Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

IRCC has reduced the validity period of study permits issued for short prerequisite or pathway programs. Permits will now expire 90 days after the preparatory course ends, down from the previous one-year cushion. Schools and students must fast-track extension plans, while Ottawa seeks to curb surging temporary-resident numbers.

Documents filed this week show ICE paid $122.8 million for warehouses in Socorro, Texas, as part of a nationwide plan to boost detention capacity to 92,000 beds. Local leaders say they were blindsided, and advocates fear human-rights abuses. The expansion signals harsher interior enforcement that could disrupt workforces and supply chains.

Cathay Pacific’s sudden cancellation of flight CPA674 from Bangkok to Hong Kong on 21 February—one of five Thailand-wide cancellations—left travellers and freight forwarders scrambling for alternatives. The disruption underlines tight regional capacity and poses immediate re-routing costs for Hong Kong corporates that rely on the busy Thailand–Hong Kong corridor.

Effective 20 February 2026, France has shut the door on walk-in visa requests and moved the entire appointment process to the France-Visas portal, adding mandatory biometric capture. The system aims to stamp out fraud and improve efficiency but forces companies and travellers to plan further ahead. Digital appointments also lay the groundwork for EU-wide EES and ETIAS roll-outs.

Beijing has waived short-stay visa requirements for Finnish citizens, allowing 30-day business or leisure trips without paperwork. The move slashes lead-times for Finnish companies operating in China and is expected to stimulate two-way travel demand as Finnair rebuilds its Asian network.

India has switched on DigiYatra’s facial-recognition boarding lanes at six additional airports, taking the biometric programme to 13 locations nationwide and covering key Tier-2 business cities. The expansion promises faster passenger flow, lower airline turnaround times and greater predictability for corporate itineraries while maintaining privacy safeguards. It also signals India’s intent to bring seamless, paper-less processing to international departures within two years.

The UAE’s flagship airlines could be forced to skirt Iranian airspace if US–Iran tensions escalate, adding hours of flight time and thousands of dollars in extra operating costs. Mobility managers should expect schedule changes, higher premiums and potential delays for both passengers and freight.

Rome has approved a three-year Decreto Flussi that will admit around 500,000 non-EU workers between 2026 and 2028, with 164,850 slots opening this year. Employers must prepare for fast ‘click-day’ application windows, while policymakers balance labour shortages against domestic unemployment concerns.

Fresh budget statistics show that taxes paid by working Ukrainian refugees now more than cover Czech humanitarian payouts, strengthening the government’s case for a new five-year residence pathway linked to employment. The figures point to continued pro-migration policies and faster permit processing for employers.

The Home Office has released a detailed ETA factsheet confirming that carriers will refuse boarding to travellers who lack an approved ETA from 25 Feb 2026. Dual British/Irish nationals must carry a valid UK or Irish passport, and the £16 fee is slated to rise to £20. Businesses must verify employees’ travel documents in advance to avoid costly last-minute disruptions.

From 25 February 2026, Indians travelling to the UK will no longer receive physical visa stickers; instead, their visa will exist entirely in a UKVI online account linked to their passport. The change promises faster border clearance, lower logistics costs and stronger fraud prevention—but requires employers to keep passport data in UKVI systems perfectly up to date.