Australia
Increase in the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold
The Department of Home Affairs has announced that, effective 1 July 2024, the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) will increase from AUD 70,000 to AUD 73,150.
New nomination applications from this date will need to meet the new TSMIT of AUD 73,150 or the annual market salary rate, whichever is higher.
This change will not affect existing visa holders and nominations lodged before 1 July 2024.
These changes are in line with the government’s commitment at the Jobs and Skills Summit in September 2022.
Canada
New operating hours for border services
Effective 30 May 2024, Canadian immigration services at the Canada/US border are only available at specified times, rather than 24 hours a day.
Some temporary residents of Canada leave Canada and re-enter within 24 hours to receive immigration services. This practice is known as “flagpoling.”
Those who decide to come to a port of entry for immigration services may encounter long queues and their turn may not come before the end of service hours. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) highly recommends using IRCC’s online services.
Denmark
New rules for permanent residence permit and family reunification
From 1 July 2024, new rules regarding permanent residence permit and family reunification of spouses will become effective.
The Danish parliament passed the bill regarding permanent residence permit and family reunification on 30 May 2024. The requirement that applicants may not have been convicted of certain crimes is tightened, so that also a charge or indictment of certain crimes in the future will prevent applicants from obtaining a permanent residence. The same applies to the transferred requirements for permanent residence, which must be met, on application for family reunification of spouses if the spouse in Denmark is a foreign national but not a refugee.
The new rule applies to applications for permanent residence permit and certain applications for family reunification of spouses submitted from and including 11 April 2024.
Finland
Application forms for work-based residence permits on Enter Finland to be updated on 5 June 2024
The Finnish Immigration Service (Migris) will update the online application forms for work-based residence permits on Enter Finland on 5 June 2024 from 17:00 to 23:50 (Finnish time). Enter Finland will be out of service during this update.
Application drafts that have been created before the update but have not been submitted will disappear from the service as a result of the update. Applicants who have a draft that they wish to submit should complete and submit the application before 17.00 on 5 June. Otherwise, they will have to restart and complete the entire application again after the update.
The update concerns the following residence permits:
- Residence permit for an employed person (‘TTOL’)
- Residence permit for a specialist
- EU Blue Card
- Residence permit for a person who has completed a qualification or degree or conducted research in Finland
- Residence permit for a researcher
- Residence permit for internship
- Residence permit for working holiday
- Residence permit for work in the top or middle management of a company
- Residence permit for a specialist, manager or trainee on the basis of intra-corporate transfer (‘ICT residence permit’)
- Residence permit for a consultant
- Residence permit for an athlete or a coach
- Residence permit for work in the field of culture or the arts
- Residence permit for work in the field of mass media
- Residence permit application for voluntary work
- Residence permit for a visiting teacher, lecturer or instructor
- Residence permit for work in the service of a religious community
- Residence permit for work in an international organisation or in duties concerning official cooperation between states
- Residence permit for preparation of a company’s establishment in Finland and for supervision of orders
- Residence permit for delivery of a machine or system
- Residence permit for work that is part of an intergovernmental agreement
The update only concerns online application forms via Enter Finland. Printable paper application forms for these permits will remain unchanged. The update does not affect application processing.
Germany
Opportunity card available from 1 June 2024
Starting 1 June 2024, the government will introduce the opportunity card, a residence permit enabling jobseekers to stay in Germany to look for employment.
Opportunity cards are issued for a maximum of one year, provided that the holder is able to support themselves for that period. It allows the holder to undertake work trials for up to two weeks or take up secondary employment for a maximum of 20 hours per week during their stay in Germany.
If an applicant is subsequently unable to obtain another residence title for employment purposes but nevertheless has an offer of qualified employment, the opportunity card can be extended for a further two years.
This card can be obtained in two ways:
- Third-country nationals who receive full recognition of their foreign qualifications and are therefore considered “skilled workers” can obtain an opportunity card without any further special requirements;
- All other applicants must provide evidence of a foreign university degree, a vocational qualification of at least two years’ duration (in each case recognised by the state in the country of training) or a vocational qualification issued by a German Chamber of Commerce Abroad. In addition, a basic knowledge of German (level A1 CEFR) or English (level B2 CEFR) is required. Then, points are awarded for criteria such as recognition of qualifications in Germany, language skills, professional experience, age, links to Germany, and the skilled worker potential of accompanying partners or spouses. Applicants must score a minimum of six points to receive an opportunity card.
For both options, applicants must have sufficient financial resources to fund their job search in Germany. During the visa process, they can demonstrate this ability with a blocked bank account (containing a minimum of €1,027 net per month, amount applicable in 2024) or a declaration of commitment.
Those who have obtained a university degree or professional qualification in Germany can instead apply for a residence permit for jobseekers giving them more time to look for a job (18 months instead of one year) and can work part-time without restrictions during this time.
Further information is available here.
Israel
New electronic travel authorisation system from August 2024
The Ministry of Interior has announced that, effective August 2024, all travellers to Israel from visa-exempt countries must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA-IL) to enter the country.
From 1 June 2024, the system will open as a pilot program for nationals of the United States and Germany. During the pilot phase, submitting an application will be voluntary and exempt from fees. The system will open to other nationalities on 1 July 2024.
Those who are eligible will be able to travel to Israel and stay for up to 90 days at a time, for tourism, business and other non-work and non-medical purposes. An ETA-IL is valid for two years or until the expiry of the holder’s passport, and allows for multiple entries. For longer stays and other purposes, travellers must obtain a visa from their nearest Israeli Embassy or Consulate.
Applicants must be a citizen of a visa-exempt country, with a passport valid at least until the end of the visit to Israel.
Applications must be submitted online and an NIS 25 fee must be paid (this will not apply during the pilot period). Processing may take up to 72 hours. Decisions will be sent by email.
Japan / Luxembourg
New working holiday program
Effective 3 June 2024, the governments of Japan and Luxembourg will introduce a bilateral working holiday program, allowing nationals of these countries aged between 18 and 30 years to travel to and work in each other’s countries for up to one year.
Applicants must hold a valid passport and a return travel ticket or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket, as well as proof of reasonable funds for their maintenance during their stay.
Kuwait
Manpower Authority introduces fee for new work permits
Effective 1 June 2024, the Public Authority for Manpower of Kuwait (PAM) is introducing a fee of KWD 150 for new work permits.
Certain sectors are exempt from this new fee:
- Companies wholly owned by the government;
- Hospitals, dispensaries, medical centres and clinics licensed by the Ministry of Health;
- Universities and private colleges;
- Private schools;
- Foreign investors approved by the Investment Promotion Authority;
- Sports clubs, federations, public benefit associations, cooperative societies, trade unions and charitable endowments;
- Agricultural plots licensed by the General Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources;
- Fishing;
- Barns, grazing sheep and camels;
- Commercial and investment real estate;
- Industrial establishments and small industries.
At the same time, a fee of KWD 300 will be introduced for transferring a foreign worker to a different employer within the first three years of their stay in Kuwait, with the approval of the current employer.
The details were set out in Ministerial Resolution No.2 of 2024.
New Zealand
English translations will be required for visitor visa supporting documents
From 17 June 2024, all supporting documents submitted with visitor visa applications to Immigration New Zealand (INZ) must be provided in English.
Applicants must provide a certified English translation of any documents in a foreign language. Applications without translated documents are likely to be declined.
Previously, applications including documents provided in a foreign language and with no translations could take longer to process.
What documents need translation?
All supporting documents submitted with visitor visa applications must be provided in English or include an English translation.
Examples of documents that require translation can include:
- proof of funds — such as bank statements, pay records
- flight itineraries including return tickets
- proof of employment in your home country
- leave of absence documentation
- identity documents other than passports — for example, Hukou for Chinese nationals.
It is already a requirement for visitor visa applicants to provide English translations of medical and police certificates that are in a foreign language.
Who can complete a certified translation?
Applicants can provide certified translations completed by:
- reputable private or official translation businesses
- community members known for their accurate translations, excluding the applicant, family members, or their immigration adviser.
INZ will also accept translations from a licensed immigration adviser (LIA) who is:
- a trustworthy person within the community
- known to translate documents accurately
- not an adviser on the application.
Poland
National visa fee to be increased
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that, effective 1 June 2024, the fee for a national visa application (D-type) as well as the fee for reconsideration of an application for a national visa will increase. The new national visa fee will be 135 EUR.
The visa fee increase is a consequence of the entry into force of the regulation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of 21 May 2024 amending the regulation on consular fees.
The Schengen (C-type) visa application fee ,as well as the fee for reconsideration of an application for a Schengen visa, remain unchanged for now.
The Ministry states that the visa fee increase is intended contribute to expanding availability of slots for foreign nationals applying for the national Polish visa for the first time. The new national visa fee is also associated with a highly possible Schengen visa fee increase in 2024 (from EUR 80 to EUR 90).
The new national visa fee is expected to result in a decreased number of applicants whose actual purpose of stay in Poland differs from the declared one.
The distinction in the Schengen and national visa fees is justified by a wider range of privileges associated with the national visa (a longer period of stay and the simultaneous possibility of travelling within the Schengen area).
Qatar
New traffic fines requirement and discount
The Ministry of Interior has announced that, effective 1 September 2024 individuals with outstanding traffic violations are not permitted to travel outside Qatar through any borders until all fines and due amounts are paid.
Furthermore, the Ministry is offering a 50% discount on traffic violation fines for Qatari citizens, residents, visitors and GCC citizens from 1 June 2024 to 31 August 2024 for violations recorded within a period not exceeding three years.
