IRCC Signals End of Current Express Entry Classes, Plans Unified ‘High-Skilled’ Stream
Italian Air Traffic Controllers Set for 4-Hour National Strike on 10 April—Hundreds of Flights Already Cancelled
Germany Extends Land-Border Checks for Another Six Months
Latest News
US expands visa-bond program to up to $15,000 ahead of 2026 World Cup
The State Department has widened its visa-bond pilot, allowing consular officers to require up-front deposits of up to US $15,000 from visitors originating in 50 high-overstay-rate countries. The change, reported April 9, arrives just 14 months before the U.S.-hosted FIFA World Cup and could deter thousands of fans and business travelers. Companies should brace for higher mobility costs, longer visa lead times and potential talent-supply gaps.
Canada Enacts Bill C-12 Overhauling Asylum and Immigration Compliance
Bill C-12, which received Royal Assent on 26 March 2026 and was highlighted on 9 April, overhauls asylum eligibility, accelerates claims processing, mandates inter-agency data-sharing and digitises immigration documents. Ottawa says the reforms will halve processing times and unclog work-permit backlogs, but employers of refugee-class workers must brace for tighter rules. Consultations on the implementing regulations run until 31 May 2026.
France postpones biometric checks at Channel crossings days before EES go-live
French border police have put the brakes on rolling out biometric EES checks at Channel crossings, citing software bugs and space constraints. Manual passport stamps will continue, meaning employers must keep their own 90/180-day tallies for UK–France commuters. A revised launch date is expected later in April.
Spanish Cabinet set to approve mass regularisation for an estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants
The Spanish government has confirmed that a Royal Decree to regularise more than 500,000 undocumented migrants will go before the Council of Ministers on 14 April. Applicants must prove presence in Spain before 31 December 2025 but will not need a job offer, making this the most flexible amnesty since 2005. If adopted, the measure will enlarge the legal labour pool, particularly in sectors facing acute shortages, but will also impose new compliance duties on employers.
UK Visa Fees Rise 6-7% Across All Categories From 8 April 2026
All UK immigration and nationality fees increased by 6–7 % on 8 April 2026. Visitor, student, work, settlement and citizenship applications are all affected, with a Skilled Worker visa up to three years now £819 and Indefinite Leave to Remain £3,226. Employers and education providers face higher mobility budgets while applicants must budget more for the same permissions.
Nationwide Police IT Failure Snarls Passport Control at German Airports
A six-hour collapse of the Federal Police database that powers Germany’s e-gates forced manual passport checks at multiple airports on 9 April 2026, creating long queues and missed onward connections. The outage highlights vulnerabilities in border-control IT just months before the EU rolls out its new biometric Entry/Exit System.
Polish Border Guard reports zero illegal crossings from Belarus as internal checks with Germany and Lithuania continue
A 9 April Border Guard communiqué shows zero illegal crossings from Belarus but sustained spot checks on the borders with Germany and Lithuania, where 11 travellers were turned back in one day. The government has extended the “temporary” controls until 1 October 2026, citing migration and security risks. Businesses should factor extra time for cross-border road travel and ensure that mobile employees carry valid documents.
UK hikes Electronic Travel Authorisation fee to £20, doubling paperwork for Indian visitors
From 8 April 2026 the UK raised the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) fee from £16 to £20. Because Indians still need a regular visa, travellers must now pay for—and secure—both documents before departure, adding cost and complexity for business and leisure trips alike.
UAE airlines publish fresh re-booking waivers as British Airways keeps Dubai and Abu Dhabi services grounded
On 9 April the UAE’s major carriers widened fee-free re-booking windows as the country’s airports continued a phased return to service after weeks of conflict-related airspace closures. Emirates, flydubai and Etihad are all operating reduced schedules, while British Airways is still cancelling Dubai and Abu Dhabi flights. Corporate mobility managers should expect longer routings, rolling timetable updates and higher ancillary costs throughout April.
Australia suspends Iranian Visitor Visa holders under new Arrival Control Determination
Australia has invoked new powers to suspend, for six months, the Visitor 600 visa rights of Iranian passport holders who were outside the country on 26 March 2026. Only close family members and travellers with a special exemption may still enter. The move underscores Canberra’s readiness to wield section 84B of the Migration Act to manage security-related risks, and it creates fresh compliance headaches for travel planners and global mobility teams.
Belgium braces for EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System launch tomorrow
From 10 April 2026 the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) becomes mandatory at all Belgian air, sea and land border posts. The platform replaces passport stamps with a digital record of each non-EU traveller’s arrival and departure, giving Belgian authorities instant data on overstays but potentially adding long queues during the rollout. Business travellers are being told to arrive earlier, download the EU’s pre-registration app and expect teething problems over Easter and the summer peak.
ANAC activates pre-crisis protocol after technical fault briefly shuts São Paulo airspace
A power failure at the São Paulo Area Control Centre stopped flights for 71 minutes on 9 April, prompting ANAC to activate its pre-crisis protocol. While services have restarted, delays are rippling through the national network. Travel managers should expect knock-on disruptions throughout the day and ensure passengers claim their Resolution 400 rights.
Switzerland joins global coalition granting stranded travellers emergency visa extensions
Switzerland has joined a 15-nation effort to issue emergency visa extensions and waive over-stay fines for travellers marooned by Middle-East flight suspensions. Swiss citizens abroad will benefit from similar flexibilities, while foreigners in Switzerland can apply online for a no-fee 30-day stay extension. The measure removes immediate compliance risks for employers and underlines Berne’s humanitarian diplomacy.
Cyprus inaugurates 1,000-bed Limnes pre-removal centre to ease migrant overcrowding
Cyprus has opened the first wing of the EU-funded Limnes Pre-Removal Centre, expanding detention capacity from 128 to 1,000 beds and replacing the ageing Menoyia facility. Authorities say the complex will modernise migration control and relieve police cells, while NGOs warn it could entrench lengthy confinement. The development signals tougher but more structured enforcement that businesses should factor into mobility compliance planning.
Czech Draft Law Would Scrap Fines for Undeclared Work—but Not for Foreigners
A draft amendment published on 8 April 2026 would abolish fines for Czech nationals caught working without a contract, but retain strict penalties for third-country nationals who lack the correct work authorisation. Employers would take on greater liability, while unions warn of budget risks. Mobility teams must keep foreign-worker documentation airtight.
Japan and South Korea scrap pandemic-era flight caps on Hong Kong routes
Tokyo and Seoul have agreed to lift the last remaining Covid-era restrictions on flights from Hong Kong. The decision removes slot and airport limitations, enabling Cathay Pacific and other airlines to restore near-pre-pandemic schedules. For corporates the change promises cheaper fares and easier seat availability on two key regional markets.
Fuel-price protests choke Irish transport corridors, prompting airport and bus diversions
Nationwide fuel-price protests on 8-9 April blocked sections of the M50 and other arterial roads, disrupting Luas, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann services and forcing Dublin Airport to issue passenger advisories. Continued blockades could affect business travel, commuting and air-cargo flows.