Ottawa Rolls Out April 2026 Immigration Changes: Higher Fees, Flexible Super Visa and More Provincial Power
Nation-wide Airport Strike to Ground Flights Across Germany on April 8
Brazil suspends taxes on jet fuel and unlocks R$ 9 billion credit to cool soaring airfares
Latest News
France confirms biometric-border equipment not ready for EES deadline on UK routes
French border police have admitted that biometric kiosks for the Entry/Exit System are not yet installed at Eurostar, Eurotunnel and ferry controls on UK soil, meaning most travellers will **not** be fingerprinted when the EU mandate takes effect on 10 April 2026. France will create digital entry records only, postponing the most disruptive element of EES and raising fears of summer congestion once devices arrive.
Canberra tightens student-visa spigot as refusal rate hits 20-year high
The Albanese Government has restored tough risk settings and doubled the graduate-visa fee, pushing student-visa refusal rates to their highest since 2006. Universities face a sudden cooling in enrolments, while employers may find fewer international graduates available for junior roles. The shift underscores Australia’s pivot from volume to ‘genuine’ student quality.
Foreign employment hits record high ahead of Spain’s mass regularisation drive
Spain added a record 74,722 foreign workers in March 2026, pushing migrant affiliation above 3.15 million before the government’s large-scale regularisation scheme opens later this month. The data underscore how foreign labour is propping up job creation and foreshadow compliance and onboarding challenges for employers once 500,000 undocumented residents gain legal status.([elconfidencial.com](https://www.elconfidencial.com/economia/2026-04-07/record-empleo-extranjeros-regularizacion_4333280/))
Schengen Entry/Exit System Fully Operational on 10 April 2026—What It Means for Travel via Finland
The EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System becomes mandatory at all Schengen external borders, including Finland’s, on 10 April 2026. Non-EU travellers will need facial and fingerprint scans on first entry, and carriers must check visa validity before boarding. Finnish airports have expanded e-gates, but first-time processing could add several minutes per passenger, requiring longer connections and updated corporate-travel policies.
Canadian Airlines Add Fuel Surcharges and Trim Schedules as Oil Prices Spike
WestJet, Air Canada Vacations, Porter and Flair imposed CAD $40–$60 fuel surcharges on 7 April and began reducing low-yield flights in response to an 18 % spike in jet-fuel prices. The extra fees hit corporate vouchers and reward redemptions first and will complicate travel budgets and route planning if high oil prices persist.
MEA Details 7.3 Lakh Evacuations and Alternate Corridors from Gulf Hot Zones
India’s MEA says 730,000 nationals have already returned from West Asia via a patchwork of open air corridors and land detours. Daily briefings outline flight availability (UAE 90/day, Qatar 10/day) and special exam arrangements, giving companies a live dashboard for evacuation and duty-of-care decisions.
UAE grants automatic overstay-fine waiver for travellers delayed by regional airspace closures
Travellers who could not leave the UAE on time because of air-space closures after 28 February will not pay overstay penalties. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security has instructed immigration officers to cancel fines automatically, easing the burden on visitors, expatriates and the companies supporting them. The move limits legal exposure for employers and helps airports keep queues moving while flight schedules normalise.
EU biometric border system starts 10 April, Australians told to expect 70 % longer border queues
From 10 April the EU will fingerprint and photograph all non-EU arrivals under its new Entry/Exit System. Airlines say border processing is already up to 70 % slower, meaning Australian travellers should expect longer queues and plan extra time at Schengen airports. Companies with staff on tight schedules should adjust itineraries and prepare travellers for the new biometric formalities.
Austria tells travellers to brace for biometric checks as EU Entry/Exit System goes live on 10 April
Austria will activate the EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System at all external borders on 10 April, ending passport stamping for non-EU short-stay visitors. Vienna Airport has installed self-service kiosks and urges travellers to pre-register via a new app to avoid queues that industry groups warn could disrupt post-Easter traffic. EES promises better compliance data for employers but also automatic overstayer alerts, making day-count accuracy critical for mobile staff.
Belgian Government Revives Controversial Home-Entry Powers to Detain Irregular Migrants
Belgium’s federal cabinet has approved a draft law allowing police, with a judge’s warrant, to enter private homes and detain irregular migrants who ignore deportation orders. The measure—still subject to Council of State review and parliamentary vote—aims to boost the country’s low return rate but raises constitutional and human-rights concerns. Employers should prepare for tighter enforcement if the bill is adopted.
China to Extend 30-Day Visa-Free Entry for Russian Citizens Until September 2027
Beijing has told Moscow it is ready to push the current 30-day visa-free regime for Russian visitors out to September 2027, giving business and leisure travellers an extra year of hassle-free entry. The move stabilises short-term cross-border mobility, benefits export-oriented provinces in Northeast China and signals that both countries will maintain reciprocal waivers while they study a longer-term immigration overhaul.
Swiss Re-Routes Global Flight Network as Middle-East Conflict Closes Key Air Corridors
SWISS has redrawn dozens of flight paths after new Gulf air-space closures linked to the Iran conflict. Longer routings add up to 70 minutes per leg, strain crew rosters and increase costs, while emergency relief flights to India have been launched. Corporates should brace for shifting schedules and higher fares as the crisis drags on.
Cyprus drops ‘no-other-tax-residency’ condition in popular 60-Day Rule
A 1 January 2026 amendment removed the 60-Day Rule’s fifth test, which had forced applicants to prove they were *not* tax-resident elsewhere. Internationally mobile workers can now obtain Cypriot tax residency with just 60 days’ presence, even if another country also claims them. The simpler rules enhance Cyprus’s attractiveness for regional HQs and remote-first employers.
EU Entry/Exit System goes live on 10 April: what Czech travellers and employers must prepare for
The EU’s digital Entry/Exit System becomes compulsory on 10 April 2026. Non-EU visitors entering Prague will give fingerprints and a facial scan instead of receiving a passport stamp, and overstays will be calculated automatically. Czech employers must tighten travel-tracking, while airlines warn of possible queues as they take on new compliance duties.
Spain doubles down on migrant amnesty as Europe tightens borders
Le Monde highlights how Spain’s plan to grant legal status to 500,000 undocumented migrants bucks the EU trend toward tougher border and deportation policies. The draft decree, due for approval in April, is pitched as both a moral imperative and an economic necessity, with significant implications for employers seeking legal talent.([lemonde.fr](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/04/06/on-immigration-spain-moves-against-the-tide-of-its-european-neighbors_6752149_4.html))
Hong Kong extends visa-renewal filing window to three months for key talent and employment schemes
Effective 1 March 2026, Hong Kong visa holders under six major talent and employment schemes can file renewals up to 90 days before their current limit of stay ends, instead of the previous 30-day window. The change reduces compliance risk, gives HR more planning flexibility and aligns the rules with the Top Talent Pass Scheme. Multinationals welcome the move as another signal that Hong Kong wants to ease friction for high-skilled foreign professionals.
Jet Fuel Crisis Triggers Rationing at Four Northern Italian Airports
Milan Linate, Bologna, Venice and Treviso airports imposed immediate jet-fuel rationing on 6 April, limiting short-haul aircraft to 2,000 L per uplift. The measure, linked to Gulf shipping disruptions, could force schedule tweaks and fuel surcharges on Italian and intra-EU business travel itineraries. Mobility managers should prepare contingency routings and budget for knock-on costs.