Russian arrivals via Shanghai jump 67.8 % after China extends visa-free policy to 2027
Canada offers electronic travel authorization (eTA) to eligible travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia
Tyrol green-lights eight-hour Brenner Pass blockade on 30 May
Latest News
CBP Adds Atlanta and Houston to Ebola Arrival Screening List
CBP has expanded its Ebola arrival-screening program: flights with recent travelers from the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan must now land at Washington Dulles, Atlanta or (from May 26) Houston. The measure, announced May 25, aims to concentrate CDC resources and mirrors funneling strategies used during previous outbreaks. Airlines and multinational employers will need to re-route itineraries, and travelers should expect longer trip times and health checks on arrival.
Italy transposes EU Single-Permit Directive, extending processing times but adding fast-track clause
Legislative Decree 83/2026, published on 25 May, implements the EU’s recast Single-Permit Directive in Italy. Standard processing moves from 60 to 90 days, but a 30-day fast-track is available once paperwork is complete. Employers face new disclosure duties, while foreign hires gain clearer procedural rights.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin urges three-year freeze on legal immigration to France
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin told French media that France should stop issuing new residence permits for three years and write binding immigration quotas into the Constitution. The proposal—yet to be backed by the government—would harden visa issuance, restrict family-reunification rights and link consular cooperation to deportation readmissions. If adopted, it could dramatically tighten corporate mobility pipelines and exacerbate talent shortages.
Polish Sejm fast-tracks bill allowing 60-day suspension of asylum applications at selected borders
The Sejm adopted a bill on 25 May that lets the Polish government suspend the lodging of asylum applications for up to 60 days on specified border sections, aiming to counter irregular crossings from Belarus. Vulnerable groups remain exempt, but legal experts say the measure conflicts with constitutional and EU obligations and could lead to pushbacks. Multinational companies and mobility managers should expect rapid implementation and review travel routes and employee-relocation plans accordingly.
Emirates and Etihad tell holiday-makers to arrive three hours early as Eid Al Adha rush begins
Emirates and Etihad have issued peak-season travel advisories urging passengers to arrive three hours before departure and complete online or home check-in to avoid Eid Al Adha congestion at UAE airports. The warning reflects record demand as a six- to nine-day public holiday begins, with Dubai International alone expecting nearly 200,000 departing passengers a day. Corporate travel managers should factor in longer security lines, heavier road traffic and stricter baggage rules.
Brazil launches tourism charm-offensive in China after dropping visa requirement
Tourism Minister Gustavo Feliciano is in Beijing to capitalise on Brazil’s new visa-free regime for Chinese visitors, effective 11 May 2026. China arrivals are already up 33.6 percent this year; the government is courting airlines with slot incentives and planning an Embratur office in Shanghai to double visitor numbers by 2028. The push eases travel for corporate buyers and could unlock new cargo and passenger routes, benefiting exporters and the MICE sector.
Proposed migration cap tied to housing unlikely to shrink migrant intake, analysts say
ABC analysis of Angus Taylor’s plan to peg migration to housing supply finds the policy could permit higher—not lower—migrant numbers in 2026-27 and inject major uncertainty into skilled-visa planning. Economists say a housing-only cap ignores labour-market realities and risks destabilising Australia’s international education and business-migration pipelines.
Cyprus election sees anti-immigrant ELAM surge, raising stakes for future migration and mobility policy
The far-right ELAM party doubled its representation in Cyprus’s 25 May parliamentary elections, positioning the anti-immigrant group as a king-maker. Its surge could prompt President Christodoulides to adopt tougher asylum and work-permit rules, directly affecting employers that rely on foreign talent. The development also raises questions about Cyprus’s Schengen accession timeline and broader EU migration commitments.
Czech Government Tightens Temporary Protection Rules for Ukrainian Refugees
On 25 May 2026 the Czech government approved a bill that would cancel temporary protection for refugees who stay outside Schengen for more than 30 days or commit serious crimes, and that tightens eligibility for humanitarian benefits. Employers will need to monitor staff travel carefully, while aid groups warn the measures could deter integration. The draft now goes to parliament and could enter into force on 1 August 2026.
USCIS Memo Pushes Most Green-Card Applicants Out of the Country
A May 25 analysis confirms that a new USCIS memorandum re-classifies adjustment of status as an "extraordinary" remedy, effectively forcing most foreign nationals in the U.S. to leave the country and apply for green cards at consulates abroad. The change threatens to upend corporate relocation plans, separate families and spark legal challenges over the agency’s authority.
Hong Kong Airport issues detailed transport playbook ahead of Terminal 2 reopening on 27 May
Hong Kong’s Transport Department has released a comprehensive traffic and public-transport plan for the 27 May reopening of HKIA Terminal 2. New road links, Airport Express platforms and more than 40 bus routes will serve the terminal, while officials warn of potential congestion during the transition. Business travellers and mobility teams should allow extra time, confirm airline terminal assignments and brief ground-transport providers on the new layout.
Ireland rolls out 25 new biometric eGates at Dublin Airport as Justice Minister signals harder line on criminal deportations
Dublin Airport has activated 25 upgraded eGates that read biometric passports and EU ID cards in under 20 seconds, a move the government says will ease summer congestion and prepare Ireland for the EU Entry/Exit System. Launching the lanes, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan also pledged to maintain a tough deportation policy for foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes. Faster processing will benefit business travellers, while the minister’s comments link technology upgrades to a wider border-security agenda.
Nation-wide 28–29 May transport strike threatens Italy’s trains, flights and ferries
Base unions have called a 24-hour general strike across Italy’s transport sector from the evening of 28 May to 29 May. Trains, domestic flights, urban transit, ferries and some motorway services will be disrupted; only limited ‘guaranteed’ services will run. Employers with mobile staff in Italy should reschedule essential travel within protected time-bands or arrange remote work.
Chinese specialists now dominate Brazil’s foreign work-visa statistics
Official figures reveal that Brazil now issues more than 1,000 work visas a month to Chinese nationals, who made up 38 percent of all foreign hires in Q1 2026. Projects such as BYD’s EV plant in Bahia are driving demand for technical transferees, fueling economic activity but also labour-market tensions. Companies must watch Brazil’s foreign-labour quotas to stay compliant as Chinese investment accelerates.