Cyprus
New online payment service
On 2 November 2026, the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection and the Migration Department announced a new online service for the payment of fees relating to applications submitted in person at the Migration Department’s service points.
This follows the launch earlier this year of an online service for the submission of renewal applications for specific categories of residence permits for third-country nationals.
In addition to enabling online payments, the new service provides users with the following features:
- Access to the history of all electronic payments and the corresponding receipts.
- Ability to view, print or save payment receipts.
- Automatic email notifications regarding the issuance of the residence document and the designated collection point.
Access to the online services requires the creation and verification of a CY Login account, the Government’s unified electronic identification system that provides secure access to digital public services. It is noted that the electronic payment may be completed through any CY Login account and it is not necessary for the account to belong to the applicant.
the option to pay for applications at the Department’s service points will remain available. However, only one application may be paid per transaction. A gradual transition will take place towards electronic payments exclusively through the government portal gov.cy, with exceptions applying only to persons who are not yet eligible to create a CY Login account, such as individuals who have not yet obtained a residence permit for the first time.
European Union
Updated EU rules on social security coordination and posted workers enter into force
On 1 November 2026, the regulation revising the EU rules on the coordination of national social security systems entered into force today.
This Regulation followed the provisional agreement reached by the co-legislators earlier this year and its formal adoption by the European Parliament on 7 July 2026 and the Council of the EU on 28 September 2026.
To enable EU countries to adapt their national procedures, most of the updated rules will only apply after two years, as of 1 November 2028.
The revision focuses on five key areas:
- Improved protection of social security rights for people working or living abroad, with the establishment of a coherent regime for the coordination of long-term care benefits, and new rules regarding family benefits.
- Fairer labour mobility with a new definition of fraud in social security coordination. Workers will have to be affiliated to social security in their home country for at least three months before being posted to another EU country. After 24 months of posting, there must be a break of at least two months before another posting. Postings must be notified before they happen, apart from business trips. This notification is also not needed for short-term postings of a maximum of three days, in all sectors except the construction sector.
- New arrangements for the coordination of unemployment benefits in cross-border cases, as well as the extension of the period in which a person can move to another country to seek work while retaining the entitlement to unemployment benefits.
- Clearer rules defining which social security laws are applicable, in particular for the posting of workers and for work performed in two or more EU countries.
- Strengthened administrative cooperation between national authorities, through improved information exchanges on the social security status of people working in a different country, the introduction of clearer procedures and timelines in case of doubt about the validity of documents, and new tools to prevent fraud, abuse and errors
Next steps
Most of the revised rules, notably on applicable legislation and prior notification and on the coordination of long-term care benefits, family benefits and unemployment benefits, will apply in two years, i.e. on 1 November 2028.
Background
Each EU country is free to determine the features of its own social security system, including which benefits are provided, the conditions for eligibility, how these benefits are calculated and what contributions should be paid. At the same time, about 16 million European citizens live or work in another EU countries.
The EU provides rules to coordinate the national social security systems and ensure social security protection when a person moves within EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
European Parliament approves single online portal for posting workers
On 20 October 2026, the European Parliament gave its approval to a regulation for a single digital declaration portal for companies temporarily sending workers to another EU member state.
The digital portal, which member states can use on a voluntary basis, creates a digital interface to simplify administrative procedures for companies providing cross-border services and strengthens enforcement and protection for posted workers.
This aims to reduce the administrative burden, enhance transparency, increase legal certainty and help the effective enforcement of EU rules across the single market.
Based on Parliament’s recommendation, the co-legislators agreed to add an annex to the regulation, with a standard form for the online declaration for posted workers. This form must include information on the service provider, the posted worker, and the posting.
There will also be a new functionality in the public interface, allowing service providers to upload the relevant documents for posting workers.
The provisional agreement extends the scope of the proposed regulation to include non-EU service providers.
Before taking effect, the regulation must be formally adopted by the European Council, the new portal must be developed and member states must decide whether to use the portal.
The EU has established rules to protect the rights and working conditions of posted workers across member states, ensuring fair competition between posting and hosting companies, while upholding the principle of free movement of services. Employers sending workers to another EU country must notify the host country’s authorities by submitting a ‘posting declaration’ at the start of the posting.
Ireland
Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme extended
The Department of Justice has extended the Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme until 31 December 2026. Previously, it was due to end on 31 October 2026.
The programme allows nationals of certain countries, who have entered the UK on the basis of certain UK short stay (up to 180 days) visas, to travel to Ireland without the requirement to obtain an Irish visa. They may stay in Ireland for up to the time remaining on their current leave to remain in the UK, or up to 90 days, whichever is shorter.
Authorities urge holders of expiring residence permission to submit a renewal application as soon as possible if planning Christmas travel
The Department of Justice has issued a warning that the Immigration Services Registration Office Burgh Quay Dublin is currently experiencing a very large volume of applications for renewal of residence permission with a current processing time to renew an Irish Residence permit (IRP) card of 6-9 weeks.
Following the completion of the renewal of registration it may take a further two weeks to receive the new IRP card via post. An in-date IRP card may be required to facilitate travel to and from Ireland.
To facilitate non-EEA nationals legally resident in Ireland and who are intending to travel over the Christmas holiday period the Minister is urging customers to submit a renewal application online as soon as possible, should their current permission be expiring between now and their intended departure date or during travel.
Therefore, non-EEA nationals in Ireland, who are required to apply for a renewal of their IRP card, before or during any intended international travel over the coming Christmas holiday period, should apply online via the ISD online portal as soon as possible.
The Registration Office cannot guarantee that any renewal submitted close to planned travel will be processed and an IRP card delivered in time to facilitate travel (although every attempt will be made to do so).
Applicants for renewals are advised they should not rely on the issuance of re-entry visas to facilitate their travel. Re-entry visas will continue to be only considered where there is appointment availability, the applicant is awaiting delivery of their IRP card and can demonstrate a genuine need in an emergency, i.e., not planned work-related or recreational travel.
ISD notes that, regardless of the date on which a renewal application is submitted or processed, the validity period for renewal of the permission will be based on the current expiry date of the IRP card.
United Kingdom
Government reveals details of new settlement rules
On 2 November 2026, the Home Secretary made a statement in the House of Commons concerning the government’s proposed “earned settlement” rules. The government also released its response to the consultation on the proposals, which closed in February 2026.
The reforms are largely in line with those set out in the November 2025 consultation. However, the government has set out a new deal for care workers. Those who met their visa conditions and earned at least £25,000 a year will be able to settle after 5 years.
Those who do not qualify for 5-year settlement will be offered a second chance to contribute through a new 5-year visa. They will be able to apply for settlement only once these have been completed. A similar approach will apply to public service workers in healthcare and education who arrived during the same period.
The starting point for settlement will increase from 5 to 10 years. Individuals will be able to qualify sooner where they make a sustained contribution to the UK, while those who break the law or immigration rules may face a longer route or be unable to settle at all.
The highest earners (£125,141 per year) and those in high talent routes will be able to settle within 3 years.
Those earning more than £50,271 per year and some public service workers – like doctors, nurses and teachers – will be able to settle after 5 years.
Anyone seeking settlement, regardless of when they arrived in the country, will first need to meet four non-negotiable conditions:
- a spotless criminal record (up from the current threshold of a 12-month suspended sentence)
- English spoken to a high standard (equivalent to A-Level English as a foreign language)
- no debt owed to the taxpayer
- a record of sustained National Insurance contributions
Those who have breached immigration rules will only be able to settle after at least 20 years, and those who have claimed benefits must have had 5 continuous years without claiming before they make their settlement application.
Hong Kong British Nationals Overseas, members of our armed forces, those with a British connection and those on legacy routes such as Windrush, as well as some other groups, will stay on their current path to settlement.
The proposals do not apply to certain groups, including those on the EU Settlement Scheme and Turkish businesspeople and workers.
Refugees on Home Office-approved routes will be able to settle after 5 years. Others will settle at 20 years, reduced to 10 years for those who work or study. Anyone who arrived by small boat, or another clandestine means of entry, will face an additional 10-year waiting period – meaning they could wait up to 30 years for settlement.
The next step will be to translate the framework into detailed rules and operational arrangements. Before implementation, the government will publish further technical guidance and a full impact assessment.
