Denmark
On 27 March 2023, the Danish government announced the extension of the deadline for British nationals to apply for residence permits based on the Withdrawal Agreement until the end of 2023. The deadline was originally set for 31 December 2021.
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) states that it cannot yet confirm when the new deadline will come into effect. Until then, however, SIRI will continue to process cases where the assessment is that there are reasonable reasons for submitting the application late. Applications where the assessment is that there are no reasonable reasons for late submission will for now continue to be put on hold.
It continues to be a requirement that the conditions for residence based on the Withdrawal Agreement must be met, including that the applicant must have become legally resident in Denmark under EU regulations on free movement before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. Applicants whose application has already been processed and refused, because the conditions for residence based on the Withdrawal Agreement have not been met, cannot have their application processed again.
Greece
The Greek parliament has passed a new law amending the entry rules for non-EU nationals seeking to enter Greece for work to meet labour shortages in certain occupations.
Greece will permit certain categories of foreign workers already in Greece to change their place of residence.
The new law also extends the maximum duration of residence permits for second-generation migrant children (born and raised in Greece) from five to ten years .
Ireland
Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has announced bridging permission for English Language course students who have successfully completed a 2nd or 3rd course and subsequently enrolled in a Higher Education Programme commencing by end of October 2023.
The bridging permission will be a short-term Stamp 2 permission granted until 30 September 2023, from the date of expiry of their current IRP card, on the basis that applicants will be in a position to provide documentary evidence of a confirmed and fully paid Higher Education Programme listed on the Interim List of Eligible Providers (ILEP) commencing September 2023.
The Stamp 2 Bridging Permissions will be granted as follows:
- Students who have successfully completed a third English Language course (max allowable) and have enrolled in and paid fees for a Higher Education Programme listed on the ILEP, commencing by end of October 2023, can avail of a bridging permission by applying via their local immigration office if residing outside Dublin or via the online portal if residing in Dublin, provided all other criteria are met.
- Where students have successfully completed a second English Language course on or after 1 July and have enrolled in and paid fees for a Higher Education Programme listed on the Interim List of Eligible Providers (ILEP) commencing by end of October 2023, they can avail of this bridging permission by applying via their local immigration office if residing outside of Dublin or via the online portal if residing in Dublin, provided all other criteria are met.
- This bridging permission does not apply to students who have successfully completed a second English Language course prior to 1 July regardless of the date of application. These students have the option to undertake a third English language course and renew a permission on that basis, should they wish to.
Students wishing to avail of this bridging permission must have:
- An in-date IRP card or a card that has expired within one month when applying for the bridging permission;
- Successfully completed a third English Language course listed on the ILEP or successfully completed a second English Language course listed on the ILEP on or after 1 July;
- Have enrolled in and paid fees in full for a Higher Education Programme listed on the ILEP;
- Apply for a renewal (bridging permission) via their local immigration office if residing outside of Dublin or via the online portal if residing in Dublin.
Students will be required to:
- Satisfy renewal criteria;
- Provide evidence of their enrolment in a Higher Education Programme listed on the ILEP;
- Provide evidence that the course fees have been paid in full.
Registration Fees:
Students whose second or third English language course finished on or after 1 July wishing to avail of this bridging permission will be fee-exempt. (Dublin-based customers applying via the online portal will have the fee refunded when the application is processed)
Students whose third English language course finished prior to 1 July wishing to avail of this bridging permission will pay the standard fee of €300.
Students who avail of this bridging permission will be required to renew their immigration permission prior to the bridging permission expiring on 30 September 2023.
The notice is valid from 1 April 2023 to 31 August 2023 only.
United Kingdom
The UK government has announced a new Hong Kong Veterans Settlement route which will be open to all servicemen and women who served in the British military prior to 1 July 1997 and their family members, including a partner or spouse and dependent children.
All those eligible will be able to apply for indefinite leave to enter, allowing them to live and work in the UK without restriction and putting them on a path to full British citizenship.
Applications for settlement are expected to open this autumn.
United Kingdom
The Spring Budget, announced on 15 March 2023, included several upcoming changes to business visitor visa requirements and the Shortage Occupation List.
The changes to the requirements for business visitor visas, expected to take effect in autumn 2023, include an expansion of the short-term business activities that can be carried out for up to six months and a revision of the list of permitted paid engagements.
The government has accepted the recommendations of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) following their rapid review of the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) for the construction and hospitality sectors. Five construction occupations will be added to the list later this summer ahead of the MAC’s wider review of the SOL. This will allow companies to sponsor foreign workers in these roles with a minimum salary of £20,960 rather than £26,200. The newly qualifying occupations are bricklayers and mason; roofers, roof tilers and slaters; carpenters and joiners; plasterers and dryliners; and construction and building trades not elsewhere classified.
