Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

Canberra has frozen the permanent Migration Program cap at 185,000 places for 2025-26, with 70 % again allocated to the Skill stream. Higher English and salary thresholds are coming, meaning employers will pay more to secure talent even as they gain certainty over headline numbers.

Effective 1 January 2026, Belgium has indexed its mandatory contribution (administrative) fees for almost all residence and status-change applications, adding €4-€11 to each file. Global-mobility teams must upload proof of the new payment level before the Single-Permit portal will accept a submission, making immediate budget and template updates essential.

From 1 January 2026, every major immigration fee in Finland rose—permanent-residence filings now cost €380 online, up from €240. Migri says the increases offset lower application volumes and move the agency toward full cost recovery. Employers face higher mobility budgets, and assignees must factor in hundreds of euros more per application.

China has kept its pandemic-era visa facilitation programme alive, extending both the discounted fee schedule and the waiver of fingerprint collection for short-term visas until 31 December 2026. The move lowers costs and shortens lead-times for foreign business travellers and tour groups alike.

A Cabinet decision effective 1 January 2026 converts the UAE’s single-entry Mission Visa into a two-year, multiple-entry permit, allowing stays of up to 60 days per trip (180 days annually). The change slashes renewal cycles, cuts costs and gives companies a flexible alternative between short visit visas and full residency. Mobility teams should prepare for new medical-check and e-gate procedures and await detailed MoHRE guidelines in Q1.