Denmark
Positive List for People with a Higher Education updated
The Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) has published an updated version of the Positive List for People with a Higher Education, effective 1 October 2026.
The update has been implemented based on the Regional Labour Market Councils, which have submitted an additional job title that is to be added to the list. The new job title is midwife. This update will only be relevant to the geographical area under the Regional Labour Market Councils of Eastern Denmark.
Foreign nationals who have been offered a job requiring university level qualifications in a profession with a shortage of qualified professionals on the list can apply for a residence and work permit in Denmark based on the scheme.
Iceland
The Ministry of Justice has announced publication of a bill on the government’s consultation portal to amend the law on residence permits for foreigners. The amendments primarily concern people from countries outside the European Economic Area and the purpose is to bring the legislation closer to that in force in other Nordic countries.
Among the main changes in the bill are:
- Six years of residence required, instead of four, before applying for a permanent residence permit;
- Changed age requirement for spouses and two years of cohabitation;
- Changed conditions for family reunification;
- New permit for victims of labour market violations;
- Cancellation of residence permits for au pairs for people outside the EEA.
The bill is based on the recommendations of a working group appointed by the Minister of Justice in 2025. The group submitted a report called Iceland in Rapid Growth .
The bill clarifies the government’s responsibilities while increasing the requirements for applicants. The bill does not invalidate permits that have already been granted and the right of EEA citizens to live and work here remains unchanged.
Lithuania
Changes to temporary residence permit and D visa applications for certain nationals
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that, effective 1 November 2026, nationals and permanent residents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan intending to travel to Lithuania for studies or other long-term stay purposes will be able to submit applications to the Migration Department for the issuance of national (D) visas or temporary residence permits through the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan. This change does not apply to individuals applying for Schengen visas (Type C).
The VFS Global visa application centres representing Lithuania in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will continue to accept applications for Schengen visas, which are intended for short-term stays (up to 90 days within any 180-day period) in the Schengen Area for purposes such as tourism, business, official visits, family visits, medical treatment and similar activities. Schengen visas do not provide a basis for long-term residence, studies or employment in Lithuania. Applications for Schengen visas are examined and decisions on their issuance are taken by the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Republic of Lithuania abroad.
A Schengen visa is not an alternative to a national (D) visa or a residence permit in the Republic of Lithuania, and possession of a Schengen visa does not confer the right to work in Lithuania. Although both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Migration Department cooperate with the same external service provider, VFS Global, the procedures for issuing Schengen visas and for issuing national (D) visas and temporary residence permits are separate, and cooperation with VFS Global is carried out under different contractual arrangements.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible solely for the organisation of the Schengen visa issuance process, whereas policy and application intake arrangements for national (D) visas and temporary residence permits fall within the competence of the Ministry of the Interior.
Individuals planning to submit applications after 1 November 2026 are encouraged to familiarise themselves in advance with the updated procedures and document submission requirements.
Montenegro
Visa policy aligned with European Union
On 23 July 2026, the Government of Montenegro adopted the Decree Amending the Decree on the Visa Regime, aligning its visa rules with those of the European Union.
Effective 1 November 2026, nationals of countries whose visa regimes were previously not aligned with that of the European Union (Belarus, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye) will require a visa to enter Montenegro.
Applications for Montenegrin visa no longer need to be submitted exclusively through Montenegro’s diplomatic and consular missions. Applications may now also be submitted through VFS Visa Application centred (VACs) in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, India, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates. Further VACs are planned to open in Bahrain, Belarus, China, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
This will enable applicants to submit their visa applications at the nearest VFS Visa Application Centre, eliminating the need to travel to a Montenegrin embassy or consulate and making the application process significantly more efficient, convenient and accessible.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is implementing a new, modern Visa Information System, which will be fully interoperable with the European Union’s information systems and aligned with Schengen security standards.
The ultimate objective of this project is the introduction of an electronic visa (e-Visa) system, which will enable visa applications to be submitted online, ensuring faster processing times and more efficient service delivery for applicants.
