May-Day Holiday Sees 1.128 Million Foreign Entries as Visa-Free Arrivals Jump 14.7 Percent
UK Home Office updates EUSS curtailment guidance, signalling stricter enforcement
Budget to deliver overhaul of skilled-migration points test and faster skills recognition
Latest News
Record 4.3 Million Cross Border During Labour-Day Week as Shenzhen–Hong Kong “One-Hour Circle” Takes Shape
Shenzhen ports processed 4.3 million crossings over the 1–5 May holiday, with single-day highs above 1 million. Faster trains, smart e-gates and new biometric lanes are turning the Greater Bay Area into a genuine one-hour commuting zone, easing corporate rotation between Hong Kong and mainland offices.
Czech Foreign Ministry Updates Worldwide Visa and Consular Fees for May 2026
The Czech Foreign Ministry has published a new global schedule of visa and consular fees effective for the month of May 2026. Key changes include a €90 Schengen visa fee, a CZK 73,823 salary threshold for Blue Cards, and clarified charges for appeals and long-term business visas. Companies sending staff to Czechia in May should update budgets and employee guidance accordingly.
Air Canada to Cut Four U.S. Summer Routes as Jet-Fuel Prices Spike
Facing jet-fuel prices that have jumped more than 60 percent year-over-year, Air Canada will end four U.S. routes—Toronto-Sacramento, Vancouver-Raleigh, Montreal-Austin and Toronto-Charleston—between 29 July and 7 September 2026. The carrier says the cuts are temporary but necessary to contain fuel costs, and has begun reaccommodating customers. Corporate travel managers should expect longer journey times and higher fares on the affected city-pairs.
Hengqin Launches Biometric “One-Stop” Vehicle Lane, Cutting Macao-Zhuhai Clearance Times by 10%
A new biometric vehicle lane went live at Hengqin checkpoint on 7 May, allowing eligible drivers to complete Macao and mainland checks in one stop and improving throughput by around 10 percent. The scheme eases corporate commuting and logistics between Zhuhai and Macao.
India Rolls Out Fully Digital OCI System Under 2026 Citizenship Rules
From 1 May 2026 all OCI work must be done online, with applicants receiving a digital “e-OCI” instead of—or in addition to—the traditional booklet. Processing times are expected to fall, but the amendment also bans Indian-passport-holding minors from having a second passport, creating urgent compliance work for multinational HR teams.
Brazil Opens 30-Day Visa-Free Entry to Chinese Nationals from 11 May 2026
Brazil will waive visas for ordinary Chinese passport holders beginning 11 May 2026, allowing 30-day stays for business or tourism. The policy slashes lead-times and costs for Chinese companies sending staff to Latin America’s largest economy, but travellers must still respect overstay rules and carry proof of funds.
Eurostar issues fresh warning of cancellations and delays on France-bound routes
Eurostar’s travel-update page of 8 May warns that operational constraints will cancel or delay many trains between France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany until at least 17 May. Business travellers should rebook early, build in extra buffers and remember they may claim EU compensation for long delays.
Paris-CDG passport-control queues lengthen as Victory-Day rush meets new EES checks
Average waits at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle exceeded 40 minutes on 8 May as holiday crowds coincided with first-time biometric enrolment under the EU Entry/Exit System. Companies should tell travellers to arrive earlier, budget extra connection time and consider paid Fast-Track lanes until additional kiosks are installed.
Opposition plans migration cap tied to housing supply to ease affordability crisis
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says a Coalition government would set the size of Australia’s migration intake by how many new homes are built each year, promising to fix the housing crisis. The policy would slash net migration, expand social-media checks and require a binding values pledge, creating new compliance steps for employers and relocation managers.
EU committee backs overhaul of social-security coordination, easing paperwork for Belgium’s mobile workforce
On 8 May, the European Parliament’s EMPL committee backed a provisional deal to update EU social-security coordination rules. The reform scraps an onerous pre-notification plan, sets firm deadlines for A1 processing and tightens dispute procedures – changes that will cut bureaucracy and compliance risk for Belgian companies managing cross-border staff.
Brazil grants temporary visa-free entry to Chinese citizens from 11 May 2026
An ordinance published on 8 May 2026 waives short-stay visas for Chinese nationals from 11 May to 31 December 2026, matching China’s existing visa-free policy for Brazilians. The move cuts lead-time and costs for business travellers, could boost bilateral tourism and investment, and may pave the way for broader visa-free access to other partners.
EU Migration & Asylum Pact Nears Application—Czechia Races to Align Screening and Reception Procedures
An 8 May European Commission report says the EU Migration & Asylum Pact will begin applying on 12 June 2026. Czechia must complete last-minute legal and operational upgrades—such as biometric screening at Prague Airport and expanded reception capacity—to meet the Pact’s strict timelines. Businesses should prepare for faster Dublin transfers and tighter documentation checks on third-country assignees.
Dublin Airport scraps 100-ml liquid rule and forecasts record 11 million summer passengers
Dublin Airport has removed the 100-ml liquid limit for hand luggage after completing the installation of C3 scanners and expects at least 11 million passengers this summer, a new record. The technology upgrade streamlines security for business and leisure travellers just as volumes rise nine per cent year-on-year. Companies are advised to brief staff on differing rules at overseas airports and to book peak-time flights early as capacity tightens.
Nationwide 12 May strike set to paralyse Belgian air, rail and urban transport
Belgium’s main unions will stage a 24-hour general strike on 12 May, closing Charleroi Airport, heavily disrupting Brussels Airport and curtailing rail, metro and bus services nationwide. The stoppage threatens major delays for business travellers, expatriates moving in-country and time-sensitive immigration appointments. Companies should trigger remote-work and travel-contingency plans and alert staff to possible knock-on disruption if the action is prolonged.