Category: Immigration Insights

ARGENTINA: Visa-Free Business Travel Introduced for 35 Countries

June 2, 2017

Argentina has issued a resolution which allows visa-free business travel for nationals that are part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).  This means they will not need to apply for a business visa if their stay is for a duration of up to 90 days. Please note that normal business activities are […]

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RUSSIA: Ban on Employment of Turkish Nationals Lifted, Visa Restrictions Eased

June 2, 2017

Turkish nationals can once more be employed in Russia, and enter Russia visa-free for short business trips. On 31st May 2017, the President signed an order lifting many of the sanctions imposed on Turkey by Russia in November 2017. Background Presidential Order No. 583 of 28th November 2015 introduced a package of sanctions against Turkey, […]

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SPAIN: New Notification and Document Storage Requirements for Posted Workers

June 2, 2017

Effective 29th May 2017, employers posting workers to Spain must comply with new notification and document retention requirements. Spain has implemented EU Directive 2014/67 67 (concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services) by amending Act 45/1999. New Requirements Employers must now submit the posting notification electronically – although the […]

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AUSTRALIA: New Permanent Residence Route for New Zealand Nationals

June 2, 2017

The Australian Government announced last year that, as of 1st July 2017, there will be a separate pathway for New Zealand citizens to apply for permanent residency and then Australian citizenship. Who is Eligible? New Zealand Special Category Visa (SCV) holders who arrived after 26th February 2001, who have lived in Australia for the last […]

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MALAYSIA: MDEC Announces Reclassification of Employment Pass Categories

June 1, 2017

Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) will implement reclassification of existing EP categories. The proposed change will be made effective on 1st September 2017. The Employment Services Division (ESD) of the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the same reorganisation in April, but MDEC has only now confirmed that […]

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UNITED STATES: Travel Ban Remains on Hold As Federal Court of Appeals Upholds Injunction

June 1, 2017

On 25th May 2017, the Federal Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, issued a decision that maintained the injunction on President Trump’s executive order travel ban. The court held that the travel ban, which sought to restrict nationals of six countries from being issued visas and traveling to the US, violated the US Constitution’s First Amendment protection […]

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Global Immigration Update – Tuesday 30th May 2017

May 30, 2017

In this week’s edition, we advise that Ireland has relaxed its cohabitation requirement for de facto partners, and report that stricter enforcement of laws in Serbia now limits assignment duration. We also bring you the latest immigration news from Switzerland, Ghana and Russia.

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SERBIA: Stricter Enforcement of Law Limits Assignments

May 25, 2017

The National Employment Service of Serbia has begun strictly enforcing a provision of the 2014 law on Employment of Foreigners which limits the duration of work permits for intra-company transfer (ICT) and assigned personnel to one year. Serbian Work Permits A work permit for assigned personnel or intra-company transfer assignments of over 90 days can […]

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GHANA: Stricter Enforcement of Company Document Requirements for Permit Applications

May 25, 2017

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has begun to enforce an existing requirement for the employer to submit an annual report or audited accounts in support of work and residence permit applications. The requirement existed previously but was not strictly enforced. Our advice Companies in Ghana submitting work and residence permit applications for foreign national employees […]

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IRELAND: Immigration Authorities Ease Cohabitation Requirement for De Facto Partners

May 25, 2017

A non-EEA national unmarried partner of an Irish national or Irish resident, who is seeking to obtain immigration permission, must now be able to demonstrate a genuine long-term relationship with documentary evidence of cohabitation with their sponsoring partner for at least one year, rather than two years, as previously. The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service […]

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