Immigration Insights

May 31, 2018

The Israeli Ministry of Interior (MOI) has implemented amended rules for the new “Hi-Tech” (HIT) Visa. Under the amended rules, all applicants must now apply for their HIT Visas through Israeli overseas consular posts.

May 30, 2018

Latest news on European Union (EU) plans to modernise the Schengen Visa system for business travel. Included are updates on proposed short-stay visa application process, ETIAS system, EES system, and VIS system.

May 24, 2018

How will Meghan Markle immigrate to the United Kingdom now that she has married Prince Harry in a Royal Wedding and become a princess? A leading global immigration firm takes a light-hearted look.

May 23, 2018

The Greek government has published a law implementing the European Union (EU) Directive 2014/66 “on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer”.Further clarification on the application of the law is expected in the coming weeks.

May 23, 2018

On 23rd May 2018, the Swiss Federal Council confirmed the initial list of occupations for which, from 1 July 2018, employers wishing to hire foreign nationals will have to test the Swiss labour market by advertising.

May 23, 2018

The government of the United Arab Emirates announced on 20 May 2018 that investors and professionals, such as doctors, engineers and researchers and their families will be granted ten-year residence visas. Currently, residence visas are valid for up to three years.

May 22, 2018

On 17th May 2018, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) announced that it had awarded a contract to French outsourcing specialist Sopra Steria, to deliver a new service for applications for work and study visas, settlement and citizenship from within the UK, from October 2018.

May 22, 2018

Every foreign national in Kenya who is the holder of a work permit is required to visit the Immigration Department to have their documents verified between 21 May 2018 and 21 July 2018.

May 17, 2018

A look at the business climate and corporate immigration system of The Netherlands and evaluation of the opportunities for companies expanding internationally. The second in Newland Chase's "Going Global" series.

May 17, 2018

The Migration Directorate in Turkey has recently introduced changes to its rules for short-term (touristic) residence permits, with the stated aim of limiting the number of foreign nationals illegally engaging in work while holding these permits.

May 16, 2018

On 7th May 2015, with immediate effect, the Italian Ministry of Labour clarified that applicants for residence permits for family reasons, which allow employment or self-employment without the need for a subordinate work permit, can start work as soon as they have submitted the application.

May 16, 2018

The Qatari authorities have announced a new regulation that requires foreign nationals applying to renew their residence permits or amend their employment contracts for engineering positions to first register with the Engineering Committee of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME).

May 15, 2018

The period for foreign nationals to carry out address registration in the Russian cities of Kaliningrad, Kazan, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Saint Petersburg, Samara, Saransk, Sochi, Volgograd and Yekaterinburg during the FIFA World Cup has been increased from 24 hours to three days.

May 14, 2018

On 8th May the Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2017 was debated and passed by the Senate. The legislation must return for further debate and passage by the House of Representatives and has not yet received Royal Assent. The date of implementation is yet to be confirmed.

May 11, 2018

The Home Office has updated its guidance on leave to remain applications for Turkish businesspeople under the European Communities Accession Agreement (ECAA or Ankara Agreement), and from 16th March 2018, no new applications for settlement under the ECAA business persons category will be accepted.

May 10, 2018

Effective 1st May 2018, the minimum monthly salary required to qualify for a new EU Blue Card has increased, from CZK 39,700 to CZK 44,256 (about USD 2060), an increase of approximately 11.5%.

May 10, 2018

Effective 1 May 2018, EU citizens who need assistance or advice while travelling or residing outside the EU, where there is no embassy or consulate from their own country (i.e., they are “unrepresented”), are entitled to seek help from the embassy or consulate of any other EU Member State.

May 9, 2018

Starting in 2019, the new bilateral Youth Mobility Arrangement between Canada and Portugal will authorise up to 2,000 Canadian nationals aged 18 to 35 to live and work in Portugal, and up to 2,000 Portuguese nationals aged 18 to 35 to live and work in Canada for periods of up to two years.

May 9, 2018

When is a business visa enough, and when is a work or employment visa or permit required? A discussion of global corporate immigration requirements for companies and employees, and a list of permissible activities under business visas and work visas.

May 2, 2018

Effective 1st April 2018, EU Blue Card holders in the Netherlands whose employment is terminated are entitled to a “search period” of up to three months to find a new job as long as their residence permit card is still valid, in line with the three-month period available to highly skilled migrants.