Denmark
Opening of the Working Holiday quotas for citizens of Chile and Argentina
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has announced that a new quota period for residence permits under the Working Holiday agreements for citizens of Chile and Argentina opened on 1 March 2026.
A total of 150 residence permits per year are available to citizens of Chile and Argentina under the Working Holiday agreements. The programme allows stays of up to one year in Denmark, and participants may do salaried work for up to nine of the twelve months
A quota year lasts from March through February of the following year and is divided into two quota periods. From March to August (the first quota period), SIRI may grant residence permits corresponding to half of the annual quota, which means up to 75 residence permits for each of the two countries.
Residence permits are granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Once 75 residence permits have been granted to citizens of each country, any remaining applications will be refused. In such cases, the case processing fee paid to SIRI will be refunded.
Please note that any fee paid to VFS Global or to the Danish representation in Chile will not be refunded if an application is refused because the quota has been reached.
Online visa invitation available for affiliated companies
Companies in Denmark that are affiliated with a company abroad where the visa applicant is employed can now submit an online invitation for a business visa application.
The new online invitation is called: VU5 online: Invitation for a business visa application – affiliated companies
The contact person for the company in Denmark can use VU5 online if they wish to make use of the special scheme exempting employees in affiliated companies from the requirement of a work permit.
If the company in Denmark has prior approval to receive visits from visa-required foreign nationals and is affiliated with a company abroad where the visa applicant is employed, the company can use the online invitation for companies with prior approval:
VF2 online: Invitation for a business visa application – companies with prior approval
In VF2 online, the contact person for the company can indicate that they wish to make use of the scheme for affiliated companies.
It is an advantage to use a visa invitation, as in most cases this shortens the processing time. Once an invitation has been completed, the application will generally be sufficiently documented at the time of submission. This means that it will normally not be necessary to obtain additional information from the host in Denmark.
Certain residence cards must be replaced in 2026
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has issued a notice stating that certain third-country nationals may need to replace their residence cards, as some cards will expire on 3 August 2026, due to new security requirements for residence documents.
A residence card must be replaced if the holder resides in Denmark on the basis of all three of the following conditions:
- They are a third-country national (a national of a country outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland);
- they have permanent residence in Denmark;
- they obtained permanent residence as a family member of an EU citizen.
At the same time, the residence card must have been issued in one of the following periods:
- Between 1998 and 2011.
- From 3 August 2016 to 3 August 2021.
This applies even if the card does not show an expiry date, or if the expiry date shown is later than 3 August 2026.
Those who are in Denmark must apply for a new residence card from SIRI. There is no fee for an application for a new residence card.
Those who are abroad must apply for a re-entry permit at the nearest Danish diplomatic mission.
Ireland
Extension of immigration permissions for beneficiaries of temporary protection
The Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs & Migration has extended immigration permissions for all people who are Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection up to 4 March 2027.
This extension applies to beneficiaries of temporary protection who are residing in Ireland with a Temporary Protection Certificate (yellow paper) valid until 4 March 2026.
Eligible beneficiaries do not need to apply for a new Temporary Protection Certificate and expired certificates may be used as proof of entitlement to temporary protection and related state services until 4 March 2027. They will, however, have to renew their Irish Residence Permit card (IRP card). This can be renewed here.
Italy
Further extension of deadline for registering minors born abroad for citizenship
The Italian consulate general in San Francisco has announced that, with the entry into force of law no. 26. Of 28 February 2026, converting Decree-Law No. 200/2025 (“milleproroghe”), the deadline for submitting declarations to acquire Italian citizenship for eligible minors born abroad has been extended from 31 May 2026 to 31 May 2029.
The extension applies to minors who, as of 24 May 2025, were children of Italian citizens by birth, as defined under Article 3-bis of Law No. 91/1992, and who may acquire Italian citizenship through a formal declaration submitted to the relevant consulate. Previously, citizenship was automatically granted at birth in these cases.
Malta
Pre-Departure Course Requirement will now be formally verified
Identità, the Maltese migration and identity agency, has informed employers, prospective applicants, and current clients that, effective 1 March 2026, the Pre-Departure Course certificate is now formally verified as part of the work permit application process for new and still abroad third-country nationals (TCNs).
The Pre-Departure Course was officially launched on 5 January 2026 and forms part of Malta’s updated regulatory framework governing employment entry procedures.
Tourism and Hospitality Sector
Applicants in the Tourism and Hospitality sector must present two separate certificates:
- The Pre-Departure Course Certificate (replacing Phase 1), and
- The Tourism & Hospitality Skills Pass Certificate (confirming full completion of the Skills Pass process).
Certification for the full Skills Pass is issued only upon successful completion of both phases, in line with applicable legal provisions.
Other Sectors (Excluding Tourism and Hospitality)
For all other sectors, the Pre-Departure Course is required for:
- New Applications, and
- Still Abroad Applications.
Exemptions
The following applicants are exempt from presenting the Pre-Departure Course certificate:
- Individuals currently holding or previously holding a Single Permit (unless applying again as first-time applicants after leaving the Schengen Area or through a Still Abroad application).
- Third-country nationals who have resided in Malta for eight years or more.
Important Notice
Employers and applicants are advised to ensure that all required documentation is obtained prior to submission of applications as from 1 March 2026, to avoid unnecessary delays in processing.
United Kingdom
Visa brake imposed on four countries
The Home Office has announced that an ‘emergency brake’ on visas will be imposed for the first time on nationals from four countries following a surge in asylum claims from legal routes.
Asylum applications by students from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan rose by over 470% between 2021 and 2025, and the number of Afghans on work visas claiming asylum is now outstripping the number of visas issued.
In response, the Home Office will end sponsored study visas from all four countries and skilled worker visas for Afghan nationals.
The visa brake will be introduced via an Immigration Rules change on 5 March 2026 and come into force on 26 March 2026.
