Canada
Government pauses Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that it is pausing the intake of new applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). IRCC will continue to process existing applications and plans to approve up to 15,000 people for permanent residence through the PGP in 2026, in line with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
Parents and grandparents continue to be able to visit their children and grandchildren in Canada through the super visa, which allows them to visit their children or grandchildren for 5 years at a time and provides multiple entries to Canada for up to 10 years. IRCC recently made the super visa more accessible by implementing changes to the income and health insurance requirements.
Interest in the PGP Program continues to exceed the spaces available under the levels plan. To manage this pressure responsibly, IRCC will not receive new interest to sponsor forms or invite potential sponsors to apply until further notice.
New Brunswick extends permanent residence programme for graduates to 2027
The New Brunswick government has announced that it is extending the Private Career College Graduate Pilot in a limited capacity until the end of 2027.
Initially a three-year project, the pilot scheme was originally launched in September 2022.
Once the pilot closes, no new nominations will be issued. Students who do not qualify for the Pilot or who will graduate after the pilot closure date are encouraged to review other New Brunswick provincial immigration programs and streams. Graduates with qualifying work experience and job offer from a New Brunswick employer may be eligible to apply when they complete their studies.
The New Brunswick Private Career College Graduate Pilot Program is for international graduates with the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to New Brunswick’s economy, and who are ready to live and work in New Brunswick permanently.
The objective of the pilot program is to make available an immigration pathway to international graduates from select one-year and two-year programs of study that lead to careers in priority occupations in Education and Social Development, Health, IT and Cybersecurity, Business Administration, and in Supply Chain and Logistics.
This pilot program is accessible to new graduates, from specific private career colleges in New Brunswick, that are not eligible for the federal Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) programme
Ireland
Measures for employers and international travellers regarding renewal of registration
On 13 July 2026, the Department of Justice announced that it is extending its provision for delayed Irish Residence Permit (IRP) renewal processing and issuing a Summer Travel Notice for international travellers, as the current processing time is in excess of 17 weeks for some categories.
Following the completion of the renewal of Registration it may take a further two weeks to receive the new IRP card.
Notice to Employers
A month earlier, the Department had announced, in a Notice to Employers, processing times of approximately 10 weeks and permission for employment permit holders (or those otherwise entitled to work) with pending IRP renewal applications to remain in Ireland for a maximum of 12 weeks.
Now, with even longer processing times, the Department has clarified that the existing Notice to Employers will continue to apply after 31 August 2026 to all expired IRP cards regardless of the number of weeks elapsed.
All permission renewals in the Republic of Ireland are processed online and applicants are issued with a receipt of application detailing the date of application and a unique application number (OREG number). Once the online renewal application has been approved an application completed e-mail is sent to the applicant. This email confirmation can be used as proof of registration while the applicant awaits the delivery of their new IRP card.
If, however, their current permission expired prior to submitting an application for renewal, this interim notice does not apply.
Summer Travel Notice
To facilitate Non EEA Nationals legally resident in the State who are required to renew their current permission and who wish to travel internationally during the summer period, the Minister is issuing a Travel Confirmation Notice, requesting carriers to allow individuals to travel on their recently expired IRP card where an application to renew their permission was submitted in advance of the expiry date of their IRP card.
Non-EEA Nationals in the State who are required to apply for a renewal of their IRP card may use their current recently expired IRP card to enable them to travel in confidence from 13 July 2026 to 31 August 2026, provided an application to renew their registration permission was submitted in advance of the expiry date of their IRP Card.
This Travel Confirmation Notice is valid from 13 July 2026 to 31 August 2026 only.
Note:
- Customers should download and print this notice and present it, along with their expired IRP card, and proof of renewal application (email confirmation which details the date of application) to immigration authorities and airlines if requested to do so.
- It is highly recommended that travellers contact their airline in advance of travel to ensure they are aware and will recognise this notice.
- Those who plan to transit through a third country to return to Ireland are strongly advised to check if that jurisdiction can accept this travel notice to permit transit on to Ireland before booking their tickets.
- The Department will advise all airlines and foreign missions of the initiatives in place.
- The Department will continue to process applications for renewals.
Further details on these arrangements can be found here.
Malaysia
Photo validation for eVisa Visa with Reference applications
The Immigration Department of Malaysia has announced that, effective 1 July 2026, the photo validation feature has been activated for all eVisa applications under the Visa with Reference (VDR) category submitted through the MYVISA portal.
All photographs uploaded via the portal will undergo an automated validation process to ensure compliance with the Malaysia Visa Photo Specifications:
- Permitted background colours are white and blue;
- The background must be plain and uniform, with no gradients, patterns, textures, or objects. Shadows or reflections on the background are not permitted.
Photographs that do not meet the validation requirements will fail the automated validation process and must be referred to the relevant VDR Issuing office for further action.
Portugal
Renewals Portal now available for EU nationals and family members
The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has announced that, since 1 July 2026, requests for the issuance of certificates and permanent residence cards of European Union (EU) nationals and family members can be submitted via the Renewals Portal.
Holders of certificates or residence cards covered by this functionality must perform, through the Renewal Portal:
- requests for issuance of:
- certificates of permanent residence of EU Nationals; and
- permanent residence cards of third-country national family members of EU nationals
- the payment of the respective fees;
- the sending of the necessary documents.
The Renewal Portal has thus become the channel for submission and processing of these requests, replacing the similar options so far available on the Contact Form.
Applications submitted through the Contact Form until 30 June 2026 will be processed as previously, without prejudice to the fact that applicants can make a new request through this new feature.
Biometric data collection
When, after analysing the application submitted on the Renewal Portal, there is a need for face-to-face collection of biometric data, AIMA will schedule this and notify the applicant of the date, time, and location for the face-to-face service.
In these cases, the face-to-face service is intended only for biometric collection, with the rest of the procedure carried out electronically.
Appointments already scheduled will be honoured.
Current availability of the Renewal Portal
Portal-renovacoes.aima.gov.pt is currently available for:
- Residence permits expired or expiring from 1 July 2025 until 31 October 2026;
- Residence Permits for Investment (ARI) with validity expired from 22 February 2020 and until 31 October 2026;
- Certificates and Permanent Residence Cards of EU Nationals and Family Members.
Sweden
Strengthened requirements for good conduct and honesty
Effective 13 July 2026, stricter requirements for good conduct (vandel) apply to residence permits. The new rules give the Swedish Migration Agency increased powers to refuse applications or revoke residence permits due to a lack of good conduct.
The Migration Agency has clarified that, when it receives an application for a residence permit, a check is always carried out to determine whether the applicant has committed any offences in Sweden. The amendments to the Aliens Act mean that the Swedish Migration Agency will also assess whether the applicant fails to comply with rules and requirements relating to good conduct and law-abiding behaviour.
A lack of good conduct refers to actions that are not necessarily criminal offences, but which are nevertheless considered to contravene rules that society seeks to uphold. The Swedish Migration Agency now has the possibility to refuse or revoke residence permits on the grounds of a lack of good conduct.
How the Swedish Migration Agency assesses good conduct
When the Migration Agency receives an application for a residence permit, an overall assessment is made of whether the applicant fails to comply with rules and requirements relating to law-abiding behaviour and good conduct. This may, for example, involve the Agency obtaining information from other authorities regarding payment orders and information provided by the individual as a basis for social assistance, social insurance and benefits.
Isolated incidents of minor misconduct will normally not be grounds for refusal of a residence permit. However, repeated behaviour may be relevant to the assessment.
A decision not to grant an application, or to revoke a residence permit on the grounds of lack of good conduct, must always be properly justified and comply with administrative law principles of legality, objectivity and impartiality. When the Migration Agency assesses good conduct, any misconduct is weighed proportionately against the individual’s grounds for a residence permit. This means an overall assessment balancing the individual’s right to a residence permit against society’s interest in law-abiding residents.
Individual assessment
The assessment of good conduct is individual and depends on the circumstances of each case and the legal basis for the residence permit. Residence permits not based on EU law are generally covered by the strengthened requirements on good conduct. However, the strengthened requirements do not apply when assessing residence permits for applicants seeking international protection.
EU law consists of a number of directives that may provide grounds for residence permits for work, study or family reunification, depending on the circumstances of the individual case. Residence permits based on EU law are not covered by the strengthened requirements on good conduct
New median salary affects work permits
Effective 16 June 2026, Statistics Sweden (SCB) has updated the median salary in Sweden. The salary requirement for a work permit has therefore also increased.
SCB updates the median salary annually. As of 16 June 2026, the median salary is SEK 38,300.
Since 1 June 2026, one of the requirements for a work permit in Sweden is that the employment must meet the salary requirement, which is a monthly salary or wages of at least 90 percent of the median salary.
Applications submitted from 16 June 2026 must therefore meet the new level and have a salary or wages of at least SEK 34,470 to meet the salary requirement. Employers must still offer terms of employment that are at least on par with Swedish collective agreements or what is customary within the occupation or industry.
The Swedish Migration Agency will consider applications submitted before 16 June 2026 on the basis of the median salary that applied at the time of application.
Transitional period for applications to extend permits
Transitional rules mean that people who were granted their current work permit before 1 June 2026 are not covered by the new salary requirement if they apply to extend their permit between 1 June and 1 December 2026.
Instead, the previous maintenance requirement will apply to them. This means that the monthly salary must amount to at least 80 per cent of the median salary published by Statistics Sweden (SCB) that applied at the time of the application.
Exemptions from new salary requirement
Certain occupational groups are not subject to the salary requirement, effective 1 June 2026. Through amendments to the Aliens Ordinance, around twenty occupations are exempted from the salary threshold (listed here). For these occupations, the salary instead must amount to at least 75 percent of the median salary in Sweden at the time of application.
Four additional categories of applicants are also exempt from the 90 percent requirement. For these groups as well, the salary must amount to 75 percent of the median salary:
- former students who are allowed to apply for a work permit from within Sweden,
- persons with foreign qualifications seeking employment in order to obtain a Swedish licence as a pharmacist, doctor, nurse or dentist,
- persons granted residence permits with or after temporary protection under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive, who apply for permits based on employment,
- employees at certain tech or life science companies. The company must be in a start-up phase, less than five years old, and have fewer than one hundred employees.
The exemption for these groups applies since 11 June 2026.
United Kingdom
New Statement of Changes to the immigration Rules
On 9 July 2026, the Home Office published a statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC259). An explanatory memorandum accompanied the statement of changes.
According to the Explanatory Statement, the principal changes include:
- Allowing a child born in the UK during a parent’s current grant of Graduate route permission to apply as a dependant, and be granted permission in line with the parent;
- Extending the “Diplomatic Visa Arrangement” (DVA) Visitor visa to India, providing a bespoke visitor visa for eligible diplomatic passport holders.
- Aligning the rules under Part 8 of the Immigration Rules for children joining relatives in the UK with Appendix Child Relative and Appendix Children;
- Providing that a partner granted permission under Appendix FM will be granted permission in line with the remainder of the sponsor’s existing permission, matching the time the sponsor has left;
- Ensuring that, where an applicant is eligible to apply under the Exception for Overstayers, their application is not refused solely on the basis that they are on immigration bail and can instead be considered on its merits;
- Removing the requirement for an applicant for an EUSS travel permit to provide fingerprint biometrics;
- Confirming that, where pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme as a family member of a qualifying British citizen has been varied into another form of immigration permission, the person can still apply for settled status under the scheme at any point before the date of expiry of that other permission, or later where there are reasonable grounds for their delay in applying;
- Amending the Appendix FM child route to apply the care requirement in Appendix Children, which is intended to ensure a child’s living and care arrangements in the UK are safe, suitable and compliant with UK legislation;
- Allowing children of single serving personnel, whose parent is exempt from immigration control, to be granted permission under the Rules rather than relying on a discretionary grant of Leave Outside the Rules; and clarifying that dependants of exempt international service personnel are not automatically eligible to accompany them, and must apply for entry clearance.
There are other minor changes.
These changes will come into effect on 30 July or 3 August 2026.
Next date announced for India Young Professionals Scheme ballot
UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) has announced that the next ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme will open at 1:30pm India Standard Time (IST) on 21 July 2026 and will close at 1:30pm IST on 23 July 2026.
Anyone intending to apply for a visa for the India Young Professionals Scheme must enter the ballot and can do so at any time while the ballot is open.
- The ballot is open to Indian citizens who are eligible for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa.
- Successful entries will be picked at random. Results will be sent by email within two weeks of the ballot closing.
- Entry to the ballot is free but the visa application costs £340 and there are financial, educational and other requirements.
- There are 3000 places available for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa in 2026. Most places were made available in the February ballot. The remaining places will be made available in the second and final ballot in July 2026.
- Applicants can only submit one entry per person for each ballot. Any further attempts to enter will not be counted.
- Successful entrants in the ballot will be invited to apply for a visa.
- Visa applicants will have 90 days from the date of the email to apply online, pay the visa application fee, including the immigration health surcharge and provide biometrics.
- Successful entrants in the ballot who choose not to apply for the visa do not need to inform UKVI.
- The results of the ballot are final. With no right to appeal. Unsuccessful entrants can enter future ballots.
An India Young Professionals Scheme visa allows Indian citizens between 18 and 30 years old to live and work in the UK for up to two years. To be eligible for the visa, applicants must:
- be an Indian citizen;
- be between 18 and 30 years old;
- have an eligible qualification;
- have £2530 in savings;
- not have any children under the age of 18 who live with them or who they’re financially responsible for.
Visa holders can:
- study;
- work in most jobs;
- be self-employed and set up a company.
Visa holders cannot:
- extend their stay;
- apply for most benefits (public funds);
- include family members on their application – they must apply separately;
- work as a professional sportsperson (for example as a coach).
United States
Update on Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti
On 10 July 2026, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a short-term extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain countries.
individuals granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
TPS employment authorisation is extended until 24 July 2026 for nationals of Haiti and until 17 July 2026 for nationals of Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The short-term extension follows the recent decision by the Supreme Court to allow the government to terminate TPS for Haiti and Syria, and is intended to allow lower courts to align with the Supreme Court decision in other TPS termination-related challenges. The previous termination date was 10 July 2026, as announced on 1 July 2026.