ICYMI: Dec 12 - Dec 25

The end of December is always hectic, so we'll keep it simple today. Let's take a look at some global updates from the past two weeks which might be important for mobility programs. In case you missed it: 

1. European Union: The European Council has confirmed that effective January 1, 2025, Bulgaria and Romania will fully join Europe’s Schengen Area. This will end border checks for land-based travel from other Schengen Area countries. According to Fragomen, travel between Bulgaria, Romania, and other Schengen Area countries will become easier and quicker, as affected travelers will no longer be subject to border control inspections in any way.
    
2. Malaysia: Per Newland Chase, Malaysia's ESD started accepting quota submissions for Employment Pass (EP) and Professional Visit Pass (PVP) applications for 2025. Submissions opened on December 1, 2024. This allows companies registered with ESD to plan headcounts and align their workforce strategies for the coming year. Companies can apply for quotas throughout 2025 as needed. Approval for quota applications remains instantaneous. Any unused quota from 2024 will not carry forward to 2025, so it's important to use this year’s allocations effectively.
    
3. Ireland: All I want for Christmas is a renewed Irish Residence Permit! A temporary  arrangement will help eligible non-EEA nationals who are required to apply for a renewal of their IRP card may use their current recently expired IRP card to enable them to travel from December 02, 2024, to January 31, 2025. You can learn more here.
    
4. Australia: Australia is taking a significant step forward in aligning its immigration system with evolving workforce demands. On December 7, 2024, the Australian Government unveiled its newly reformed Skills in Demand (SID) visa, replacing the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. These changes promise to streamline migration pathways, enhance flexibility for workers and employers, and bolster Australia’s global competitiveness. More here from Newland Chase!
    
5. United Kingdom: Last mention of this one! Take three minutes to read this, as Americans traveling to the U.K. in 2025 will need to complete this new requirement. Effective Jan. 8, 2025, American citizens will be among those who will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the U.K. 
    
6. New Zealand: From Fragomen, throughout 2025, the New Zealand government will progressively remove the median wage threshold, reduce experience requirements, introduce new seasonal visa pathways, and redesign the Job Check process of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) program. These changes are expected to reduce the administrative burdens of AEWV applicants and address the labor shortages in New Zealand. Additionally, EIG reports that Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is also making changes to slow the expected increase in processing times for partnership residence applications.
    
7. China: According to EIG, China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) has announced the expansion of the visa-free transit policy, effective December 17, 2024. Qualifying travelers in China can now stay in the country for up to 240 hours (10 days), up from the previous 72 or 144 hours. The number of ports that can be used for visa-free transit has also increased by 21, from 39 to 60. Also the number of participating provinces has increased from 19 to 24. The new provinces are Anhui, Hainan, Guizhou, Shanxi (Taiyuan and Datong) and Jiangxi (Nanchang and Jingdezhen).  The permitted stay areas of Fujian, Hubei and Shaanxi provinces and of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have also been expanded.
    
8. Canada: Per CIC News, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended its temporary public policy allowing temporary resident (TR) to permanent resident (PR) pathway applicants to receive longer open work permits (OWPs) while their applications are in process. This policy also extends the eligibility of spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children of principal PR applicants for OWPs. This temporary public policy has been extended to December 31, 2026.
    
9. Sweden: Fragomen reports that effective January 1, 2025, Sweden will introduce more relaxed EU Blue Card rules. These reforms are part of Sweden’s adherence to the requirements of the 2021 EU Blue Card Directive.  Key changes include, among others:
   • Lower minimum salary thresholds;
   • Reduced job-offer duration requirements;
   • Expanded eligibility;
   • Relaxed long-term mobility pathways; and
   • Relaxed change-of-job rules.