Denmark
New rules on exemption from work permits
On 19 December 2025, new rules came into effect enabling foreign nationals to work in Denmark for short periods even if they do not have a residence and work permit, in certain cases.
The new exemption rule applies to event and conference staff.
It is a prerequisite that the employee is a permanent member of an international event team and is employed by a foreign organiser or a foreign subcontractor. The employing company must be established outside Denmark. However, staff normally provided by the event venue, including security guards, cleaning staff, waiters and drivers, are not covered by the exemption.
The exemption rule can be applied in connection with international, closed and indoor congresses, trade fairs, conferences or corporate events with a total of at least 400 registered participants. The event must be closed, i.e. aimed at a professional or trade target group, and must not be open to the public.
Each work stay must last a maximum of 10 working days, which may be before, during or after the event.
Proposal to ban marriages between cousins and other relatives
On 19 December 2025, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has announced that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing has put out for consultation a draft bill to ban marriages between cousins and other relatives, prohibiting religious marriages without civil validity and other marriage-like relationships for the same group of persons, and extending the presumption rule of the Danish Aliens Act to the area of family reunification. The law, if passed, would affect certain residence permit applications
The draft bill proposes to introduce a ban on marriages in Denmark between cousins and between uncles, aunts and nephews or nieces. The ban will only apply to genetic kinship. Furthermore, in line with the national ban, it is proposed to introduce a ban on the recognition of foreign marriages between the above-mentioned groups of persons.
The draft bill also proposes amending the Danish Aliens Act so that, unless there are very special reasons, including consideration for family unity, a residence permit cannot be granted as an accompanying spouse or cohabiting partner to a foreign worker, student or expatriate Dane, if there is doubt as to whether the marriage was entered into or the cohabitation relationship was established of the free will of both parties.
It also proposes to amend the Ukraine-Special Act, so that, unless there are very special reasons, including consideration for family unity, residence permits cannot be granted to spouses or permanent partners if it is considered doubtful whether the marriage was entered into or the cohabitation relationship was established of the free will of both parties.
In addition, the draft bill proposes the introduction of a presumption rule for accompanying spouses and permanent partners of foreign workers, students and Danes living abroad, as well as spouses and permanent partners applying for a residence permit under the Ukraine-Special Act, so that, unless there are very special reasons, including consideration for family unity, to the contrary it will be considered doubtful whether the marriage was entered into or the cohabitation relationship was established of the free will of both parties if the marriage was entered into or the cohabitation relationship was established between close relatives or other closely related persons.
This will correspond to what currently applies to the granting of residence permits for spouses under the general rules in this regard.
According to the draft bill, the new rules will apply to applications for first-time residence permits as an accompanying spouse or cohabiting partner of a foreign worker, student, Danish citizen living abroad or person with a residence permit under the Ukraine-Special Act, submitted from the date on which the bill is presented to the Danish Parliament or later, and which have not been processed by the date of entry into force of the Act.
Similarly, applications for a first-time residence permit as a spouse or cohabiting partner of a person with Danish/Nordic citizenship, a permanent residence permit or a residence permit as a refugee, an accompanying spouse or a cohabiting partner of a foreign worker, student, expatriate Dane, international pensioner or person with a residence permit under the Ukraine-Special Act, submitted from the time the bill is presented to the Danish Parliament or later, and which have not been processed by the time the Act enters into force, will be processed in accordance with the new rules prohibiting the recognition of foreign marriages between the aforementioned groups.
The law is expected to come into effect on 1 July 2026.
Finland
Legislative amendments concerning permanent residence permits to enter into force in January
Amendments to the Aliens Act, which will tighten the requirements of permanent residence permits, enter into force on 8 January 2026.
General changes
- In the future, issuing a permanent residence permit will require, with certain exceptions, six years of continuous residence in Finland.
- Applicants for a permanent residence permit will need to have sufficient knowledge of Finnish or Swedish and a two-year work history, although some exceptions will apply.
- It will still be possible to obtain a permanent residence permit after four years of uninterrupted residence if the applicant also meets one of the following conditions:
- Annual income of EUR 40,000 or
- A master’s degree or postgraduate degree recognised in Finland and at least two years of work history, or
- Particularly good knowledge of Finnish or Swedish and at least three years of work history.
- A permanent residence permit can be obtained without the required period of residence if the applicant has completed a master’s degree, a postgraduate degree or a bachelor’s degree in Finland. If the applicant has completed a bachelor’s degree at a university of applied sciences, the period of residence requirement must be met.
- A child under the age of 18 can receive a permanent residence permit without the required period of residence if their guardian has a permanent residence permit, a P-EU residence permit or Finnish citizenship.
- Granting an EU residence permit (P-EU) to a long-term resident who is a third-country citizen requires good knowledge of Finnish or Swedish.
- An unconditional sentence of imprisonment affects the calculation of the residence period for both permanent residence permits and P-EU residence permits.
In addition, applicants must also meet the other requirements for obtaining a residence permit.
The amendments apply to applications submitted on or after 8 January 2026
The amendments to the Aliens Act will not affect applications for a permanent residence permit or a P-EU residence permit submitted before the entry into force of the Act on 8 January 2026.
Those applying for a permanent residence permit can submit their application approximately three months before the required period of residence is completed. They also do not have to wait until their current permit expires.
The legislative amendments will not affect applications submitted before 8 January 2026 even if the appointment to prove identity at a service point is scheduled for after that date.
The Immigration Service will make a decision on applications submitted on or after 8 January 2026 in accordance with the amended legislation.
Permanent residence permit and P-EU residence permit application form renewal
The Immigration Service will renew application forms for permanent residence permits in the Enter Finland service on 8 January 2026 at 12 a.m. (Finnish time). The service will not be available during the update.
Applications in the system that have not been submitted before this renewal will disappear from the service during the renewal. Applicants who have an unfinished application in the system should complete their application and submit it by 11:59 p.m. on 7 January 2026 (Finnish time) to avoid having to restart the application.
Enter Finland’s form renewal applies to the following residence permits:
- Permanent residence permit and EU residence permit for a long-term resident who is a third-country citizen (P-EU permit)
- Permanent residence permit for a child and EU residence permit for a child of a long-term resident who is a third-country citizen (P-EU permit)
The paper application forms for permanent residence permits and P-EU residence permits will also be renewed.
Changes to government immigration fees in 2026
The Ministry of the Interior has issued a new decree on the Finnish Immigration Service’s fees. The decree will enter into force on 1 January 2026 and remain in force until 31 December 2026.
The processing fees for residence permit applications will be increased in order to better reflect the costs of processing incurred by the Finnish Immigration Service. The increases range from EUR 50 to EUR 250.
For example, processing an electronic application for a permanent residence permit will cost EUR 380 (previously EUR 240) and processing a paper application will cost EUR 600 (previously EUR 350). The processing fees for electronic applications continue to be lower than those of paper applications. The reason is that processing electronic applications is less costly for the Finnish Immigration Service.
All applications concerning minors and the first residence permit applications are still subject to a fee lower than the processing costs (excluding the first residence permit application of an employee, a start-up entrepreneur, an entrepreneur and a student). However, these fees will also be increased closer to cost equivalence. For example, processing an electronic application for an adult’s first residence permit will cost EUR 750 (previously EUR 530) and processing a paper application will cost EUR 800 (previously EUR 580).
Applying for international protection continues to be free of charge. However, the processing fee for an application for an extension based on international protection is EUR 53.
Changes to passport and identity card fees in 2026
The Ministry of the Interior has issued decrees on fees charged by the police and the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service. The decrees will enter into force on 1 January 2026 and be effective until 31 December 2026.
Depending on the application method, the prices of passports will decrease by EUR 7–9, and the prices of identity cards by EUR 6–8. In 2026, the price of a passport applied for in person will be EUR 48, and the price of a passport applied for electronically will be EUR 42. In 2026, the price of an identity card applied for in person will be EUR 59, and the price of an identity card applied for electronically will be EUR 53. If an identity card is applied for simultaneously with a passport, its price will be EUR 51 when applied for in person. The decrease in prices is due to the increase in the number of applicants for 2026.
Proposal to introduce citizenship test
Finland is set to introduce a citizenship test. Civic knowledge would be added as a new requirement for acquiring citizenship. The Ministry of the Interior has sent out for comments proposed amendments to the Citizenship Act and certain other acts.
The citizenship test will measure knowledge of how Finnish society works, its key principles, and the rights and responsibilities of individuals. Applicants could also demonstrate sufficient civic knowledge by passing the Finnish matriculation examination in Finnish or Swedish. Those who have completed a higher education degree in Finnish or Swedish would not be required to take the test.
The test questions will be based on predefined and publicly available learning material on civic orientation. The test would include questions on the values of Finnish society, key legislation, fundamental and human rights, equality, gender equality, and Finland’s history and culture. Applicants would take the computer-based test in Finnish or Swedish.
The Finnish Immigration Service will take on new official duties related to the citizenship test. It will commission a university to prepare the test.
The introduction of the citizenship test is part of a broader reform of the Citizenship Act, which tightens the conditions for acquiring citizenship. The aim is to encourage integration, work and compliance with the rules of Finnish society.
The deadline for submitting comments is 6 February 2026. The proposed legislative amendments are intended to enter into force at the beginning of 2027, when the citizenship test could also be introduced.
Iceland
Increase in fees for residence permit and citizenship applications
Effective 1 January 2026, the Icelandic Parliament has approved increases to the fees for residence permit and citizenship applications. The same legislation also abolished the service fee for fast-track processing of applications for residence permits based on work.
For applications submitted on or after 1 January 2026, the fees below will apply.
Applications for citizenship
- Application for citizenship: ISK 60,000;
- Application for citizenship for a child: ISK 30,000;
- If an application for citizenship is submitted simultaneously for an adult and their children, only one fee is charged: ISK 60,000;
- Notification of citizenship: ISK 30,000;
- Notification of citizenship for a child: ISK 15,000.
Applications for residence permits
First residence permits
- Application for a residence permit based on work: ISK 80,000;
- Application for a residence permit based on studies: ISK 70,000;
- Application for a residence permit based on family reunification: ISK 110,000;
- Application for a residence permit based on family reunification with a holder of international protection: ISK 90,000;
- Application for a residence permit based on family reunification for a child: ISK 60,000;
- Application for a residence permit based on au pair placement: ISK 120,000;
- Application for other residence permits: ISK 40,000.
Renewals
- Application for renewal of a residence permit based on work: ISK 80,000;
- Application for renewal of a residence permit based on studies: ISK 70,000;
- Application for renewal of a residence permit based on family reunification: ISK 60,000;
- Application for renewal of a residence permit based on family reunification with a holder of international protection: ISK 60,000;
- Application for renewal of a residence permit based on family reunification for a child: ISK 40,000;
- Application for renewal of a residence permit based on au pair placement: ISK 120,000;
- Application for renewal of other residence permits: ISK 40,000.
Permanent residence permits
- Application for a permanent residence permit: ISK 60,000;
- Application for a permanent residence permit for a child: ISK 30,000.
Provisional residence permits
- Application for a provisional residence permit: ISK 40,000.
Netherlands
New fees and required amounts for highly skilled migrants as of 1 January 2026
The new salary norms for highly skilled migrants were published in the Dutch Government Gazette on 18 December 2025.
These are the gross standard amounts per month without holiday allowance for 2026:
- Highly skilled migrants over 30 years of age: EUR 5942
- Highly skilled migrants under 30 years of age: EUR 4357
- Highly skilled migrant with reduced salary criterion: EUR 3122
- European Blue Card: EUR 5942
- European Blue Card reduced salary criterion: EUR 4754.
The new standard amounts will be available on the Income requirements standard amounts page as of 1 January 2026.
In addition, from 1 January 2026, new residency application fees will apply. The IND adjusts these fees every year as prices and wages rise. This year, the fees will increase by 4.4 percent.
From 1 January 2026, all new fees will be available on the page Fees: costs of an application.
