France
Minimum wage increase
The French minimum wage (SMIC) increased by 2.41% on 1 June 2026, as announced earlier by the Ministry of Labour and Solidarity.
On that date, the hourly minimum wage increased from EUR 12.02 gross to EUR 12.31. This is equivalent to a full-time gross monthly salary of EUR 1867.02 gross per month compared to EUR 1823.03 previously, which corresponds to an increase of EUR 43.99 gross per month.
This automatic adjustment affects international talent mobility and the recruitment of foreign employees in France, as several residence permits are tied to income or salary thresholds indexed to the SMIC, which are therefore automatically increased as well. This applies in particular to the Talent “Business Creator”, the French Tech Visa for Founders, and the Talent “Corporate Officer” permits.
Gibraltar
Government announces new Residence Criteria framework
On 17 June 2026, the government of Gibraltar announced a new Residence Criteria framework designed to ensure that residency in Gibraltar is based on genuine economic contribution, regulatory compliance and to protect the ability to continue to provide public services in Gibraltar to Gibraltarians.
The principal new residency requirements include:
- An employment contract with a salary equivalent to the average gross annual earnings in Gibraltar as per the Employment Survey Report (currently £37,500 rounded up to the nearest 500).
- Employment by a fully registered business that has been trading in or from Gibraltar for at least a year.
- Evidence of the rental/purchase of a property in Gibraltar, to be used as the applicant’s primary residence.
- Proof that the applicant is 55 years old or under.
- An official vetting form from the country of origin.
- If the applicant is under 30 years of age, the salary requirement may be waived if the Employer pays the tax and social insurance contributions as if the employee’s salary met the requirement, until they reach the salary threshold.
- Businesses that have been trading for less than a year or applicants who are self-employed must provide an advance payment in the form of a deposit equivalent to the total employee and employer social insurance contribution for the first year of employment; and the total tax payable on the equivalent of the average gross annual earnings in Gibraltar (taxable at 25%). This deposit will be returned upon the cessation of business.
- Any unmarried partner of an individual with Gibraltarian Status will be permitted to reside in Gibraltar where evidence is provided of a durable relationship of at least two years. Any individual who is applying for Residence in Gibraltar and wishes their spouse to reside with them must pay an amount equivalent to the maximum employee’s Social Insurance contribution to the government, on behalf of their Spouse. Any individual applying for Residence may be accompanied only by their spouse and/or children
The regulations giving effect to the new framework are now being drafted and will be published later.
The new residence policy does not apply to current holders of Gibraltar Identity Cards or current Gibraltar residents who have obtained residence before 6 October 2025.
Persons who were resident before 6 October 2025 will be subject to the regime applicable on that date and the time period for the application for Gibraltarian Status will be respected.
Persons in Gibraltar before 6th October 2025 who were not holders of a residence card will be subject to this new regime, unless there is a good reason for the exercise of discretion to permit an application under the old regime.
Note that anyone who has been granted a permit of residence and currently lives on a vessel, would be permitted to continue living on a vessel. However, no future applications will be accepted from individuals living on vessels.
Iceland
Work permits move to Immigration Directorate; Students exempt
On 18 June 2026, the Icelandic Parliament (Alþingi) passed amendments to the Foreign Nationals Act and the Act on the Employment Rights of Foreign Nationals, transferring responsibility for processing applications and issuing work permits from the Directorate of Labour to the Directorate of Immigration.
The amendments will enter into force on the day following their publication in the Official Gazette, which is expected to take place within a few weeks of their passage by Alþingi.
Any work permit applications that have not been processed by the Directorate of Labour before the amendments enter into force will be handled by the Directorate of Immigration once the amendments take effect.
Until the amendments enter into force, the Directorate of Immigration does not have the legal authority to process work permit applications and is therefore unable to respond to inquiries concerning individual cases related to such applications. Applicants, employers, and other interested parties are therefore requested to refrain from submitting inquiries regarding work permits until the amendments have taken effect and further information has been published on the Directorate’s website.
The transfer of responsibilities is expected to have a temporary impact on application processing times and response times to inquiries while new procedures are being established. The Directorate of Immigration asks applicants and other stakeholders for their understanding during this transition period and thanks them for their patience as the legislative changes are implemented.
Furthermore, once the new legislation takes effect, students will no longer be required to obtain a work permit in order to work in Iceland. Students who do not currently hold a valid work permit may not begin working until the legislation has entered into force. The effective date will be announced on the Directorate of Immigration’s website.
United Kingdom
Second ballot of the 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme for Hong Kong and Taiwan youth announced
On 23 June 2026, the government announced that the second (and final) ballot for the 2026 Youth Mobility Scheme will open from 12:01am on Tuesday 14 July 2026 and close at 12:01am on Thursday 16 July 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 are allocated during the first ballot in February, while the remaining places are 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 Thursday 30 July 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
The scheme allows successful applicants to live and work in the UK for up to two years.
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.
