlin confirmed on 16 February that its ‘temporary’ Schengen controls will run until at least 15 September 2026. The move extends passport spot-checks on the German-Austrian frontier, affecting commuters, tourists and freight flows. Austrian officials welcome lower irregular-migration numbers, but Tyrolean businesses warn of longer queues and higher logistics costs. Firms should brief travellers to carry passports and assignment letters.

Brussels Airport says it will probably cancel all outbound flights on 12 March due to a nation-wide general strike. The move would disrupt 60,000+ travellers and force companies to reroute cargo and staff, carrying significant cost and compliance implications for global mobility programmes.

Level-5 avalanche danger shut multiple Alpine valleys, derailed a regional train near Goppenstein and halted the Lötschberg and Furka corridors. Thousands of travellers are stranded, supply chains face day-long detours, and mobility managers are urged to activate contingency plans.

Italy has joined eight other Schengen members in prolonging temporary internal-border controls until at least June 2026. The decision means travellers should expect passport and ID checks on major land routes and selected flights, with possible delays for freight and commuters. Corporations need to factor extra time into itineraries and remind non-EU assignees of their 90/180-day limits.

CBP officers at northern land ports have stepped up scrutiny of Canadian visitors, asking for proof of ties to Canada and clarity on planned business activities. Experts say well-prepared documentation and precise language about the purpose of visit are essential to avoid refusals—an immediate concern for firms that rely on frequent cross-border trips.

The UK has reopened the 2026 ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme, offering 3,000 Indian graduates a two-year unsponsored work visa. The window runs 17-19 February and is free to enter. Employers gain access to STEM talent without sponsorship costs, while participants boost UK–India skills links.