Global Mobility News from VisaHQ

Brazil’s Federal Police has, for the first time, published the names of foreigners fined for missing the 30-day registration deadline, signalling a tougher enforcement stance. The public “name-and-shame” list raises reputational stakes for multinationals and pushes HR teams to tighten arrival-tracking and PF appointment workflows.

The UAE’s immigration authority has bundled the year’s 11 most significant visa reforms into one factsheet. Highlights include sponsor-free five-year visit visas, broader Golden-Visa criteria and new salary bands for family sponsorship—critical reading for HR and mobility teams.

Australia has welcomed the first 27 Tuvaluan nationals under the Falepili Mobility Pathway, the world’s first climate-migration visa tied to a treaty. The program offers permanent residence, full work rights and a path to citizenship for up to 280 Tuvaluans annually, boosting regional soft power and opening a new talent channel for employers. Businesses must adjust HR and compliance frameworks as visa holders enjoy the same pay and mobility rights as locals.

California and 19 other states filed suit on 13 December to block a new US$100,000 filing fee for every H-1B visa. They say the fee exceeds statutory authority and would harm tech, health-care and university employers. The case adds momentum to multiple lawsuits challenging the rule and could upend FY-2027 hiring plans.

Dense fog triggered the Gulf’s worst winter aviation disruption, delaying 1,310 flights on 10 December. Dubai International responded by asking travellers to be at the airport three hours early and to use biometric Smart-Gates. The advisory affects corporate itineraries, cargo schedules and holiday traffic as DXB braces for record December volumes.

Austria will prolong and hard-wire its land-border checks until at least 15 June 2026, shifting from rolling Schengen derogations to a permanent, three-layer security system. The move tightens mobility for cross-border commuters and freight operators and requires companies to revise trip timings and posted-worker documentation.

Madrid has asked London to create a reciprocal 90-day work-visa exemption for qualified professionals. If agreed, the deal would remove red tape for short on-site assignments and plug a post-Brexit mobility gap, offering cost and time savings for multinationals that rotate talent between Spain and the UK.

Austria has converted its temporary border controls with Czechia into a long-term “Three-Wall” security strategy, keeping document checks in place until 15 June 2026. The move lengthens travel times for commuters, tourists and freight while signalling a harder line on Schengen free movement. Czech businesses warn of higher logistics costs and urge Prague to seek an EU-level review.

Air-space closures on 8 December forced about 30 Israel-bound aircraft to divert to Cyprus, stranding 2,400 passengers. Cyprus’ ‘Estia’ emergency protocol provided hotels, shuttles and meal vouchers within hours, while immigration issued 48-hour transit stamps to avoid visa breaches. The incident highlights Cyprus’ growing role as the region’s diversion hub and prompts companies to add Larnaca contingency plans to their travel-risk playbooks.

A new decree effective 12 December mandates the deportation of any foreigner convicted of drug offences and boosts minimum jail time to five years. Companies must tighten compliance and warn staff, as immigration records will be flagged and future re-entry barred.

The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has warned that Indian applicants seeking B-1/B-2 visitor visas will be denied if consular officers suspect their real goal is to give birth in the United States so their child gains citizenship. The reminder tightens scrutiny of pregnant travellers and signals tougher enforcement against visa misuse, requiring Indian businesses to document legitimate short-term travel purposes more thoroughly.