Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

Poland will gradually roll back free healthcare, accommodation and unconditional cash benefits for Ukrainian refugees, linking future support to employment or study. Companies employing Ukrainians must move staff onto regular immigration routes before the special-protection law lapses on 4 March 2026. The changes tighten compliance obligations but also provide greater clarity for workforce-planning.

On 23 January 2026 IRCC invited 6,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates to apply for permanent residence, setting a CRS cut-off of 509. The large draw supports Ottawa’s plan to transition more temporary workers and graduates to PR and gives employers greater certainty in retaining talent. Applicants now have 60 days to file complete applications under new digital processes.

One month after launch, Hong Kong’s new southbound self-drive scheme has attracted more than 2,500 Guangdong motorists and 1,000 confirmed trips, prompting calls to raise the 2,000-vehicle daily quota ahead of the Lunar New Year peak. Hoteliers report rising occupancy from self-drive visitors, underscoring the programme’s potential to spread tourist spending and accelerate Greater Bay Area integration.

Austria removed a record 14,156 people in 2025 and cut asylum applications by 36 percent, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner announced on 23 January. The government credits tougher border policing, faster procedures and the suspension of refugee family reunification. The figures signal that Vienna will continue to tighten immigration controls in 2026, implying longer lead-times and stricter scrutiny for corporate transfers.

Spain proposes raising the 2026 minimum wage to €1,221 a month, a decision that would automatically lift the income bar for the Digital Nomad Visa to about €2,442 and for Highly Qualified Professional permits to €1,832. Employers warn of higher labour costs, while unions demand an even bigger hike. Mobility and payroll teams should fast-track applications and budget reviews before the new Royal Decree enters into force.

EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner said the Commission "fully supports" Cyprus joining the Schengen Area and will publish a new readiness report soon. Officials stressed that the Green Line will be managed without becoming a hard border. Accession—targeted for 2026—would abolish passport checks with 29 countries, benefiting corporate mobility, tourism and airlines.

IRCC’s 23 January 2026 update provides the latest processing-time benchmarks. Citizenship and PR-card renewals have sped up, but family sponsorship and Start-Up Visa files remain lengthy. The data allow employers, schools and applicants to calibrate mobility plans for the year ahead.

Chinese consulates in India now require an online pre-clearance and stricter documentation for all visa applicants, pushing processing times to weeks and pushing refusal rates towards 40 %. Corporations face longer lead-times and higher costs, risking delays to projects and prompting some firms to relocate meetings to visa-friendly hubs. The move appears aimed at tighter security and data collection, but could slow the rebound of Indian tourism and business travel to China.

From 23 January 2026 Heathrow no longer enforces the 100-ml liquids rule. A £1 billion CT-scanner programme lets passengers keep liquids (up to 2 L) and laptops inside bags, cutting queues and saving 16 million plastic bags annually. The change improves passenger experience but applies only on outbound flights, so corporate travel teams must warn staff about differing rules on inbound legs.

From 25 February 2026 the UK will enforce a strict “No Permission, No Travel” regime. Most Australians must obtain a £16 Electronic Travel Authorisation before boarding a flight, ferry or train to Britain. Dual citizens who can travel on a British or Irish passport are exempt. Australian companies must adapt travel workflows or risk costly last-minute refusals at the gate.

At the 23 Jan 2026 EU JHA meeting in Cyprus, Ireland urged partners to speed up the return of irregular migrants and align reintegration support across the bloc, signalling tougher enforcement ahead. The discussion is directly linked to Ireland’s own International Protection Bill 2026 and the move toward a single work-and-residence permit. Corporate mobility teams should brace for stricter compliance checks and possible changes to carrier-liability rules.