Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply to health-care and social-service professionals on 20 February 2026, with a CRS cut-off of 467. The draw is part of Ottawa’s category-based selection strategy to relieve critical labour shortages in Canada’s health sector and offers employers a deeper pool of permanent-resident candidates.([cicnews.com](https://www.cicnews.com/2026/02/latest-express-entry-draw-sees-thousands-of-healthcare-professionals-invited-0271898.html?utm_source=openai))

Germany has informed Brussels that systematic border controls with all nine neighbouring Schengen countries will remain in force until at least 15 September 2026. The government cites security and migration pressures, while logistics and business-travel stakeholders brace for continued spot checks and minor but unavoidable delays.

President Karol Nawrocki has signed a law scrapping the 2022 special act that gave Ukrainian refugees exceptional rights. From 5 March they must regularise their stay under standard Polish immigration law, although permission to remain is extended until 2027. Employers will need regular work permits, special schooling support will end, and free accommodation will be restricted. The reform normalises Poland’s immigration framework but increases compliance work for businesses and risks administrative bottlenecks.

Legislation published on 19 February increases Belgium’s citizenship application fee to €1,000 and introduces stricter income and age criteria for family reunification. The reforms will raise the cost of long-term talent retention and could delay dependent visas for expatriate employees, requiring companies to review relocation budgets and timelines.

From 17 February 2026, citizens of Canada and the UK can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, cutting costs and lead-times for business trips and family visits. The move lifts China’s unilateral waiver list to 50 countries and is expected to boost air capacity and commercial exchanges throughout 2026.

U.S. Travel applauded a year of real improvements—from more consular staff to faster customs lanes—but cautioned Congress that a proposed US$250 “visa integrity fee” and extra social-media checks for Visa Waiver visitors could wipe out those gains, deterring millions of travellers and billions in spending. Companies should budget for possible higher visa costs and longer lead-times while lobbying policymakers for smarter, targeted security measures.

Switzerland has green-lit a nationwide upgrade of mobile border checks, deploying licence-plate readers and biometrics at key crossings. The move tightens security against irregular migration and trafficking while attempting to keep trade flows smooth—an important balance for the thousands of firms that rely on “just-in-time” shipments and commuter talent from neighbouring EU states.

Effective 20 February 2026, the U.S. has suspended all immigrant-visa services in Brazil, freezing thousands of green-card cases and forcing companies to seek alternative assignment strategies. Tourist, student and temporary work visas are not affected, but long-term transfers will face significant delays until Washington reviews Brazil’s repatriation cooperation in August.

The UAE now wants six—rather than three—months of bank statements from Remote Work Visa applicants, effective 27 January 2026. The change raises the documentary bar but leaves the monthly income floor at US $3,500. Employers and digital nomads must plan for longer lead-times, yet the visa remains comparatively flexible and sponsor-free, keeping Dubai and Abu Dhabi attractive bases for high-earning remote workers.

Germany has activated a nationwide digital visa portal that lets employers and skilled-worker applicants complete every immigration step online. Early data show processing times for Blue-Card and ICT permits have fallen by more than half, giving HR teams faster, more predictable hiring cycles and reducing paperwork. The reform underscores Berlin’s bid to stay competitive for global talent amid acute labour shortages.

IRCC has added a Transport category to Express Entry, prioritising pilots, aircraft mechanics, avionics specialists and heavy-duty automotive technicians with at least 12-months’ recent experience. The move aims to ease skilled-labour shortages in aviation and logistics and offers a new fast-track to permanent residence for tradespeople in high-demand roles.([cicnews.com](https://www.cicnews.com/2026/02/who-qualifies-for-permanent-residence-under-canadas-new-transport-category-0271850.html?utm_source=openai))

Belgium’s union confederations have called a 24-hour general strike for 12 March, prompting Brussels Airport to warn of mass flight cancellations and rail operators to scale back service. The walk-out, linked to pension and wage disputes, threatens to strand travellers at the end of Europe’s school-holiday period. Businesses are already rerouting staff and shipments, underscoring the importance of robust contingency planning.

France has closed the door on walk-in and informal visa bookings, making the France-Visas website the sole gateway for appointments from 20 February 2026. The digital-first policy is designed to cut fraud, shorten queues and give consulates a clear, auditable pipeline of applicants—yet it also requires travellers to organise documentation earlier. Mobility teams should review assignment lead-times and tell employees to ignore unofficial “priority slot” offers.

Heavy snowfall forced Vienna International Airport to suspend all flights on 20 February, triggering more than 230 cancellations and widespread diversions. Operators hope to restart limited operations around midday, but delays could stretch through the weekend, disrupting passenger itineraries, cargo flows and regional business connections. Mobility managers should prepare contingency plans and explore rail or road options.

A leaked ICE memo outlines a US$38 billion plan to add 92,600 detention beds in giant warehouse-style facilities, while a Fifth Circuit decision upholds indefinite no-bond detention for anyone who ever crossed the border illegally. The twin moves, enabled by last year’s border-security megabill, signal an aggressive enforcement posture that could affect millions of long-term U.S. residents and heighten I-9 compliance risks for employers.