Denmark
Updated income statistics applicable to applications submitted from 1 July 2026
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) uses income statistics made by the Confederation of Danish Employers (DA) in the processing of applications to decide if an offered job is within the Danish standards for salary. This applies to the Pay Limit Scheme, the Positive List and the Fast Track Scheme, among other routes.
The new income statistics contain information from the first quarter of 2026 and will take effect for applications submitted from 1 July 2026. The income statistics are updated each quarter and It is expected that the next update will take effect from 1 October 2026.
Applications for a residence and work permit submitted after 30 June 2026 will be assessed based on the income statistics for Q1 2026. Applications submitted between 1 April and 30 June 2026 will be assessed based on the income statistics for Q4 2025.
SIRI will usually assume that the salary corresponds to Danish standards, and will not make further assessment, if it is stated in the application form and employment contract that the employer is covered by a collective agreement.
SIRI will assess whether the salary corresponds to Danish standards when the employer is a member of an employers’ organisation, but the employment relationship is not covered by a collective agreement. If the salary is just above the regular pay limit, SIRI will generally assume that the salary corresponds to Danish standards.
In cases where the employment relationship is not covered by a collective agreement and the employer is not a member of an employers’ organisation, SIRI will assess whether the salary corresponds to Danish standards up to approximately DKK 80,500, using the income statistics from the DA as a guideline.
Finland
Citizenship test requirement forthcoming
The Finnish Parliament has approved changes to the Citizenship Act, introducing stricter requirements for acquiring Finnish citizenship. The new rules enter into force on 1 January 2027 and will apply to applications submitted on or after 1 March 2027.
In the future, acquiring citizenship will require sufficient knowledge of and integration into Finnish society. Applicants can meet the requirement for sufficient knowledge of Finnish society by passing the new citizenship test. Alternatively, sufficient knowledge can be demonstrated by completing the matriculation examination in Finnish or Swedish, or by earning a Finnish- or Swedish-language higher education degree in Finland.
The requirement for sufficient knowledge of Finnish society applies to applicants aged 18–64. Exemptions from the requirement may be granted in some cases for reasons of health or disability, or for other very serious reasons.
The test will cover topics such as key legislation governing life in Finnish society, fundamental and human rights, Finnish history and culture, as well as questions of equality, including equality between genders. You can take the test in Finnish or Swedish.
All applications submitted before 1 March 2027 via the Enter Finland online service or at a service point of the Finnish Immigration Service will be processed according to the rules of the current Citizenship Act.
Ireland
Amendments to Policy on Non-EEA Family Reunification
With effect from 12 June 2026, amendments have been made to the revised non-EEA Family Reunification Policy and to Family Reunification for those granted International Protection.
The main changes for Irish nationals and certain non-EEA nationals are:
- General Employment Permit holders and other Category C sponsors will be required to provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that they are in a position to accommodate their joining family members, while all sponsors will be ineligible if they are in certain supported accommodation.
- The financial thresholds for Irish citizens applying to be joined by spouses and children are also increasing. A sponsor must now show a gross income over three years of EUR 75,000 (EUR 25,000 per year) an increase from EUR 40,000 (EUR 13,333 per year).
- Other financial thresholds will increase in line with indexation.
The main changes for people granted international protection are:
- People granted international protection status will be required to wait two years from the date they were granted protection before becoming eligible to apply for family reunification under the new International Protection Act.
- Such sponsors must also demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to support family members without placing an undue burden on the State. There are certain exceptions to this where the sponsor is a minor.
- The sponsor must also not be in receipt of certain social protection payments or housing supports and must not owe a debt to the State for a defined period prior to submitting an application.
- Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, regardless of when they received their declaration, will no longer be eligible under the Family Reunification Policy, unless they are applying for family members where the relationship formed after they entered Ireland. (Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection can still apply for Family Reunification under the International Protection Act).
Switzerland
Government lifts visa restrictions on Ethiopia
Switzerland has decided to lift the visa restrictions it has applied to Ethiopia since April 2024. The Federal Council adopted the measure at its meeting on 12 June 2026, following a decision by the Council of the European Union (EU) to reinstate certain visa requirements for Ethiopia in response to the country’s improved cooperation on returns.
Two years ago, the EU suspended certain provisions of the Visa Code for Ethiopia because the country was not cooperating sufficiently on the return of its nationals staying illegally in the Schengen area. As this constituted a development of the Schengen acquis, Switzerland followed suit.
Given the marked improvement in Ethiopia’s cooperation on returns, the EU reactivated these Visa Code provisions in May 2026. Switzerland has likewise noted a significant improvement on returns and, as a Schengen-associated state, supported this measure.
With immediate effect, Switzerland is reintroducing the following facilitations for Ethiopian nationals: the option to waive supporting documents, exemption from visa fees for holders of diplomatic and service passports, the issuing of multiple-entry visas, and the processing of visa applications within 15 days.
United Kingdom
Home Office extends use of expired Biometric Residence Permits
On 8 June 2026, the Home Office updated its guidance, extending the period that expired Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) can be used to prove identity on the UK Immigration: ID Check app from 18 months to 24 months after the expiry date, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.
All BRPs have now expired, but this does not mean that the corresponding Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) statuses have also expired.
The Home Office is replacing physical documents, such as BRPs and vignette stickers, with a digital record of immigration status known as an eVisa.
Those who have permission to stay in the UK longer than the expiry date of their BRP need to create an account to get an eVisa. Access to the eVisa will not be automatically set up.
The Home Office advises that these individuals should keep their expired BRP as it may help with future applications to stay in the UK.
The extended deadline for using expired physical residence documents does not apply to residents those who have travelled outside the UK. They need an eVisa to demonstrate their permission to return to the UK.
