Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

The cabinet will seek parliamentary approval to extend a five-year residence scheme that lets economically self-reliant Ukrainian refugees move from temporary protection to long-term status. Around 16 000 people benefited last year; business groups say the renewal is vital for filling labour shortages, while populists warn of ‘pull factors’.

Armenia has waived visas for holders of UAE residence permits from 113 nationalities until 1 July 2026, allowing stays of up to 180 days per year. The fast-track entry removes consular paperwork and costs for many UAE-based expatriates, creating new short-term assignment and bleisure opportunities. Employers should track length of stay and ensure staff carry proof of valid UAE residency.

National Police have detected a spike in bogus lost-passport reports as undocumented migrants try to generate proof of presence before Spain’s forthcoming regularisation drive. Authorities have ordered stricter identity checks to curb fraud, underscoring operational pressures on immigration units and potential delays for legitimate applicants.

China’s ministries of commerce, immigration and transport have launched a New-Year facilitation package that expands English services, mobile-payment acceptance and 240-hour transit-visa perks for foreign visitors between 14 and 22 February. The initiative aims to turn China’s visa-waiver experiments into concrete holiday arrivals and spending, offering same-day visa extensions for relatives and e-commerce duty exemptions. For businesses, the move eases last-mile logistics and sends a signal of continued opening-up.

The Federal Council has fixed 14 June 2026 for a nationwide vote on an SVP proposal to cap Switzerland’s population at 10 million. If approved, immigration would be throttled once numbers pass 9.5 million and the government would have to exit the EU free-movement agreement should the cap be breached. Major Swiss employers and trade bodies warn the measure would cause acute labour shortages and endanger more than 120 bilateral deals with the EU. Mobility teams should prepare for possible quota shocks and parallel immigration regimes.

China’s National Immigration Administration predicts an unprecedented 2.05 million daily border crossings during the 15-23 February Spring-Festival rush—up 14 % on 2025. Expanded visa-free entry, stronger outbound demand and extra airline capacity underpin the surge, while airports and land checkpoints are boosting staffing and e-gate capacity to keep queues manageable.