Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

The UK has begun enforcing its ETA programme, meaning visitors from 85 visa-exempt countries must hold a £16 digital permit before boarding transport to the UK. Carriers face hefty fines for non-compliance and have integrated real-time checks into their systems. Business-travel and mobility teams must update policies immediately, as staff without an ETA will be denied boarding.

Switzerland’s top court has ruled that B-permit holders from outside the EU/EFTA can no longer be barred from changing employers. The SEM has ordered all cantons to remove job-change restrictions, giving an estimated 20,000 third-country professionals immediate labour-market mobility. The move reduces red tape for Swiss businesses and enhances Switzerland’s attractiveness for global talent.

Hong Kong’s 2026-27 Budget confirms that more than 270,000 professionals – including 100,000+ under the Top Talent Pass – have secured Hong Kong visas since 2024. New measures this year include a HK $500 million Talent Integration Fund, three-year initial visas for TTPS holders and a digital “Talent Wallet”. The changes further upgrade Hong Kong’s competitiveness for regional HQ assignments and corporate transfers.

Aer Lingus has introduced a passport-only policy for all Republic of Ireland–Great Britain flights from 25 February 2026. Driving licences and other photo ID are no longer accepted, bringing the Irish flag-carrier into line with Ryanair and tightening compliance ahead of full UK ETA enforcement. The rule adds cost and planning complexity for business travellers and school groups who previously relied on simpler forms of ID.

From 25 February 2026, Australians cannot board flights, ferries or Eurostar services to the UK without an approved Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). The £16 digital permit links to the traveller’s passport and is now mandatory for 85 non-visa nationalities. Corporate mobility teams must integrate ETA checks into booking workflows or risk trip disruptions and uninsured cancellations.

Italy will roll out a nationwide electronic visa platform from June 2026, allowing applicants to file and pay online while airports expand biometric e-gates. The change promises faster processing and clearer tracking for business and leisure travellers but may cause short-term confusion as legacy paper procedures overlap with new digital workflows.

Germany has activated a fully digital skilled-worker visa portal, cutting average Blue Card processing time from 66 to 27 days and eliminating paper submissions. The move is central to Berlin’s wider digital-government strategy and promises quicker onboarding for foreign talent, though employers must still manage local registration on arrival.

From 25 February 2026, the UK has scrapped passport-sticker visas for Indians and moved to an electronic visa that is verified pre-departure. Travellers keep their passports after biometrics and airlines will deny boarding to anyone without a valid eVisa or ETA. The shift promises quicker turnaround for business travellers but does not relax documentary requirements. ([timesofindia.indiatimes.com](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/uk-to-issue-evisas-from-today-no-need-to-hand-over-passports-during-processing/articleshow/128760929.cms?utm_source=openai))

Official NIA figures show 17.796 million border crossings during the 9-day Spring Festival, up 10 % year-on-year. One in three foreign arrivals entered visa-free, underscoring the business impact of China’s expanded 30-day waiver and 240-hour transit policies. Corporate travel planners should expect tighter airport capacity, shorter visa lead-times and higher in-market costs.

The UK’s ETA scheme became fully mandatory today. Non-visa nationals departing Irish airports and ports for the UK without an approved ETA will be denied boarding, and carriers face hefty fines. Irish citizens remain exempt, but employers must ensure foreign staff and dual nationals obtain ETAs or carry proof of exemption to avoid trip disruption.

CBP has switched off all IEEPA tariff codes effective 00:01 EST on February 24, immediately eliminating duties that have cost importers billions since 2025. The change follows a Supreme Court ruling and leaves refund procedures and the prospect of replacement tariffs unresolved, creating budgeting challenges for companies moving goods and people across U.S. borders.

IRCC has introduced a temporary policy that exempts FIFA-invited foreign nationals from providing biometrics when applying for a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa. The measure, effective February 25 2026, covers new and pending TRV applications filed between November 25 2025 and July 20 2026 and is designed to streamline entry for World Cup-related travelers.

France’s 2026 budget raises the first-issue fee for most residence permits to €300, renewals to €200 and the citizenship application stamp to €255, effective 1 May 2026. Exemptions for Brexit-covered Britons and refugees remain, but most foreign residents and sponsoring employers will face higher costs, prompting many to file applications before the deadline.

A regulation published on 24 February 2026 removes the Polish labour-market test for work-permit applications involving Turkish nationals, effective 11 March 2026. The change shortens processing times by several weeks and aligns Poland with other EU countries that already offer preferential treatment to Turkish workers, easing recruitment in key industries.

A 24-hour nationwide strike on 12 March 2026 will hit Belgian airports, with Brussels Airport expecting a near-total halt of departures and severe delays for arrivals. Airlines have already started proactive re-booking and waiver programmes, and mobility managers should reroute or defer travel where possible. The walk-out highlights infrastructure bottlenecks and the need for stronger contingency planning.

Brazil has granted 30-day visa-free entry to nationals of China, Hungary, Denmark, France, Ireland, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Saint Lucia, effective 24 February 2026. The policy is expected to boost inbound tourism and facilitate short business visits, but companies must still monitor stay limits. This marks Brazil’s broadest single-day expansion of visa waivers in a decade and underlines the government’s strategy of using migration policy to stimulate growth.

Hermes Airports has asked travellers at Larnaca and Paphos to show up three hours before departure after a spike in evacuation and commercial traffic stretched terminal capacity. The advisory may translate into longer duty hours, potential overtime costs, and tighter connection margins for business travellers. Companies planning assignments to or through Cyprus should pad schedules and pre-book services until the crunch eases.

The UK Home Office confirmed that its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme is being extended to EU nationals, meaning Czech citizens will soon need to apply online and receive digital approval before travelling. The permit costs GBP 10 and should be requested at least 72 hours in advance. While visa-free travel continues, failure to secure an ETA will result in denied boarding, making immediate policy updates essential for Czech companies that send staff to the UK.

Spain’s Supreme Court has annulled the rule that caused temporary-residence permits to be cancelled after six months’ absence abroad. The clause’s removal gives remote workers, frequent business travellers and other expats far greater flexibility while safeguarding compliance for employers. Companies should update mobility policies immediately.