Austria Residence Permit for Cross-Border Commuters
Austria will launch a new residence permit on 1 December 2025 for third-country nationals who live in a neighboring country, hold permanent residence and full labor market access there, and regularly commute to work in Austrian border districts. Read more.
Australia Launches Online Support Service for Individuals with Expired Visas
Effective immediately, Australia has introduced a new online support service to help individuals with expired visas or those holding a Bridging visa E resolve their immigration status more quickly and securely. Read more.
Bermuda Reinforces Immigration Penalties for Non-Compliance
On 17 November 2025, Bermuda issued a public reminder about the penalties for breaching immigration laws and work permit conditions. Read more.
Ontario, Canada, Introduces New Review Criteria for Provincial Nominee Applications
Effective October 31, 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has implemented new review criteria that expand the discretion of program officers when assessing applications. These changes improve alignment between immigration nominations and Ontario’s evolving labor market needs. Read more.
Denmark Fee Refunds Offered for Closed Cases
On 14 November 2025, Denmark announced that, in some instances, involving first-time residence permit applications that were closed without processing. Read more.
EU Council Approves New Rules for Suspending Visa-Free Travel
On 17 November 2025, the Council of the European Union (EU) formally approved new rules that strengthen the EU’s visa suspension mechanism. Read more.
Malaysia’s New Requirement to Shorten Expatriate Passes Before Departure
Malaysia has introduced a new requirement for companies managing expatriates. Employers must now shorten expatriate passes before the individual’s permanent departure from Malaysia. Read more.
New Zealand Launches NZeTA Trial for Pacific Visitors from Australia
New Zealand has announced that, as of 3 November 2025, citizens of Pacific Islands Forum countries who hold an eligible Australian visa and travel directly from Australia may enter New Zealand for visits of up to three months using a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). Read more.
New Zealand Seasonal Visa Under Accredited Employer Work Visa
New Zealand announced that from 8 December 2025, employers can hire workers under two new visa categories: the Global Workforce Seasonal Visa (GWSV) and the Peak Seasonal Visa (PSV). Read more.
South Africa’s New Digital Visa Scheme for the Film and Creative Industry
South Africa launched the Screen Talent and Global Entertainment Scheme (STAGES), effective 13 November 2025. The program creates a fully digital platform to expedite visa processing for international film and creative production companies. Read more.
UK Launches Consultation on Earned Settlement Reforms
The United Kingdom (UK) Home Office today unveiled its plans to overhaul immigration settlement rules. It launched a consultation on its proposal for the criteria to be considered, following the increase in the baseline qualifying period to ten years, as well as other previously announced criteria. Read more.
