Czech Government Hikes Blue Card Salary Threshold to CZK 73,823 From 1 May 2026
Canada issues 9,407 new work-and-travel invitations under International Experience Canada
French air-traffic controllers walkout grounds 933 flights in 24-hour period
Latest News
Brazil recruits 227 travel agencies ahead of potential visa reciprocity with China
Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism says 227 local agencies have registered to handle Chinese tour groups under a scheme linked to Beijing’s visa-free entry for Brazilians. The roster will be published on 27 April, giving vetted firms a one-year licence to package Brazil in China while Brasília studies whether to re-impose visas on Chinese visitors under a reciprocity policy. The move signals tighter oversight of inbound group travel and could foreshadow changes to Brazil’s e-Visa system that matter to corporate mobility planners.
Stansted Airport special-assistance staff to strike 17–20 April, risking delays for passengers with reduced mobility
Unite has called a four-day strike by passenger-assistance (PRM) staff at London Stansted from 17 to 20 April after pay talks collapsed. The walk-out could leave wheelchair users and other travellers who need help short-staffed and facing missed flights; airlines are offering fee-free rebookings but no compensation. Businesses should warn mobility-impaired travellers to arrive early and pre-book assistance.
ITA Airways staff stage 24-hour walk-out, grounding hundreds of flights across Italy
A 24-hour strike by ITA Airways crews on 16 April led to the cancellation of the majority of the carrier’s flights, paralysing key Italian airports and forcing companies to scramble for rail or third-country routings. The dispute centres on productivity clauses in the airline’s proposed labour contract. With the Winter Olympics less than two years away, further strikes could prompt government intervention—making contingency planning essential for business travellers and mobility managers.
Lufthansa pilots’ 48-hour strike snarls UK connections via Frankfurt and Munich
A 48-hour strike by Lufthansa and subsidiary pilots from 16–17 April forced the cancellation of over 1,000 flights, wiping out most UK services to Frankfurt and Munich. The disruption stranded thousands of British passengers and jeopardised key business connections onward to Asia and the Americas, highlighting exposure to labour disputes at foreign hubs.
Dubai Unifies Golden Visa, Property-Linked and Retiree Residency Services on One Digital Platform
Dubai’s immigration and land authorities have launched a single online portal that merges Golden Visa, property-based residency and retiree visas into one streamlined application flow. The platform cuts average processing times, centralises document uploads and provides real-time status tracking – a boost for investors, expatriates and HR teams relocating staff to Dubai.
US House passes bipartisan bill to extend Temporary Protected Status for Haitians until 2029
The House approved a bill extending Haitian TPS to 2029, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats. The measure protects 350,000 Haitians from deportation and preserves their work authorization, but faces an uncertain path in the Senate and a likely Trump veto. Employers that rely on Haitian workers in health care, construction, and services could avoid costly turnover if the extension becomes law.
124 Delays, 22 Cancellations but Dubai Airport Stays Open; ICP Warns Visitors on Visa Overstays
DXB stayed open on 16 April but recorded 124 delays and 22 cancellations. Immigration queues lengthened and hotel prices jumped as airlines juggled crew and air-space restrictions. The UAE’s ICP reiterated that overstay fines resume immediately after visa expiry, urging stranded tourists to apply for extensions or out-passes.
Planned Strike by Spain’s Immigration Officers Called Off After Government Hiring and Pay Deal
Unions representing Spain’s immigration-office staff cancelled a strike after securing higher pay and 700 new posts to handle the influx of applications created by the migrant-amnesty decree. The compromise averts service shutdowns that would have delayed visas and residence permits, but employers should still expect some processing bottlenecks as volumes spike.
Finland plans mandatory civic-knowledge test for would-be citizens
The Finnish government has unveiled a bill requiring a formal civic-knowledge exam – in Finnish or Swedish – as a condition for naturalisation. Part of a wider tightening of the Citizenship Act, the test could start in 2027 and will add both time and cost to citizenship planning for foreign employees and their families. Employers should budget for language and exam preparation and, where possible, fast-track applications before the new requirement takes effect.
Express Entry: Canada invites 2,000 Canadian-Experience Class candidates at record-high 515 CRS
IRCC’s latest Canadian-Experience Class Express Entry draw selected 2,000 in-country workers at a record 515 CRS cutoff. The elevated score underscores intense competition within Canada’s skilled-worker pool and signals that employers may need to help assignees gain extra points through provincial nominations or French proficiency. Mobility teams should prepare for longer planning horizons as cut-offs remain high.
UK unveils citizenship-track visa for Hong Kong residents
Effective 16 April 2026, the UK has opened a visa that lets ordinary Hongkongers—and not just BN(O) status holders—live, work and study in Britain for five years before applying for settlement and eventual citizenship. The move gives employers a cheaper, sponsorship-free option for relocating Hong Kong talent and could see hundreds of thousands leave the city. Businesses should revisit mobility budgets, housing support and schooling advice for employees eyeing the new path.