Denmark
Adjustment of the Positive Lists
On 1 January 2026, The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) published new Positive Lists for Skilled Work and People with a Higher Education. It has since become clear that there were a number of minor errors in the overviews of positions with labour shortages, on which the Positive Lists were based.
SIRI is therefore publishing adjusted Positive Lists that are effective from 19 January 2026.
The large majority of positions remain unchanged. However, there have been minor changes, and a small number of positions have been removed. Those who have submitted an application for a residence and work permit for one of the positions that was added to the list on 1 January, but is no longer on the Positive Lists, will hear from SIRI.
The Positive List for People with a Higher Education contains 180 positions, while there are 54 positions on the Positive List for Skilled Work.
Iceland
Residence permit cards to be collected at Reykjavik supermarket
The Directorate of Immigration has begun cooperation with the supermarket chain Hagkaup regarding the collection of residence permit cards at their branch in the Skeifan area of Reykjavik, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
When a card is ready for collection, the applicant will receive an email with information on where to collect it.
Who can collect a residence permit card at Hagkaup
Applicants can only collect their card at Hagkaup if they had their photo for the residence permit card taken at the Directorate of Immigration and they do not have a valid residence permit card in their possession.
- They must collect the card within 7 days of receiving notification that their card is available for pickup at Hagkaup.
- If the card is not collected within that time, it will be sent to the Directorate of Immigration, Dalvegur 18, for collection.
- They must collect their card, and the cards of children in their custody, themselves. They cannot authorize another person to collect their residence permit card on their behalf.
Who cannot collect a residence permit card at Hagkaup
If the photo was taken at a District Commissioner’s office, the applicant needs to collect their card from the office where the photo was taken. They can request to collect the card at Hagkaup, but such a request must be received well in advance of the card being produced.
Those who have a valid residence permit card in their possession must collect the new residence permit card and return the old card to the Directorate of Immigration or the District Commissioner’s office where they had their photo taken.
United Kingdom
1st ballot of the 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme for Hong Kong and Taiwan youth
On 16 January 2026, the government announced that the first ballot for the 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme will open from 12:01am on Tuesday 10 February 2026 and close at 12:01am on Thursday 12 February 2026.
As in previous years there are a total of 1000 places available to Taiwanese youth for 2026, and 1000 places for Hong Kong youth.
Most places will be allocated during the first ballot in February, while the remaining places will be made available in a second ballot in the summer. Those who are successful in the ballot and go on to make an application and be issued a visa will be able to live, work and study in the UK for up to two years.
Once the ballot closes, allocations will be chosen at random by UKVI. Those who are successful will receive an email by Friday 27 February 2026 to confirm acceptance and provide further instructions on how to start the online application, along with documentary evidence required to apply for entry clearance.
Applicants then have 90 days to submit a completed application , pay the visa fee and attend a visa application centre biometrics appointment.
Those who are unsuccessful in the ballot will receive an email within two weeks of the ballot closing. The results of the ballot are final. Unsuccessful applicants cannot appeal but can enter future ballots if they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
Background
Applications for the Youth Mobility scheme visa can be submitted by nationals of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Korea aged 18 to 35; and nationals of Andorra, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, San Marino, Taiwan and Uruguay aged 18 to 30.
Applicants from Hong Kong or Taiwan must be selected in the Youth Mobility Scheme ballot before they can apply for their visa. Japanese and South Korean nationals no longer need to enter the ballot and can enter at any time online.
There is a separate ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme for Indian nationals aged between 18 and 30 years.
