Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

France’s 2026 budget raises the first-issue fee for most residence permits to €300, renewals to €200 and the citizenship application stamp to €255, effective 1 May 2026. Exemptions for Brexit-covered Britons and refugees remain, but most foreign residents and sponsoring employers will face higher costs, prompting many to file applications before the deadline.

Brazil has granted 30-day visa-free entry to nationals of China, Hungary, Denmark, France, Ireland, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Saint Lucia, effective 24 February 2026. The policy is expected to boost inbound tourism and facilitate short business visits, but companies must still monitor stay limits. This marks Brazil’s broadest single-day expansion of visa waivers in a decade and underlines the government’s strategy of using migration policy to stimulate growth.

CBP has switched off all IEEPA tariff codes effective 00:01 EST on February 24, immediately eliminating duties that have cost importers billions since 2025. The change follows a Supreme Court ruling and leaves refund procedures and the prospect of replacement tariffs unresolved, creating budgeting challenges for companies moving goods and people across U.S. borders.

Official NIA figures show 17.796 million border crossings during the 9-day Spring Festival, up 10 % year-on-year. One in three foreign arrivals entered visa-free, underscoring the business impact of China’s expanded 30-day waiver and 240-hour transit policies. Corporate travel planners should expect tighter airport capacity, shorter visa lead-times and higher in-market costs.

Switzerland’s top court has ruled that B-permit holders from outside the EU/EFTA can no longer be barred from changing employers. The SEM has ordered all cantons to remove job-change restrictions, giving an estimated 20,000 third-country professionals immediate labour-market mobility. The move reduces red tape for Swiss businesses and enhances Switzerland’s attractiveness for global talent.