Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

The Home Office has confirmed that all new UK visit visas issued from 25 February 2026 will be eVisas only, ending the use of vignette stickers and BRP cards. Visa holders will need a UKVI online account and must update passport details before travel. Airlines will refuse boarding if a traveller’s passport is not linked to a valid eVisa or ETA, making advance checks essential for companies moving staff to the UK.

France will introduce a six-month visa-free airport-transit scheme for Indian nationals and has pledged to host 30,000 Indian students annually by 2030. The moves, announced during President Macron’s visit, will cut costs for business travellers and significantly widen higher-education pathways. Corporate mobility teams should update policies to leverage the transit waiver and easier long-stay study visas.

Dubai Health has merged the residency medical-fitness exam and occupational-health test into a single digital appointment, with visas issued automatically after approval. The reform removes duplicate tests, shortens processing times and gives employers one clear pathway for bringing staff on board.

Effective 19 February 2026 Belgium raised the nationality application fee from €150 to €1,000 and introduced higher income, housing and integration requirements for family-reunification visas. Employers must budget for higher costs and ensure transferees meet the new thresholds, while migrants face longer preparation and processing times. The reforms aim to tighten immigration control but could hinder integration and talent retention.

NIA predicts 2.05 million daily border crossings during the 15–23 February holiday, buoyed by expanded visa-free schemes and 240-hour transit waivers. Foreign flight bookings are up 400 percent, tax-refund purchases up 95 percent and digital wallets aligned with 40 overseas e-wallets. The figures highlight both opportunity and compliance risk for firms sending staff to China.

Opposition parties condemned a clause in the International Protection Bill that would permit, in limited circumstances, the detention of minors during identity checks. Government insists the measure simply mirrors EU rules and is hedged with safeguards. The Bill accelerates asylum processing to six months in total and extends the wait for family reunification to three years. Businesses could benefit from quicker decisions but face reputational risks as human-rights groups mobilise against the legislation.

Thailand now allows Indian nationals a 60-day visa-free stay—double the previous limit—and permits a further 30-day extension in-country. The change, effective 13 February 2026, is expected to spur leisure travel, facilitate longer business trips and support remote-work arrangements.

During President Macron’s February visit to New Delhi, France announced a six-month pilot allowing Indian nationals to transit French airports visa-free and set a target of welcoming 30,000 Indian students annually by 2030. The move streamlines air travel for Indian business travellers and expands the talent pool for French employers, while signalling deeper Indo-French strategic ties.

Brandenburg’s finance minister has called on the federal government to let Germany’s Polish border checks expire in summer 2026, arguing they hurt regional growth and will be unnecessary once new EU asylum rules start mid-year. The Interior Ministry still considers the checks vital, but mounting political and business pressure could see them lifted earlier than planned.

Macau recorded 551,623 tourist arrivals between 15 and 18 February, with 186,600 on 19 February alone. While the tally is 8.4 percent lower than last year, volumes remain above 100,000 a day, signalling robust cross-border demand and faster recovery in foreign-visitor share. The numbers give mobility planners fresh insight into Greater Bay Area travel flows during Spring-Festival Golden Week.

A 24-hour nationwide strike in Argentina on 19 February led to the cancellation of more than 250 flights, including at least 60 services linking Brazil and Argentina. Airports in São Paulo, Rio, Brasília, Porto Alegre and Florianópolis reported multiple cancellations and delays. LATAM and Gol introduced fee-free rebooking or refund policies. The episode highlights the exposure of Brazilian corporate travel programmes to Argentine industrial action.

Berlin has confirmed that spot-checks at the French land border will continue until at least mid-September 2026. Companies moving goods or staff between France and Germany should prepare for ongoing document inspections and minor but cumulative delays.

Facing criticism over new boarding rules for British dual nationals, the Home Office now says airlines may accept an expired UK passport as proof of citizenship from 25 February. The step helps travellers whose current British passport has lapsed, but experts warn many remain unaware and could still be refused travel if they cannot produce an eligible document.

A Department of Homeland Security memo dated Feb 18 gives ICE nationwide authority to arrest and indefinitely detain refugees who have not yet obtained green-card status, ostensibly for a mandatory “re-screening.” The policy reverses Obama-era guidance, could impact tens of thousands of legal refugees and is already facing federal court challenges. Employers and sponsors of refugee workers should prepare for sudden detention-related disruptions.