Canada
Temporary operational measures for in-Canada Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) work permit applications
Effective 9 June 2026 until 31 December 2026, individuals in Canada who applied for permanent residence (PR) under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) may submit alternative proof of PR submission, rather than an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR), in support of their work permit applications.
Officers may temporarily accept alternative evidence of PR submission for PNP employer‑specific work permits, PNP Bridging Open Work Permits, and eligible spousal open work permits for spouses/ partners of PNP principal PR applicants.
Officers may be satisfied by either of the following in place of an AOR, only when an AOR has not yet been issued at the time the applicant submits their work permit application:
- A copy of the email confirming submission of the PR application through the online portal, together with proof of payment of applicable PR fees, or
- Confirmation in IRCC systems that an APR has been received and remains pending, including prospective applications visible in GCMS
This flexibility applies only to in‑Canada processing and does not modify underlying program eligibility requirements or the outcome of R10 completeness or eligibility assessments. Work permit applications submitted outside of Canada must continue to require a PR AOR before the work permit can be processed.
These temporary measures are intended to support in‑Canada work permit processing for PNP applicants affected by prolonged timelines for PR application completeness checks.
Extended completeness checks delay the issuance of an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR) for PR applications, which is a mandatory eligibility requirement in several work permit categories to demonstrate that a PR application is in process.
The absence of an AOR has led to refusals of in-Canada work permit applications, which may in turn cause work interruptions, loss of temporary resident status, and increased administrative burden for provinces and territories due to the need to re-issue nominations.
Quebec
Experience Programme to reopen for two years
The Minister of Immigration, Francisation and Integration has announced the reactivation of the Quebec Experience Program (QEP) for two years.
The QEP will be reinstated from 2 July 2026 to 2 July 2028. In order to respect Quebec’s capacity and immigration targets, applications will be received in stages. A first stage will be open from 2 July to 31 October 2026, aimed at people who have obtained either a Quebec diploma or accumulated work experience eligible for the QEP at the time of its abolition, on 19 November 2025.
- For the Quebec Graduates component, applicants must have obtained, in Quebec, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s or a doctorate, a diploma of technical college studies, a diploma of professional studies, alone or followed by a certificate of professional specialization, of at least 1800 hours, dated19November2025;
- For the Temporary Foreign Workers component, applicants must have obtained work experience in Quebec in the category “Training, studies, experience, responsibilities” 0, 1, 2 or 3 within the meaning of the NOC for a period of at least two years, dated19November2025.
Selection conditions
For the Quebec Graduates component:
- Staying in Quebec at the time of submission of the application;
- Have temporarily stayed in Quebec for the main purpose of studying there and for at least half of the duration of his or her study program;
- Have obtained an eligible diploma in the three years preceding the submission of the application;
- Have a level 5 written French knowledge and level 7 oral French knowledge;
- Not having been the holder of a scholarship with a condition of return to the country of origin at the end of studies.
For the Temporary Foreign Workers component:
- Hold an eligible job at the time of application;
- Have a level 7 oral knowledge of French.
For both components of the program:
- Intend to settle in Quebec to work there;
- Demonstrate the learning of democratic values and Quebec values;
- Commit to provide for his essential needs and, where appropriate, those of the de facto joint person and dependent children included in the application for permanent selection.
There is no limit on the number of applications to be received during the period of receipt of applications from 2 July to 31 October 2026.
During the period of receipt of applications to the QEP, the number of invitations to the PSTQ will be reduced and will be aimed in particular at people who are not eligible to apply for the QEP, for example those who practice professions in categories FÉER 4 and 5; and those who have not yet acquired two years of work experience. From November 2026, invitations will resume depending on the number of applications received at the QEP.
The reopening of the QEP is a temporary measure. Eventually, the PSTQ will once again become the only way to the permanent selection of skilled workers
Further information is available here.
Denmark
Updated income statistics applicable to applications submitted from 1 July 2026
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) uses income statistics made by the Confederation of Danish Employers (DA) in the processing of applications to decide if an offered job is within the Danish standards for salary. This applies to the Pay Limit Scheme, the Positive List and the Fast Track Scheme, among other routes.
The new income statistics contain information from the first quarter of 2026 and will take effect for applications submitted from 1 July 2026. The income statistics are updated each quarter and It is expected that the next update will take effect from 1 October 2026.
Applications for a residence and work permit submitted after 30 June 2026 will be assessed based on the income statistics for Q1 2026. Applications submitted between 1 April and 30 June 2026 will be assessed based on the income statistics for Q4 2025.
SIRI will usually assume that the salary corresponds to Danish standards, and will not make further assessment, if it is stated in the application form and employment contract that the employer is covered by a collective agreement.
SIRI will assess whether the salary corresponds to Danish standards when the employer is a member of an employers’ organisation, but the employment relationship is not covered by a collective agreement. If the salary is just above the regular pay limit, SIRI will generally assume that the salary corresponds to Danish standards.
In cases where the employment relationship is not covered by a collective agreement and the employer is not a member of an employers’ organisation, SIRI will assess whether the salary corresponds to Danish standards up to approximately DKK 80,500, using the income statistics from the DA as a guideline.
Finland
Citizenship test requirement forthcoming
The Finnish Parliament has approved changes to the Citizenship Act, introducing stricter requirements for acquiring Finnish citizenship. The new rules enter into force on 1 January 2027 and will apply to applications submitted on or after 1 March 2027.
In the future, acquiring citizenship will require sufficient knowledge of and integration into Finnish society. Applicants can meet the requirement for sufficient knowledge of Finnish society by passing the new citizenship test. Alternatively, sufficient knowledge can be demonstrated by completing the matriculation examination in Finnish or Swedish, or by earning a Finnish- or Swedish-language higher education degree in Finland.
The requirement for sufficient knowledge of Finnish society applies to applicants aged 18–64. Exemptions from the requirement may be granted in some cases for reasons of health or disability, or for other very serious reasons.
The test will cover topics such as key legislation governing life in Finnish society, fundamental and human rights, Finnish history and culture, as well as questions of equality, including equality between genders. You can take the test in Finnish or Swedish.
All applications submitted before 1 March 2027 via the Enter Finland online service or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service will be processed according to the rules of the current Citizenship Act.
Ireland
Amendments to Policy on Non-EEA Family Reunification
With effect from 12 June 2026, amendments have been made to the revised non-EEA Family Reunification Policy and to Family Reunification for those granted International Protection.
The main changes for Irish nationals and certain non-EEA nationals are:
- General Employment Permit holders and other Category C sponsors will be required to provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that they are in a position to accommodate their joining family members, while all sponsors will be ineligible if they are in certain supported accommodation.
- The financial thresholds for Irish citizens applying to be joined by spouses and children are also increasing. A sponsor must now show a gross income over three years of EUR 75,000 (EUR 25,000 per year) an increase from EUR 40,000 (EUR 13,333 per year).
- Other financial thresholds will increase in line with indexation.
The main changes for people granted international protection are:
- People granted international protection status will be required to wait two years from the date they were granted protection before becoming eligible to apply for family reunification under the new International Protection Act.
- Such sponsors must also demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to support family members without placing an undue burden on the State. There are certain exceptions to this where the sponsor is a minor.
- The sponsor must also not be in receipt of certain social protection payments or housing supports and must not owe a debt to the State for a defined period prior to submitting an application.
- Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, regardless of when they received their declaration, will no longer be eligible under the Family Reunification Policy, unless they are applying for family members where the relationship formed after they entered Ireland. (Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection can still apply for Family Reunification under the International Protection Act).
India
Stricter registration rules for foreign nationals
The government has announced amendments to the Immigration and Foreigners Rules, requiring foreign nationals arriving in India for up to 180 days to register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) and Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) before the expiry of their visa if they intend to extend their stay in the country.
Previously, registration had to be completed within 14 days after the end of the 180-day period.
Moreover, for the first time, an online appeal system has been added to the rules. A person affected by any order can now file an online appeal with the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of receiving the order. The Commissioner will have to give a decision after hearing the concerned party, and the matter should be resolved within 60 days.
Jordan
Foreign worker regularization drive launched
The government has announced details of a decision to legalize and regularize the immigration status of non-Jordanian workers of all nationalities, effective 15 June to 30 September 2026. Employers are urged to take advantage of the exemption period to regularize the status of non-Jordanian workers and ensure their employment remains lawful.
The decision excludes non-Jordanian workers employed in the garment and knitwear manufacturing sector and complementary production-input industries operating in development zones, Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs) and free zones, as well as workers holding permits in specialized-skills professions.
The Ministry of Labor, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Public Security Directorate, will carry out a comprehensive inspection campaign during the regularization period to identify labour violations across all sectors.
Following the end of the grace period, deportation measures will be taken against any non-Jordanian worker whose work permit has expired for three months or more and who fails to regularize their status.
During the regularization period, the following measures are in place:
- Employers and non-Jordanian workers across all economic sectors, including domestic workers, are exempted from 50 percent of accumulated work permit fees for previous periods.
- A full exemption is granted from late-payment penalties associated with renewing expired work permits or transferring workers between employers. In addition, non-Jordanian workers covered under the Residence and Foreigners Affairs Law No. 24 of 1973 and its amendments will receive a full exemption from overstay fines if they regularize their status during the specified period.
- Only the work permit fee for one year, or part of a year, related to the worker’s most recent valid permit will be collected.
- For workers wishing to permanently leave Jordan under a “departure without return” arrangement, all previous work permit fees and fines will be waived. They will also be exempted from residency overstay penalties, provided their files are settled before departure.
- Departing workers are allowed to receive their social security entitlements directly from the Social Security Corporation.
- Employers are permitted to hire non-Jordanian workers who previously benefited from exemption programs or who opted for permanent departure but remain in Jordan, enabling them to obtain work permits and benefit from the new exemptions.
- Non-Jordanian nationals who entered Jordan in previous years for non-work reasons are allowed to obtain work permits for the first time.
- The transfer of non-Jordanian workers between economic sectors and activities is permitted, subject to specific conditions. Workers holding permits in specialized-skills professions are not allowed to move to other occupations, while recruited workers who entered Jordan after February 25, 2025, are not eligible for transfers.
- Workers holding permits as specialized skills workers will not be allowed to transfer to other professions except under self-employment permits.
- Holders of self-employment permits may transfer to building services occupations and workers in the garment and knitwear sector, whose permits have expired or been cancelled for two years or more may transfer to any employer and work in permitted, restricted or specialized-skills occupations without obtaining clearance from a previous employer.
- Workers in all sectors may transfer to self-employment permits, while maintaining self-employment as a closed category from which transfers are not permitted.
- The decision eliminates the requirement for a clearance certificate from a previous employer when a worker transfers after a permit expires or is cancelled.
- Workers reported as absconding by previous employers may also benefit from the decision without obtaining employer approval, provided they remain in Jordan and their work permit expired more than one year ago.
- Workers whose recruitment contracts have expired before completing work permit procedures may obtain permits, and workers already present in Jordan who were recruited as replacements for other workers may be employed.
- Domestic workers previously reported absent and subsequently replaced may transfer to a new employer without obtaining approval from the former employer, provided the absence report is withdrawn before submitting the application.
- Domestic workers reported absent but not replaced may also transfer to a new employer after two years have elapsed from the date of the report, subject to the withdrawal of the absence notification.
- Female domestic workers who married a Jordanian citizen and changed their residency status may obtain new work permits following divorce, widowhood or if they wish to return to employment.
- Individuals who entered Jordan for employment purposes may obtain domestic worker permits, subject to Ministry of Interior approval.
- Domestic workers whose permits have expired or been cancelled may transfer to another economic sector if more than two years have passed since the expiration of their last permit, without requiring approval from a previous employer.
Kuwait
15-year residency now available for foreign investors
On 15 June 2026, the Ministry of Interior announced that the Council of Ministers, in coordination with the General Department of Residency Affairs and Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA), issued Resolution No. (651) of 2026, introducing a new regulatory framework that allows eligible foreign investors and their immediate family members to obtain residency permits for up to fifteen years.
The enhanced, 15-year residency permits are available for owners of licensed investment entities, accredited partners, accredited senior executives and their family members.
Entities should meet the prescribed minimum requirement for employing Kuwaiti nationals, commit to conducting their actual business operations within the country, have capital for approved investment activities of one million Kuwaiti dinars and maintain an investment value of at least five million dinars.
New Zealand
Final details about changes to the Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa and work to residence visas
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced final details on changes to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) ahead of these changes taking effect on 24 August 2026. In addition, INZ is also announcing changes to the wage rate rules for work to residence visas.
Details of the final changes include:
- clarifying how wage thresholds are applied and that changes to wage assessments will apply across all relevant Skilled Residence visas
- updating evidential requirements for qualifications
- removing the 120-credit requirement for Trade and Technician qualifications gained overseas
- confirming that Trades and Technician qualifications from New Zealand must have at least 120-credits, which can be made up of more than 1 qualification (where lower qualifications are a prerequisite for higher)
- clarifying that self-employment cannot be counted as directly relevant work experience under the 2 new pathways, and
- strengthening settings that support genuine skilled employment.
The SMC is New Zealand’s main residence pathway for skilled migrants. In September 2025, the Government announced changes to help New Zealand employers attract and retain skilled workers and support long-term economic growth.
These include:
- new residence pathways for skilled migrants which are the:
- Trades and Technician pathway, and
- Skilled Work Experience pathway
- changes to better reflect the value of qualifications completed in New Zealand, and
- changes to simplify existing settings.
In more depth:
Skilled Migrant Category wage threshold rule clarification
From 24 August 2026, most SMC applicants will only need to meet 1 SMC wage threshold, rather than 1 rate for their work experience and a higher rate when they apply for residence.
Applicants will still need to meet a wage threshold when they apply for residence, however that wage threshold will generally be the one in effect when they started accruing skilled work experience. They will not have to meet the SMC wage threshold in effect at the time they are invited to apply for residence.
A grace period will now apply where the SMC wage threshold increases before a migrant starts work. If a migrant begins skilled work experience within 5 months of their work visa being granted, the wage threshold that applied on the day the visa was granted will be used, even if the required wage threshold has increased since then.
This simplifies the process and provides greater certainty for applicants, particularly where wages increase over time.
Aligning skilled residence pathways
Changes are also being made to work to residence visas to align with the updated SMC wage settings. These changes apply to the:
- Work to Residence Visa
- Care Workforce Work to Residence Visa, and
- Transport Work to Residence Visa.
Applicants can now use the relevant wage rate that applied for their occupation when their work visa was granted to begin counting work experience in New Zealand, provided they started earning at least that rate within 5 months of their visa being approved, and this was within the maximum time they must complete their work experience (for example 30 months before their resident visa application for a Work to Residence Visa).
Applicants will not need to meet a higher wage rate at the time they apply for residence if the wage rate for their occupation has increased since they began working. They must instead continue to be paid at least the wage rate that applied for their occupation when they first started accruing work experience in New Zealand in acceptable employment.
Applicants for work to residence visas must still complete 24 months of work experience in New Zealand within the 30 months immediately before applying for residence.
Qualification evidential requirements clarified
Applicants claiming points for Level 8 or Level 9 qualifications, except if claiming 5 points for a New Zealand masters, must now also hold a supporting bachelor’s, or an equivalent undergraduate degree.
Applicants must provide evidence of both qualifications. Evidence for a bachelor’s degree must include the qualification certificate and academic transcript.
For overseas qualifications, an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) is generally required unless the qualification is on the List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (LQEA). An IQA is not required for supporting bachelor’s degrees.
Applicants claiming 5 points for a New Zealand master’s degree do not need to provide evidence of holding a bachelor’s degree.
The LQEA has also been updated to reflect changes to the SMC points system. Points for bachelor’s degrees increase from 3 to 4, while points for master’s and doctoral degrees remain unchanged. Points for Washington and Sydney Accord accredited qualifications also increase from 3 to 4 points.
Trades and Technician pathway update
Applicants under the Trades and Technician pathway must hold a relevant Level 4 or higher qualification that is recognised on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).
- New Zealand qualifications must have at least 120 credits. Credit information is readily available for New Zealand qualifications and provides a consistent, objective way for INZ to confirm the qualification meets the pathway settings. These assessments are straightforward for New Zealand qualifications and will continue to be completed by INZ.
- Overseas qualifications must have an IQA that assesses the qualification as Level 4 or higher. The 120-credit requirement does not apply to relevant overseas qualifications. While the IQA does not explicitly assess the number of credits, NZQA considers credit value during the IQA process (for example, to be comparable to Level 4, a qualification requires at least 40 credits at Level 4).
For New Zealand qualifications, the 120-credit requirement can be made up of more than 1 qualification (where lower qualifications are a prerequisite for higher).
For example, a person could hold a Level 4 qualification (which will have at least 40 credits at Level 4) and a Level 3 qualification of 80 credits that was a prerequisite for the Level 4 qualification. Credits from both these qualifications can be counted towards the 120-credit requirement.
Self-employment restrictions
Applicants under the Trades and Technician and Skilled Work Experience pathways must provide evidence of directly relevant work experience to demonstrate they are suitably skilled and meet requirements for residence.
The new pathways require a high standard of evidence for work experience, including independently verifiable documents.
While tax records may be available to support claims of self-employment in a particular occupation, other independent evidence relating to the nature and skill of the work experience may be unavailable or difficult to verify with confidence.
To ensure the integrity of the new pathways, evidence of self-employment cannot be used to meet requirements for directly relevant work experience.
Strengthening settings that support genuine skilled employment
Immigration instructions have been updated to provide a clearer definition of genuine employment which is required for all skilled residence visas (for example, the SMC Resident Visa, Work to Residence Visa and Straight to Residence Visa). This includes requiring that offers of employment must be ‘available and ongoing’ and have a ‘genuine need to be based in New Zealand’.
The new instructions broadly align the genuine employment assessment for skilled residence with the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) definition.
For the majority of skilled residence applications, employment is genuine and the clarification will have no impact.
The change will provide INZ with clearer grounds to decline applications where there are strong concerns and the employment is identified as being non-genuine.
Switzerland
Government lifts visa restrictions on Ethiopia
Switzerland has decided to lift the visa restrictions it has applied to Ethiopia since April 2024. The Federal Council adopted the measure at its meeting on 12 June 2026, following a decision by the Council of the European Union (EU) to reinstate certain visa requirements for Ethiopia in response to the country’s improved cooperation on returns.
Two years ago, the EU suspended certain provisions of the Visa Code for Ethiopia because the country was not cooperating sufficiently on the return of its nationals staying illegally in the Schengen area. As this constituted a development of the Schengen acquis, Switzerland followed suit.
Given the marked improvement in Ethiopia’s cooperation on returns, the EU reactivated these Visa Code provisions in May 2026. Switzerland has likewise noted a significant improvement on returns and, as a Schengen-associated state, supported this measure.
With immediate effect, Switzerland is reintroducing the following facilitations for Ethiopian nationals: the option to waive supporting documents, exemption from visa fees for holders of diplomatic and service passports, the issuing of multiple-entry visas, and the processing of visa applications within 15 days.
United Kingdom
Home Office extends use of expired Biometric Residence Permits
On 8 June 2026, the Home Office updated its guidance, extending the period that expired Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) can be used to prove identity on the UK Immigration: ID Check app from 18 months to 24 months after the expiry date, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.
All BRPs have now expired, but this does not mean that the corresponding Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) statuses have also expired.
The Home Office is replacing physical documents, such as BRPs and vignette stickers, with a digital record of immigration status known as an eVisa.
Those who have permission to stay in the UK longer than the expiry date of their BRP need to create an account to get an eVisa. Access to the eVisa will not be automatically set up.
The Home Office advises that these individuals should keep their expired BRP as it may help with future applications to stay in the UK.
The extended deadline for using expired physical residence documents does not apply to residents those who have travelled outside the UK. They need an eVisa to demonstrate their permission to return to the UK.
United States
Federal court pauses block on USD 100,000 H-1B visa fee
On 12 June 2026, a federal district court issued a temporary administrative stay, pausing its 8 June order blocking the USD 100,000 application fee for a new H-1B visa.
The pause took effect immediately and will remain in place until the appeals court rules on the government’s anticipated request for a stay of the 8 June decision, which must be filed by 18 June 2026. If the motion for a stay is granted by the appeals court, the government will be able to require payment of the fee during the continuing appeal process.
While the current administrative pause is effective, the government is allowed to require payment of the USD 100,000 fee for H-1B applications.
On 8 June 2026, a federal district court issued an order declaring unlawful and vacating government policy which implements Presidential Proclamation 10973, Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers.
The presidential proclamation issued in September 2025 requires all H-1B petitions filed with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to be accompanied by a payment of USD 100,000.
The government is expected to appeal the decision. If a stay of the ruling is granted pending an appeal, the fee requirement could be reinstated without notice.