Zhejiang opens all six ports to 240-hour visa-free transit and upgrades services for foreign business travelers
Switzerland Aligns With Revised Schengen Border Code, Updates Visa and Migration Ordinances
Hong Kong Processes 1.19 Million Golden Week Arrivals with Minimal Disruption
Latest News
Germany’s Border Controls Now Tie Up 14,000 Federal Police Officers
Leaked figures reveal that up to 14,000 Bundespolizei officers—over 25 % of the force—are tied up enforcing Germany’s re-introduced internal Schengen border checks. Police unions warn of personnel shortages elsewhere, while businesses decry delivery delays. The manpower burden raises questions about the long-term viability of the controls as the EU’s new asylum pact approaches.
Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Suspend All Flights for Six-Hour Runway Maintenance on 7 May
Both runways at Mumbai International Airport will be closed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 7 May for scheduled pre-monsoon repairs. Hundreds of domestic and international flights will be retimed or cancelled, creating potential knock-on delays across airline networks. Businesses should brace for itinerary changes, connection risks and temporary cargo backlogs.
Czechia lifts EU Blue Card salary floor to CZK 73,823 and unveils online “Foreigner Account”
• From 1 May 2026 the minimum salary for a Czech EU Blue Card rises 6.6 % to CZK 73,823 per month. • Applications already filed but undecided must be updated; future filings must meet the new level from day one. • The Interior Ministry has simultaneously launched an online “Foreigner Account” that promises to cut processing times below 30 days and eventually cover all residence permits. • Mobility managers should reassess cost projections and decide whether to keep using the Blue Card or switch to the faster but less flexible Employee Card.
Belgium braces for 12 May national strike that will ground most flights
Belgian unions have announced a nationwide strike for 12 May that will severely disrupt air traffic. Airlines must cancel most flights, forcing business travellers to reroute via neighbouring hubs or high-speed rail. Companies are urged to adjust itineraries and activate contingency plans.
Bern Re-introduces Internal Border Checks With France Ahead of June G7 Summit in Évian
Switzerland will temporarily reinstate border checks with France from 10–19 June 2026 to secure the nearby G7 summit in Évian. The move allows authorities to conduct ID checks and shut crossings, affecting commuters, freight and business visitors in the Lake Geneva region.
Italy Allocates 8,865 Extra Seasonal Work Permits for 2026 Agriculture and Tourism
Rome has released 8,865 extra seasonal work permits—5,389 for farms and 3,476 for tourism—to plug urgent labour gaps ahead of the summer rush. Companies that already filed requests will be processed automatically, while new petitions can still be lodged until the quota is filled. The move gives agribusinesses and hotels a brief window to secure staff but will likely see competition for slots intensify.
Visa-free arrivals hit 436,000 during China’s May Day break, up 14.7 % year-on-year
New NIA statistics show 436,000 foreigners—up 14.7 % on 2025—entered China visa-free over the May Day holiday, helping push total foreign arrivals to 1.255 million. The numbers highlight how China’s expanded visa-waiver roster is shortening lead times for business trips and reigniting inbound spending.
Interior Minister Plans Fast-Track Deportation Law and Third-Country ‘Return Hubs’
Alexander Dobrindt confirmed work on a bill that would reduce legal hurdles to deportations and enable transfers to yet-unnamed third countries. The proposal marks Germany’s most aggressive removal policy to date and could shorten grace periods for foreign employees who fall out of status.
Ottawa tightens oversight of immigration and citizenship consultants
IRCC has adopted regulations that empower the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants to publish more information about licensees, increase fines, and even be placed under administration if it fails to protect the public. The rules, effective July 15 2026, aim to curb fraud and restore confidence in Canada’s immigration system—critical for employers who depend on temporary foreign workers and international recruits.([canada.ca](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2026/05/canada-strengthens-regulation-of-immigration-and-citizenship-consultants.html))
Visa-waiver backlog could force hundreds of foreign doctors to leave underserved U.S. communities
Hundreds of J-1 waiver applications for foreign physicians have been stuck at HHS since late 2025. Unless processed by 30 July, doctors finishing U.S. training will have to leave or trigger the new US$100,000 H-1B fee, threatening care in shortage areas. Employers should activate contingency staffing plans and escalate cases.
Spain’s extraordinary regularisation hits a bottleneck in Murcia as migrants scramble for the key “vulnerability” certificate
Twenty days into Spain’s one-off regularisation programme, municipal social-services offices in Murcia cannot keep pace with demand for the compulsory “certificate of vulnerability.” Migrants risk seeing other documents expire while they wait, and NGOs are working around the clock to navigate the patchwork of local procedures. Unless the bottleneck is resolved, thousands may miss the 30 June deadline, limiting the programme’s economic upside.
Opposition Blueprint Seeks to Halve Australia’s Net Overseas Migration
Leaked documents show the federal Coalition is weighing a cut in net overseas migration to 150,000-200,000 a year—almost half the current level of 306,000. The proposal would reshape skilled-worker, family and student visa quotas and could tighten the already-competitive permanent-residency pipeline. Businesses dependent on foreign talent should brace for possible quota-driven delays and higher competition for visas if the plan is adopted.
Government Notifies 100 % Digital ‘e-OCI’ Regime Under Citizenship (Amendment) Rules 2026
A 1 May 2026 Gazette notification makes all OCI services digital, introduces an optional e-OCI credential, standardises global fees and tightens compliance rules—especially for minors and passport updates. The new framework promises faster processing but places greater onus on card-holders and employers to keep electronic records current.