Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

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.

With DHS funding stalled, TSA and CBP staff are working unpaid, leading to longer airport lines and the suspension of non-essential immigration services. Travel associations warn that delays could snowball if the shutdown drags on past the next payroll cycle, posing risks for business travelers and global-mobility timelines.

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.

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.

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.