Denmark
New authority to assess non-state-approved educational programmes
From 15 September 2026, the unit that serves as the secretariat to the Danish Accreditation Council will take over from the Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA) the task of issuing advisory statements on non-state-approved educational programmes for use by SIRI when processing applications for residence permits for study.
The change does not affect the requirements for being granted a residence permit as a student in Denmark. SIRI can still only grant a residence permit for studies at publicly recognised educational institutions or at state-approved educational institutions subject to state supervision, provided that the applicant also meet the other requirements for being granted a residence permit as a student.
If a foreign national applies for a residence permit on the basis of an educational programme offered by a state-approved educational institution subject to state supervision, but the programme itself has not been approved by a state authority, a valid advisory statement on the programme is still required. The advisory statement assesses whether the academic content of the educational programme meets an acceptable standard of quality.
Advisory statements issued by the Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA) before 15 September 2026 will remain valid for the period for which they were issued and can still be used by SIRI when processing applications for residence permits for study.
The Danish Evaluation Institute (EVA), which previously issued the advisory statements, was closed down on 1 July 2026. Until 15 September 2026, the task was carried out by the Ministry of Children and Education on behalf of EVA’s board.
New digital application for people who are applying for a residence permit as accompanying family of a person who has been granted permanent residence in connection with work or study
On 14 September 2026, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) launched digital version of application form MF4. This can be used to apply for a residence permit as accompanying family of a person who has been granted permanent residence in connection with work or study.
Applicants can use MF4 to apply for an initial residence permit as accompanying family to a person who has been granted a permanent residence permit on the basis of work or study in Denmark, provided that the person either continues to meet the conditions for an extension of the residence permit they had when they were granted permanent residence, or has a job that would qualify them for a residence permit under one of the applicable work schemes.
Applicants can also use MF4 to apply for an extension of their current residence permit as accompanying family to a person who has been granted a permanent residence permit or Danish citizenship on the basis of work or study.
The digital MF4, which looks different from the printable version, also gives access to a platform where applicants can log in and see all of their ongoing applications, as well as their completed applications for up to 30 days after submitting them.
For a certain period of time, it will still be possible to submit the printable MF4 either physically or via a contact form. However, from 14 October 2026, users must use the digital MF4, and SIRI will, as a rule, reject the printable MF4 will.
From 14 October 2026, applicants will also no longer be able to use the applications MF1 and MF2 to apply for a residence permit as accompanying family to a person who has been granted a permanent residence permit or Danish citizenship on the basis of work or study. Instead, they must use the digital MF4.
Updated income statistics applicable to applications submitted from 1 October 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 second quarter of 2026 and will take effect for applications submitted from 1 October 2026. The income statistics are updated each quarter and It is expected that the next update will take effect from 1 January 2027.
Applications for a residence and work permit submitted after 30 September 2026 will be assessed based on the income statistics for Q2 2026. Applications submitted between 1 July and 30 September 2026 will be assessed based on the income statistics for Q1 2026.
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
Government proposes one-year waiting period for family reunion of international students
On 10 September 2026, the government submitted to parliament a proposal to introduce a one-year waiting period for family reunification of students, to clarify the amount of required financial resources and to add a language skill requirement to the residence permit for studies.
The government proposes that the family of an international student be able to apply for a residence permit only after the student has been in Finland for one year. In this way, the student would have a reasonable idea of the financial resources required for a family to live in Finland. Currently, the student’s family members can apply for a residence permit at the same time as the student.
The government also proposes clarifications to the requirement for sufficient financial resources. The amount of required income in euros would be defined in an act and laid down in a decree. This would ensure that students have a realistic idea of the cost of living in Finland and help the authorities determine the student’s financial resources during the permit consideration. The amount of required income would be reviewed every three years.
The government proposes to add a language proficiency requirement to the residence permit for studies. In this way, a residence permit could be denied in the absence of language skills, without imposing an additional burden on educational institutions or applicants with sufficient language skills.
The Government proposes that the denial criteria of the Aliens Act apply to upper secondary students and all their family members. This would enable the authorities to better mitigate the risks of students falling into a vulnerable position or circumventing the immigration rules already during the permit consideration.
The act and amendments are scheduled to enter into force on 5 April 2027. The application of the one-year waiting period for family reunification would begin at that time. Other amendments would become applicable in October 2027.
In addition, on 30 April 2026, the government submitted to parliament a proposal to strengthen the monitoring of students’ use of social assistance. In future, a residence permit of a foreign student could be cancelled more easily if the student could not make ends meet and resorted to social assistance in Finland. The changes would enter into force in autumn 2027.
United Kingdom
UK now has full access to CPTPP trade agreement
On 1 September 2026, the United Kingdom’s membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) took effect. Canada was the final country to ratify the UK’s accession to the trade bloc., on 3 July 2026.
The members of CPTPP are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and United Kingdom.
The UK and Canada continue to have a bilateral free trade agreement in force, the Trade Continuity Agreement. Prior to CPTPP EiF, under the TCA mobility was as follows – business visitors for investment purposes: stay permitted up to 90 days in any six-month period.
Temporary entry provisions
The UK’s CPTPP accession provides new access for Canadians that go beyond what is already available through the Canada-UK TCA. Canadians may be able to take advantage of the UK’s additional commitments for:
- Permanent residents
- Business visitors, who will be able to travel and stay up to 90 days in the UK within any 12-month period
- Investors, who will be able to travel and stay for up to 1 year in the UK to set up or manage an investment operation
- Spouses of intra-corporate transferees, who will be able to enter the UK and work alongside their partner for a period of up to 3 years.
In addition, highly-skilled Canadian professionals seeking to work in the UK on a short-term contract (either independently or through a company-to-company contract) will benefit from the UK’s commitment to double their duration of stay from 6 months under the TCA to 12 months through the CPTPP.
For UK national business travellers, the agreement will also make short term business travel to Canada more flexible. UK business visitors will be able to stay for up to six months, with the option to extend.
