Belgium
New cross-border worker rules announced
The Immigration Office has announced that new regulations governing cross-border workers will take effect in August (the day after their publication in the Belgian Official Gazette).
Cross-border workers residing in Germany, France, Luxembourg, or the Netherlands who hold an Annex 15 permit will be given a 12-month grace period to comply with the new regulations.
Cross-border workers residing in the United Kingdom are advised to apply for a long-term visa (D visa) as soon as possible at the Belgian Embassy in London, as they will no longer be able to enter Belgium with an Annex 15 as cross-border workers.
Netherlands
New rules for UK nationals under EU trade agreement
New rules have applied since 1 July 2026 for British people employed in liberal professions and service providers who work on a contract basis. This scheme, under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom, replaces the temporary workaround, under which both groups used the existing single permit application for paid employment.
Service providers who work on a contract basis will continue to be covered by the single permit. People employed in liberal professions can apply for a permit which is subject to the restriction ‘professional within the meaning of the applicable Trade Agreement’.
The key changes are as follows:
- The Employee Insurance Agency (Uitvoeringsinstituut Werknemers Verzekeringen, UWV) will check whether the role requires a qualification which is at least at higher vocational education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO) or university (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) level.
- Service providers who work on a contract basis, or people employed in a liberal profession, can submit a declaration from their client to demonstrate that they hold a qualification, or possess knowledge, at higher vocational education (HBO) or university (WO) level.
- Residence permits cannot be extended beyond the maximum period of 12 months for the purpose of carrying out the same work for the same employer.
- The income of someone employed in a liberal profession must be at least equal to the minimum wage.
United Kingdom
Global Talent visa scheme extended to more than one hundred companies
On 6 August 2026, the government announced an expansion of the Global Talent visa, granting access to the programme to over 100 companies, alongside the already approved universities and research institutes.
The R&D companies covered by the expansion fall into the eight high-growth sectors identified in the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, including advanced manufacturing, digital and technologies, clean energy, life sciences and the creative industries.
This latest expansion to the Global Talent visa UKRI Endorsed Funder pathway builds on the initial expansion in May to cover the remaining Association for Innovation, Research and Technology Organisation members (including IBM).
The full list of approved host research organisations, including the new businesses, is available here: UKRI list of approved research organisations – GOV.UK
Details of eligibility criteria can be found here: Work in the UK as a researcher or academic leader (Global Talent visa): UK Research and Innovation endorsement – GOV.UK
This expansion to the Global Talent visa follows change made in April to simplify the visa’s fast-track academic appointments route to cover all roles at approved UK institutions in academic, research or innovation leadership and development, and all PhD-level roles performing research and innovation as a primary function
The government is also preparing to broaden the Future Technology Research and Innovation (FTRI) scheme. This is a UKRI-run scheme under the Government Authorised Exchange visa route that enables eligible UK companies, working on critical technologies, to host international researchers, scientists, interns and technical specialists for research, training and work placements of up to two years.
The forthcoming expansion will open FTRI to a wider range of R&D focused businesses, giving more companies in priority technology sectors, such as AI, quantum and engineering biology.
Migration Advisory Committee publishes second stage review of temporary shortage list occupations
On 23 July 2026, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published its report on the second stage of its review of new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) occupations.
MAC recommends 28 occupations that should receive 18-month access to the TSL.
Background
In July 2025, following the government’s May 2025 immigration white paper, changes came into force increasing skills and salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas and the implementation of a new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) to replace the Immigration Salary List (ISL).
The TSL allows access to the Skilled Worker visa for certain occupations that do not meet the new higher skills thresholds. As outlined in the Immigration White Paper, the TSL will provide time-limited access to occupations below RQF 6 which are deemed crucial to the delivery of the Industrial Strategy or critical infrastructure.
On 2 July 2025, the Home Secretary commissioned the MAC to carry out an in-depth review of salary requirements for work visas and to also advise on the set of RQF 3-5 occupations to be included on the TSL.
On 9 October 2025, MAC published Stage 1 of its review, providing recommendations for the design of the TSL as well as a list of 82 occupations recommended to proceed to Stage 2.
Findings
In its Stage 2 report and its accompanying letter to the Home Secretary, MAC explains that it assessed which of the 82 occupations should be recommended for inclusion on the TSL, based on the criteria set out in the commissioning letter:
- Whether each occupation was in shortage or likely to be in shortage in the near future;
- Whether there is a credible plan to increase training and use of the domestic workforce;
- Whether risks of abuse or exploitation are being managed, and;
- Whether TSL access is appropriate overall based on nature of occupation, type of shortage and potential risks.
MAC ran a Call for Evidence (CfE) to collect occupation-specific Jobs Plans from sector-owning government departments and undertook significant engagement with employers and representative bodies to gather wider evidence.
Of the 46 occupations with Jobs Plans, MAC recommends that 28 occupations should receive 18-month access to the TSL. No occupations were judged to have a strong enough Jobs Plan to justify three-year access.
The 28 recommended occupations are as follows:
- Electrical and electronics technicians
- Engineering technicians
- Sheet metal workers
- Metal machining setters and setter-operators
- Metal working production and maintenance fitters
- Welding trades
- Boat and ship builders and repairers
- Planning, process and production technicians
- Metal plate workers, smiths, moulders and related occupations
- Electrical and electronic trades n.e.c. – Overhead Line Workers only
- Database administrators and web content technicians
- Data analysts
- Telecoms and related network installers and repairers
- Building and civil engineering technicians
- Ship and hovercraft officers
- Pipe fitters
- Electricians and electrical fitters
- Bricklayers
- Roofers, roof tilers and slaters
- Plumbers & heating and ventilating installers and repairers
- Carpenters and joiners
- Construction and building trades n.e.c. – Building envelope specialists, Curtain wall installers
- Plasterers
- Floorers and wall tilers
- Painters and decorators
- Construction and building trades supervisors
- Chemical and related process operatives
- CAD, drawing and architectural technicians.
