Denmark
New application form for sideline employment and work permit for accompanying family
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has announced that, effective 14 February 2024, it will make a new printable application form available which is tailored to those who wish to apply for a work permit for ‘sideline employment’, or for a work permit as an accompanying family member because they have been offered a job within the same company as their sponsor.
The new form is called AR8. This form will replace the application forms AR1, AR3 and AR6/7, which have previously been used for these two categories.
Applicants must now use the new application form AR8 when applying for a work permit (but not a residence permit) in Denmark if:
- they have a residence and work permit based on a job with a certain employer, and you would like to take up an additional job as ‘sideline employment’, or if
- they already have (or are currently applying for) a residence permit as an accompanying family member to a person who either works or is about to work in Denmark, and they need a work permit because they have been offered a job by the same company that their family member (the sponsor) works for, or at a company that has a close connection to the company where their sponsor works.
Current holders of a work permit based on either of these two schemes can use the new AR8 form to apply for an extension of their work permit.
Please note that commuters cannot use the AR8 form. A commuter is a person who works in Denmark, but lives abroad. Commuters must continue to use the application forms AR1, AR3 or AR6/7.
Norway
Closure of au pair scheme
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) has announced that the government has decided to close the au pair scheme, effective 15 March 2024.
Applicants who have, by 15 March 2024, registered their application via udi.no and booked an appointment to hand in their application, may still be eligible for an initial au pair permit.
Current au pair permit holders may still apply to renew their permit to change host families until the two-year au pair permit period has expired.
Sweden
Proposal for a new minimum salary condition for work permits
The migration minister has received a report commissioned by the government, which proposes tighter conditions for labour migration.
Among the proposals being considered by the government are the following:
- A new minimum salary requirement for non-EU workers. The report proposes that this should be set at the median national salary (currently SEK 34,200). The maintenance salary was increased in November 2023 from SEK 13,000 to SEK 27,360 (80% of the median salary).
- Exceptions to the median salary rule. Exceptions could be made for certain occupations or regions with more acute labour shortages, and for new graduates.
- Changes for highly qualified workers. The report proposes changes to facilitate EU blue card and intra-company transfer permit holders.
- Exclusion of certain professions. it is proposed that the Swedish Migration Agency should annually inform the government about professions where abuse of the regulatory system is so great that the professions should be excluded from the possibility of being granted a work permit.
The changes to the immigration law are proposed to enter into force on 1 June 2025.
United Kingdom
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 2:30pm India Standard Time (IST) on 20 February 2024 and will close at 2:30pm IST on 22 February 2024.
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 £298 and there are financial, educational and other requirements.
- There are 3000 places available for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa in 2024. Most places will be made available in the February ballot. The remaining places will be made available in the July ballot.
- 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.
Visa holders can:
- study – for some courses they’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate;
- work in most jobs;
- be self-employed and set up a company – as long as the premises are rented, the equipment is not worth more than £5000 and there are no employees.
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).
