India switches off paper disembarkation forms: Digital e-Arrival Card now compulsory
UAE Bars Most Iranian Passport Holders From Entry and Transit
Madrid defends historic plan to regularise 500,000 undocumented migrants despite political backlash
Latest News
Finnish Border Guard confirms Ukrainian-made combat drone crashed on frozen lake near Russian frontier
Finnish authorities have confirmed that a weaponised drone that crashed on Lake Pyhäjärvi on 31 March originated in Ukraine. The device was neutralised without injuries, but the third such incursion in a week is pushing Helsinki to accelerate counter-drone measures and fence construction along the Russian border. Businesses should expect sporadic security alerts and possible tightening of border formalities affecting travel and logistics.
Supreme Court Hears Trump Administration Bid to Curb Birthright Citizenship
The Supreme Court appeared skeptical of the Trump administration’s effort to limit birthright citizenship after hearing arguments on April 1. A ruling against the order would preserve automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to foreign parents, while a ruling in favor could create compliance headaches for employers of foreign workers. Either way, global-mobility programs should prepare for significant policy shifts.
USCIS Completes FY 2027 H-1B Lottery; Petition Filing Window Opens April 1 – June 30
USCIS has notified employers of FY 2027 H-1B lottery results and opened a 90-day petition-filing window from April 1 to June 30. The first-ever wage-weighted lottery and new form requirements add complexity, so companies should act quickly to file for selected workers, especially F-1 OPT holders.
Brazil sets 20-day deadline for hotels to adopt 100 % digital guest-registration system
From 1 April, Brazilian hotels have 20 days to migrate to the mandatory FNRH Digital guest card. The on-line system slashes check-in times, eliminates paper storage and feeds anonymised data to the Ministry of Tourism, promising cost savings and better traveller analytics for companies.
UK clarifies no-travel-ban stance on Cyprus after FCDO wording raises alarm
The British High Commission confirmed that the UK has not advised against travel to Cyprus, correcting sensational UK media reports that followed a standard FCDO text update after the 2 March drone strike on RAF Akrotiri. The misinterpretation had already caused a spike in cancellations, threatening Cyprus’s key British tourist market. Corporate travel teams should update risk assessments and communicate the unchanged advisory to avoid unnecessary trip disruptions.
Hong Kong braces for 6.4 million border crossings over Easter-Qingming break
Immigration authorities expect 6.44 million passenger movements through Hong Kong’s control points from 3-7 April. Extra staff, counters and a joint command centre will manage the surge, while 12 new facial-recognition e-Channels debut at the airport to speed arrivals. The forecast underscores how cross-border business and leisure travel has bounced back to near-pre-Covid levels.
Federal Judge Reinstates Immigration Status for 900,000 Migrants Processed via CBP One
Judge Allison Burroughs ruled that DHS illegally stripped parole from almost 900,000 migrants admitted via the CBP One app, restoring their immigration status and work authorization. The decision averts immediate workforce disruption for U.S. employers but could spark an appellate battle that again places employment eligibility in flux.
EU and UK clinch Gibraltar mobility pact set to remove the physical frontier with Spain
EU member states have approved a draft agreement with the UK that will abolish physical border checks between Gibraltar and Spain while safeguarding Schengen rules. The pact, expected to take effect on 15 July 2026, promises seamless daily commutes for 15,000 cross-border workers and easier business travel for UK companies with Gibraltar operations. It is the first major expansion of mobility rights in the EU-UK relationship since Brexit.
Canada launches “30-Day or Free” passport-processing guarantee as new fees take effect
IRCC will now refund the entire passport or travel-document fee if processing exceeds 30 business days; the rule takes effect April 1 2026 alongside higher passport fees. The move provides travellers and employers with clearer service standards and financial protection when delays occur.
Bundestag freezes family-reunification visas for two years
Germany’s parliament has approved a two-year suspension of family-reunification visas for migrants who hold subsidiary protection, affecting an estimated 388,000 residents—mostly Syrians. Business groups warn the move could hurt talent retention, while NGOs decry the humanitarian cost.
Last-minute H-1B rule changes kick in: Indian tech talent faces wage-based lottery and stricter forms
USCIS’s H-1B reforms effective 1 April 2026 replace the random lottery with a wage-tiered system, mandate the latest Form I-129 and introduce hefty fee hikes. Indian IT and start-up employers must now sponsor higher-paid, highly-skilled roles to win visas, raising costs and compliance hurdles. Mobility managers should diversify assignment strategies and budget for longer lead-times.
Dubai Tightens Remote Work Visa: Six-Month Bank Statement Now Required
From 1 April 2026 Dubai’s Remote Working (digital-nomad) Visa requires six months of bank statements instead of three, effectively raising the stability bar for applicants. The change filters out less-established freelancers and recent job-switchers, signalling a wider global trend toward quality-over-quantity digital-nomad programmes and obliging corporate mobility teams to plan longer lead times.
Australia doubles PALM scheme training support, boosting skills for 31,000 Pacific workers
From 1 April 2026, Canberra will cover 60 % of job-specific training costs (up from 40 %) for PALM visa holders and double the annual cap to AUD 600 per worker. The move benefits more than 31,000 Pacific workers and the Australian employers who rely on them, improving productivity and portability of skills.
Tirol extends ID-Austria digital identity to foreign residents from 1 April 2026
From 1 April 2026, the district offices in Imst, Reutte and Lienz will issue Austria’s digital ID to non-citizens living in Tirol, eliminating the need to travel to Innsbruck. The move streamlines access to tax, social-insurance and business-government portals for foreign employees and supports companies preparing for fully digital border procedures later this month.
EU’s Digital Entry-Exit System to Go Live on 10 April: What Belgian Travellers Need to Know
The EU confirmed that its biometric Entry-Exit System will be fully mandatory from 10 April. Belgian airports and ports will activate the kiosks the same day, ending passport stamping for non-EU nationals. Authorities expect initial queues but promise long-term security and efficiency gains—important news for Belgian companies that move staff in and out of the Schengen zone.
China projects record 2.3 million daily border crossings for Qingming holiday
China’s immigration authority expects cross-border passenger volumes during the 4–6 April Qingming Festival to top 2.3 million per day, up 11 percent on 2025. Expanded visa-free transit rules and easier short-stay entry have driven a sharp rebound in foreign arrivals and are now stress-testing airport capacity. Business travellers should prepare for crowded flights and longer immigration queues but will benefit from streamlined visa policies.
Czech Travellers Face Biometric Border Checks as EU Entry/Exit System Fully Activates on 9 April
The EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System becomes compulsory at Czech external borders on 9 April 2026. Non-EU visitors must provide fingerprints and a face-scan, prompting Prague Airport and airlines to tell passengers to arrive early. Companies should pad itineraries and monitor Schengen-day counts as EES data will later feed into ETIAS.