Cyprus
Changes to citizenships rules
On 30 November 2023, the parliament passed amendments to the Civil Registry Law designed to encourage highly skilled workers to apply for citizenship in Cyprus.
Highly qualified employees of foreign companies who have level A2 Greek language knowledge can apply for citizenship after residing for five years in Cyprus. Those with level B1 Greek language can apply after four years of residence. Periods of absence of up to 90 days per year are not deducted from the total period of stay.
The spouse or civil partner of the main applicant can also apply for citizenship under the same conditions.
These applications will be examined under a fast-track procedure within eight months for an additional fee.
Further guidance and implementing regulations are expected to be provided by the government.
Denmark
Brexit Withdrawal Agreement residence application deadline approaches
British citizens and their family members covered by the Withdrawal Agreement between EU and the United Kingdom are reminded of the 31 December 2023 deadline for submissions of residence applications. The deadline was extended in Spring 2023.
British citizens and their family members who do not already hold a residence document in Denmark under the Withdrawal Agreement must submit an application – SIRI will not send out individual reminder letters.
Applications can be submitted here. The extended deadline applies for individuals who have not previously submitted an application. Applicants who have previously received a rejection due to submitting the application too late can, based on the extended deadline, ask SIRI to have their case reopened.
Applicants must have had legal residence in accordance with the EU rules on free movement before 31 December 2020. Individuals who already have residence in Denmark under the Withdrawal Agreement should not apply again.
Finland
Appointment booking update
Appointments can now be booked for identity checks at service points in early 2024 for applicants for new residence cards or for Finnish citizenship.
From 2 January 2024, the time required for renewing a residence card, applying for citizenship or submitting a citizenship application at the service point will be 20 minutes. Until the end of 2023, 30 minutes must be allowed for these applications.
Applicants should note that applying for a new residence card is different from applying for an extension. An application for a new residence card can be made in the following cases:
- Permanent residence permit (P) holders whose residence card is about to expire or has expired; or
- valid residence permit (A, B or P permit) holders if
- the residence card is lost; or
- the residence card is damaged and illegible; or
- the personal data on the residence card have changed.
Applicants should complete the application form in advance using the Enter Finland e-service.
- Those who log in to Enter Finland with, for example, their online banking credentials don’t necessarily need to visit a service point.
- Those applying for citizenship who cannot use Enter Finland should complete a paper application before visiting the service point. Applications for the residence card renewal are available online only.
Appointments should be booked via the appointment service.
The appointment service will be updated on 2 January 2024. After that, all appointments for the renewal of the residence permit card, the citizenship application or the citizenship declaration will be 20 minutes.
Ireland
An online form (Form 11) for citizenship applications for minors is now available. The Department of Justice previously announced (on 16 October 2023) that citizenship applications can now be made online. At that time, work was still ongoing on the development of an online form for minor applications.
Sweden
Closing of certification process
The Swedish Migration Agency (Migrationsverket) has reminded interested parties that its certification process ends on 15 December 2023 and, on 29 January 2024, its new working method for handling work permit applications will be introduced. The last day to submit an application for a work permit as a certified employer is 14 December 2023.
Between 15 December 2023 and 29 January 2023, Migrationsverket will focus on finalizing the new way of working and handling the applications received from certified actors.
Through the certification process, employers have been able to access faster processing. Migrationsverket has striven to make decisions for complete applications for a work permit within ten working days for the first application and 20 working days for a renewal application.
According to the authorities, the system has grown so large that it has come to include a large number of applications that should not be prioritised according to the Swedish Migration Agency’s mission to promote the recruitment of highly qualified labour.
United Kingdom
Plan to reduce net migration
The Home Secretary has made a statement outlining the government’s five-point plan to reduce net migration, which is due to come into force in spring 2024.
The plan consists of the following five measures:
- Holders of Health and Care Worker visas will no longer be able to bring dependent family members to the UK. Overseas care workers wishing to bring their families with them to the UK will then only be eligible for a regular skilled worker visa, with no minimum salary discount and no exemption from the immigration health surcharge. In addition, care providers will have to be regulated by the Care Quality Commission in order to sponsor foreign national care workers.
- The skilled worker salary threshold will be increased by nearly 50% from £26,200 to £38,700. Health and Care Worker visas will be exempt from the increase, along with those on national pay scales, for example teachers.
- The government will remove the 20% “going rate” salary discount for roles on the Shortage Occupation List. A new “Immigration Salary List”, with a reduced number of occupations and a general salary threshold discount, will be published in coordination with the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
- The minimum income requirement for family visas for dependents of British citizens and those settled in the UK will also be raised, from £18,600 to £38,700.
- The MAC has also been asked to review the Graduate route “to prevent abuse and to protect the integrity and quality” of the higher education sector. The Graduate route, allowing international graduates two or three years to find skilled employment in the UK, was introduced only two years ago. It is not clear whether the 30% “going rate” salary discount for new entrants, including those switching from the Student or Graduate routes, will be maintained, amended or abolished.
The announced changes are expected to make it more expensive and more difficult for employers to sponsor migrant workers, especially in the health and care sector and in other lower-wage industries, and outside of London, where salaries tend to be lower.
Statement of changes to immigration rules
On 7 December 2023, the government published a statement of changes to the immigration rules. The changes will come into effect on various dates between 7 December 2023 and 31 January 2024.
According to the government’s own Explanatory Memorandum, the changes include “changes to the EU Settlement Scheme and to travel document requirements for school groups visiting the UK from France. The Youth Mobility Scheme has also been updated to reflect changes and enhancements to the arrangements in place between the UK and specific countries. Three new Appendices to the Rules have also been introduced: Appendix Bereaved Partner and Appendix Statelessness which replace existing provisions and Appendix Victims of Domestic Abuse which introduces an out of country settlement route for victims of transnational marriage abandonment.”
In a written statement to the House of Commons, the Home Secretary summarised the changes as follows:
“Changes to Visitor Rules
As set out in the Spring Budget 2023, we are amending the list of permitted business activities that can be undertaken by individuals on a UK Visit visa, including by: (a) removing the restriction on visitors working directly with clients in an intra-corporate context (subject to the activity being incidental to their employment abroad and to the delivery of a wider project by the UK branch of their overseas employer), (b) naming remote work as a permitted activity, providing this is not the primary purpose of the visit, (c) expanding the list of unpaid work activities that legal professionals can undertake in the UK, allowing scientists to conduct research in the UK as part of their visit, and (d) allowing pilots and cabin crew members to travel to the UK as part of a Civil Aviation Authority approved wet leasing agreement.
We are also reforming Permitted Paid Engagements (PPE), by including speaking at conferences in the list of permitted engagements. By incorporating the provisions of the route into the Standard visitor route, to enable easier switching between PPE activities and the other permitted business activities, and to enable easier travel across the UK border for nationalities eligible to use e-passport gates.
Introduction of new Appendix Statelessness
A partner or child will no longer be eligible to apply for permission as a dependent under the stateless route but will instead need to meet the requirements to come to, or stay in, the UK as a partner or child of a stateless person under the family rules in Appendix FM. A person who already has permission as a partner or child of a stateless person under the current Stateless Immigration Rules in Part 14 will be able to continue to extend their permission or stay in the UK under those provisions.
Changes to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
We are making two particular changes where the EUSS is concerned.
First, to reinforce the Government’s approach to tackling illegal migration, we will prevent a valid application to the EUSS as a joining family member being made by an irregular arrival to the UK (which will include small boat arrivals) as well as by an illegal entrant.
Second, consistent with the temporary protection of rights conferred on them by the Citizens’ Rights Agreements for three months from their arrival in the UK, we will require a person in the UK as a visitor to make any application to the EUSS as a joining family member within three months of their arrival (subject to reasonable grounds for any delay in applying).
Changes to travel document requirements for school groups visiting the UK from France
We are making changes to allow children aged 18 and under, studying at a school in France, to visit the UK on an organised educational trip without the usual passport or visit visa requirements. EU, other EEA and Swiss national children will be able to travel on their national identity card. Visa national children will still be required to travel on their passport but will not have to obtain a visit visa.
Introduction of new Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse
We are introducing an out of country settlement route for victims of transnational marriage abandonment.
Changes to the Youth Mobility Scheme
We are adding Uruguay to the list of countries and territories participating in the YMS and making changes to reflect that the UK’s existing reciprocal, bilateral arrangements with Japan and the Republic of Korea have been enhanced.”
