Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

EU lawmakers approved a ‘safe-country’ list and authorised offshore asylum centres, handing Italy the legal basis to start processing migrants in Albania. The move is designed to speed up deportations and relieve pressure on Italian facilities, but faces criticism over human-rights safeguards. Businesses should anticipate a more predictable Schengen border regime but monitor for localised disruptions or legal challenges.

Oxford University researchers say the government’s draft ‘earned-settlement’ rules would bar many non-working or lower-earning partners of skilled migrants from permanent residence. Business groups warn the policy will deter global talent and disproportionately hit women, while ministers argue settlement should reflect economic contribution.

The UK Home Office will open the 2026 India Young Professionals Scheme ballot from 17–19 February 2026, offering 3,000 two-year work visas to Indian citizens aged 18-30. The unsponsored visa provides a flexible route for Indian talent to gain UK experience and for companies to rotate staff without navigating skilled-worker quotas.

A parliamentary submission by Science & Technology Australia warns that without faster, more predictable skilled-migration settings, Australia will face a six-figure STEM labour shortfall. It recommends 30-day visa processing for critical occupations, enhanced PR pathways and an expanded Global Talent visa, signalling possible policy shifts that would benefit employers who rely on foreign specialists.

Mexico has reactivated its electronic Visitor Visa for Brazilian passport holders arriving by air, ending the unpopular requirement for a consular visa sticker. The online permit is free, issued within 24 hours and valid for stays of up to 180 days. The move will cut travel lead-times and costs for Brazilian tourists and, crucially, for companies flying staff to Mexico for projects and meetings.

Top immigration-agency officials defended aggressive enforcement tactics in a February 10 House hearing sparked by the fatal shootings of two Minneapolis protesters. Lawmakers debated new limits on home raids, mandatory body-cameras and DHS funding, signalling that federal enforcement rules could shift within days—changes that would directly affect corporate assignees and business travellers across the United States.

On 10 February 2026 the European Parliament approved rules letting EU countries—Germany included—reject and deport asylum-seekers whose home or transit states are deemed “safe.” Germany must apply the accelerated procedure from 1 June, cutting decision times to ten days. Supporters say the change will unclog the asylum system; critics warn of rights violations. Companies should review workforce-planning and compliance processes for staff from newly listed safe countries.

Cabinet has approved the drafting of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026, paving the way to scrap the 32 million-passenger limit by the end of next year. Airlines say the change is essential for economic growth; Ryanair wants a faster timeline. Lifting the cap should expand flight options for business travellers but will trigger environmental reviews and potential infrastructure disruption.

A 48-hour national strike by French air-traffic controllers on 9–10 February forced about 180 flight cancellations and lengthy delays at Orly, Marseille and regional airports. Unions protest lower replacement rates for retiring staff, while the DGAC insists resources match traffic forecasts. Business travellers should expect continued volatility and ensure rail or multi-hub back-up plans, as unions threaten additional action at Easter.

Cuba has run out of aviation fuel after a U.S. oil blockade, forcing Air Canada to cancel all flights until at least March 11 and to repatriate 3,000 stranded customers. The suspension hits 32 weekly departures at the height of Canada’s winter-sun season and forces tour operators to shift clients to other Caribbean markets. The disruption illustrates how U.S. sanctions can instantly upend Canadian air links and highlights the need for contingency planning by travel managers and mobility teams.

Effective immediately, the UAE has imposed a single overstay penalty of AED 50 per day across almost all visa categories and introduced online portals for fast payment. The move simplifies compliance for tourists, residents and corporate travellers while raising the stakes for anyone who forgets a visa-expiry date. Companies should update internal trackers and instruct employees to pay fines online before heading to the airport.

The European Parliament has approved new fast-track deportation rules that let EU states, including Austria, declare asylum claims from migrants who passed through or originate from designated “safe” countries inadmissible and deport them within days. The law, effective June 2026, fulfils Vienna’s long-standing demand for quicker returns but raises legal-rights and detention-capacity concerns. Companies relying on short-term visa holders from affected countries should accelerate permit renewals and contingency planning.

At the 10 February 2026 India-China Strategic Dialogue, the two governments pledged to expand pilot measures that shorten business-visa processing and to finalise a modernised Air Services Agreement that would lift flight-frequency caps. Faster visas and more air capacity would cut lead times for cross-border projects and lower logistics costs on a key Asian trade corridor.

Cyprus will start tearing down the €2 million ‘Nouris fence’ along the Green Line next week after a sharp fall in irregular migration. Officials say the barrier proved ineffective and will be repurposed for security facilities, while the migration ministry shifts focus to faster work-permit processing. The move signals a softer, more business-friendly stance on legal labour mobility and should ease community tensions near the buffer zone.