Belgium
Upcoming changes to single permit processing in Flanders
On 9 May 2025, the Flemish government approved a concept note, establishing an updated labour migration policy based on ten core principles. The proposed measures will tighten requirements and increase processing costs, but also promise faster processing times. These changes will be implemented gradually over the coming months.
Highly-educated individuals will be prioritised and low-skilled people from outside the EU will be excluded from labour migration. There will be an exception for seasonal work such as fruit growing.
Since 1 May 2025, decisions on highly-skilled applications are given within 15 days. From 1 January 2026, decisions on applications for non-highly-skilled applicants will be communicated within 30 days (45 days during peak periods). A new fee of EUR 200 will be introduced for those applying for a work permit from outside the European Union.
Applications for so-called “bottleneck” professions will be possible only for medium-skilled professions with a commensurate salary, and must be supported with a comprehensive application file, as well as a labour market test. The eligibility criteria for inclusion on the Migration List for ‘medium-skilled’ positions will be revised.
Denmark
New residence route for foreign national on a master’s degree programme for working professionals
On 27 May 2025, the Danish Parliament adopted rules on a new study residence scheme that allows foreign nationals to obtain a residence permit to complete a master’s degree in Denmark. On 1 July 2025, the new study scheme came into effect.
The purpose of the master’s degree programme for working professionals is to strengthen the connection between university education and the needs of the labour market. The programme enables students to gain relevant work experience while continuing their education at master’s level, part-time.
Third-country nationals seeking admission to a master’s degree programme for working professionals must have entered into a valid employment agreement with a public or private employer for concurrent relevant part-time employment. The part-time employment must correspond to an average of up to 112.5 hours per month.
Positive Lists updated
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has updated the Positive Lists for people with a higher education and for skilled work. The new lists are applicable from 1 July 2025.
The Positive Lists are lists of professions experiencing a shortage of qualified professionals in Denmark. Those offered a job included in the Positive List can apply for a residence and work permit in Denmark based on the scheme.
The new Positive List for People with a Higher Education includes 190 job titles, while the Positive List for Skilled Work includes 65.
In the current update, more positions have been added to the Positive List for People with a Higher Education. This is partly due to slightly more positions where there is a labour shortage, and partly because the positions on the list with effect from 1 April 2023 are on the list for at least 2 years at a time.
The Positive List for Skilled Work has fewer positions as fewer positions where there is a labour shortage have been registered.
France
Government approves immigration quota decree for 2026-2028
On 13 June 2025, the French government published Decree No. 2025-539, which consolidates and clarifies the new rules for ‘talent’ residence permits introduced over the last year and a half. Among the changes are the following:
- The salary threshold required to qualify for the “Talent – Qualified Employee” status must now be at least equal to the average annual gross reference salary, as set by order of the Minister in charge of immigration. The reference salary is currently EUR 35,891 per year, following an order dated 28 October 2016. Previously, the salary threshold for this category was twice the French legal minimum wage (currently EUR 43,243.20).
- To qualify for the “Talent in the Medical and Pharmacy Profession” status, the gross annual salary must be at least equal to the second level of the salary scale for associate practitioners. Currently this is EUR 41,386.48 per year.
- Holders of an EU Blue Card issued by another EU member state who apply for a “Talent – European Blue Card” residence permit on arrival in France will be notified of a decision on the application within a maximum of 30 days, rather than 90 days as for holders of a long-stay visa. If approved, the applicant will also receive a Temporary Residence Permit permitting work.
The decree also introduces changes to the “Entrepreneur/Liberal profession” and the “Job Search or Business Creation” residence permits.
Italy
Government approves immigration quota decree for 2026-2028
On 30 June 2025, the government approved a proposed quota decree (“decreto flussi”) establishing a three-year immigration plan with a quota of 497,550 non-EU nationals permitted to enter for work between 2026 and 2028.
The previous quota decree allowed 452,000 entries in the years 2023-2025.
The quota will be divided between 230,550 for non-seasonal and self-employment and 267,000 for seasonal work in the agricultural and tourism sectors.
A total of 164,850 entries for non-EU workers are permitted for 2026.
The final decree is expected to be published later in the year.
Application pre-filling period for seasonal tourism
The Ministry of Labour and Social Policies has announced that the next period for the pre-filling of online applications for seasonal tourism jobs as part of the 2025 quota runs from 1 to 31 July 2025.
Aspiring employers of foreign nationals in this sector can pre-fill applications every day in July, from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m., on the ALI Services Portal of the Ministry of the Interior, where the procedure to follow is detailed. The questions can be saved and can then be sent starting from 9.00 am on the click dayscheduled for 1 October 2025.
Norway
Changes to the requirements for Norwegian language skills and social studies to obtain a permanent residence permit
From 1 September 2025, some applicants may be exempt from the requirement to complete courses in Norwegian and social studies to qualify for a permanent residence permit.
The requirements will continue to apply generally to all applicants aged 18 to 67, and depend on the date of the police appointment:
- Applicants with an appointment with the police on or after 1 September must pass an oral Norwegian language test at level A2 and a social studies test in a language they understand.
- Applicants with an appointment with the police before 1 September must pass an oral Norwegian language test at level A1 and a social studies test in a language they understand.
- Applicants who register their application on or after 24 August but whose appointment with the police is not until 1 September or later must pass an oral Norwegian language test at level A2 and a social studies test in a language they understand.
Exemptions from the oral Norwegian language test
From 1 September 2025, the police and UDI may grant an exemption from the oral Norwegian language test for permanent residence permit applicants who can document one of the following:
- A final or exam grade of 2 or higher in both oral and written Norwegian in Module 4 of preparatory education for adults (FOV);
- A final or exam grade of 2 or higher in Norwegian or Sámi in primary/lower secondary school;
- A mid-term, final or exam grade of 2 or higher in Norwegian or Sámi in upper secondary school;
- A certificate of competence in Norwegian or Sámi from preparatory education for adults (FOV), primary/lower secondary or upper secondary school;
- Completed studies in Norwegian or Sámi at university level (minimum 30 ECTS credits);
- Meeting the language admission requirements for studies in Norwegian or Sámi at a Norwegian university, university college, or vocational college;
- Being unable to pass the test at A2 level or higher for health reasons or other significant or personal circumstances;
- An exemption by the municipality from compulsory Norwegian language training and/or the Norwegian language test.
Exemptions from the social studies test
From 1 September 2025, the police and UDI may grant an exemption from the social studies test for permanent residence permit applicants who can document one of the following:
- A final or exam grade of 2 or higher in social studies in primary/lower secondary school;
- A mid-term, final or exam grade of 2 or higher in social studies in upper secondary school;
- A certificate of competence in social studies from preparatory education for adults (FOV), primary/lower secondary or upper secondary school;
- Completed and passed social studies that provide knowledge about Norway at university level (minimum 10 ECTS credits);
- Completed studies in Norwegian or Sámi at university level in Norway, with earned credits;
- Being unable to pass the Norwegian social studies test for health reasons or other significant or personal circumstances;
- An exemption by the municipality from compulsory Norwegian social studies training and/or the Norwegian social studies test.
Portugal
Extension of residence permit validity
The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has announced that decree law No. 85-B/2025 has extended the validity of residence permits until 15 October 2025. This is in response to ongoing processing delays.
Holders of residence permits that expired between 22 February 2020 and 30 June 2025 will be notified by email in chronological order of the expiration date and must then access services.aima.gov.pt to arrange the renewal of their residence permit.
Holders of residence permits which expire after 30 June 2025 must apply for the renewal of the residence permit directly on the Renewals Portal.
Slovakia
Amendments to residence permit rules
Effective 1 July 2025, amendments have been made to Act No. 404/2011 on the Residence of Foreigners. The changes largely affect the residence permit for business purposes.
Changes to the residence permit for business
- Initial applications for this residence permit must now be submitted via the Slovak consulates. Previously the process was possible via immigration police offices in Slovakia;
- This residence permit will now be issued for three years, rather than for no longer than three years as previously.
- A quota has been introduced. The number of applications for 2025 is limited to 700, with available slots different for various Slovak consulates. For example most slots are available in Tbilisi, Georgia (68), Belgrade, Serbia (62), and Hanoi, Vietnam (53). Previously there was no quota for this type of residence permit;
- A new document – a business plan – will need to be submitted in support of the application. This business plan will need to be written using the official template provided by the Ministry of Economy;
- Changing the residence permit purpose to business from another purpose will be allowed only if the resident permit has been valid for at least two years. Previously this term was one year;
- Bank statements for the last three months will no longer be required to confirm proof of financial means. Instead, confirmation of the current balance will be required from two bank accounts (one for personal expenses and one for business operations).
Other changes:
- The validity period of the national visa required for applying for residence in Slovakia has been extended from 90 to 120 days;
- The requirement to provide photos for residence permit applications or renewals has been removed;
- After submitting a residence permit application the applicant is allowed to legally remain in Slovakia until the decision is made by the authorities.
[This information was confirmed by the specialists at Intermark Relocation.]
United Kingdom
Major new statement of changes in immigration rules
On 1 July 2025, the Home Office published a 138-page statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 997). An explanatory memorandum accompanied the statement of changes, as well as a press release.
The measures, which begin the implementation of the reforms set out in the government’s recent white paper, include:
- raising the skills threshold for Skilled Worker visas, removing 111 eligible occupations;
- closing the social care worker visa route to overseas recruitment in response to widespread abuse and exploitation;
- only allowing time-limited access below degree level through a targeted immigration salary list and temporary shortage list, for critical roles only, with strict requirements for sectors to grow domestic skills;
- commissioning the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to conduct a review of the temporary shortage list including occupations, salaries and benefits.
Workers in occupations on the temporary shortage list will no longer be able to bring dependants and will not be permitted salary and visa fee discounts. The occupations included on the List are time-limited until the end of 2026 and will only remain beyond that date if the independent Migration Advisory Committee recommend it.
The Minister for Migration and Citizenship provided a summary of the changes in a written statement to the House of Commons:
The key change is raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas from occupations at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 3 and above (approximately A-level skills) to occupations at RQF level 6 and above (mainly graduate professions).
Salary requirements for work visas are being raised in line with the latest Office for National Statistics data, ahead of an upcoming thorough review of salary requirements (including discounts) by the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) and a new, interim Temporary Shortage List (TSL) provide time-limited and conditional access to the Skilled Worker route for occupations below the new RQF level 6 threshold, but with no ability for applicants to bring dependants. The ISL will be phased out in future and the TSL will be reviewed by the MAC.
Skilled Worker entry clearance applications for care workers and senior care workers are being closed, while maintaining in-country switching applications for a transition period until 22 July 2028.
The changes include transitional arrangements, allowing existing Skilled Worker visa holders to continue to extend their visas, bring dependants, change employment and take supplementary employment in occupations below RQF level 6, while applying the new rules to applicants from overseas and those applying to switch from other routes.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the changes will come into effect from 22 July, and transitional arrangements have also today been set out for overseas care workers already in the UK.
Further changes to be implemented by the end of this year also include:
- raising the immigration skills charge
- uplifting language requirements across the immigration system
- unveiling a new family policy framework to Parliament
On 3 July 2025, the Home Office announced that the Home Secretary had written to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to commission reviews of the salary requirements for work visas and the new temporary shortage list (TSL). The MAC was asked to report on the first stage of the review in months and on the second stage in 12 months.
Closure of Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP)
In addition to the above, the 1 July 2025 statement of changes amends Appendix ARAP of the Immigration Rules in order to close the relocation route to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) to future principal applications. It does so by amending the eligibility requirement in Appendix ARAP 3.3 to require that new principal applications by an Afghan citizen must have been submitted to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on or after 1 April 2021 and before 15:00 BST on 1 July 2025 to be considered eligible under Appendix ARAP.
Eligible applicants who submitted their application before 15:00 BST on 1 July 2025 will still be able to make eligibility applications for their immediate family members and additional family members after this date.
The ARAP is for Afghan citizens who worked for or with the UK Government in Afghanistan in exposed or meaningful roles and may include an offer for relocation to the UK for those deemed eligible by the MOD and who are deemed suitable for relocation by the Home Office under Appendix ARAP.
The government will also be closing the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). The Home Office will continue to consider those referrals made under the ACRS Separated Families pathway but have not yet received a decision
