Denmark
Effective 1 June 2023, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has made it mandatory to use an online application form when submitting several more types of application.
The additional application types now requiring an online application are:
- Application for residence and work permit on grounds of salaried work (AR1 online)
- Application for a residence and work permit as a PhD student (PHD1 online)
- Application for a residence and work permit as a family member of a foreign national who is to work or study in Denmark (MF1 online)
- Application for a residence and work permit as an intern (PR1/3 online) – except for commuters
- Application for a residence and work permit as a volunteer or in order to obtain a Danish authorization as a doctor, dentist or nurse (XG1 online)
- Application for dispensation to prevent a residence permit from lapsing (BF1/2 online).
If the relevant online application is not submitted, SIRI can reject the application. There are some exceptions for special circumstances, such as illness, disability or lack of digital skills.
Finland
The Finnish Immigration Service has published guidance for those who have applied for an extended permit or for a new residence permit card via the Enter Finland portal without needing to visit a physical service point. The number of these applicants has recently increased, and they are reminded that there is no need to contact Enter Finland to follow up their application.
Currently, processing will begin within approximately three weeks after submitting the application online.
On application, Enter Finland will tell the applicant whether or not they need to visit a service point.
For first-time residence permit applications, the applicant must always visit a Finnish embassy or consulate (or a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service) if they apply from within Finland) to prove their identity in person.
A visit to a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service is not always required for applicants apply via “Enter Finland” for an extended permit, a new residence permit card or a new residence card. To avoid visiting a service point, applicants must also use online banking credentials, include a digital photo retrieval code, pay the processing fee in advance and use the same account credentials as they used for their previous permit applications
If a visit to a service point is not required, Enter Finland will send a notification and will show the applicant the diary number of their application. If necessary, they can then print out a certificate of a pending application via Enter Finland. If any additional information is required for the application, Enter Finland will contact the applicant.
Luxembourg
The Directorate of Immigration of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has announced that old-format residence cards and permanent residence cards for third-country nationals who are family members of a European Union citizen will cease to be valid on 3 August 2023.
As of 1 June 2021, residence permits and permanent residence cards in Luxembourg will be issued in the form of biometric smartcards. Cards issued before 1 June 2021 in the old format (secure printed paper with photo) can still be used during a transitional period, as long as they have not yet reached their expiry date. This transition period ends on 3 August 2023, so cards issued in the old format before June 2021 will cease to be valid on 3 August 2023, even if they have an expiry date after 3 August 2023.
Holders of old-format residence permits must exchange it for a new one before 3 August 2023 in order to continue to have a valid residence document and to avoid problems when travelling abroad or dealing with the authorities. The Directorate of Immigration has confirmed that all those affected have been informed by letter of the procedure to be followed, and should exchange their cards as soon as possible.
United Kingdom
The Home Office has announced that the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme will cost £10 for nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Jordan.
The scheme is set to launch for nationals of Qatar in October 2023 and for the remaining GCC states and Jordan in February 2024. It will be expanded worldwide throughout 2024.
The move to the ETA scheme means that the visa requirement will be removed for nationals from GCC states and Jordan.
The ETA, which allows multiple entry to the UK over a two-year period, applies to those visiting or transiting through the UK who do not need a visa for short stays, or who do not currently hold another UK visa. Currently, Gulf nationals pay £30 per visit to the UK under the current Electronic Visa Wavier (EVW) scheme and Jordanian nationals £100 for a visit visa.
