ICYMI: Aug 20 - Sept 2

Per a recent WERC article, "The World’s Top Immigration Destinations in 2026", international assignments and permanent relocations are becoming more complex as employees consider far more than just salary when considering a move abroad. Really, they are considering the whole experience and the quality of life in their new location. The article expounds on Remitly’s Immigration Index 2026, which highlights the top immigration destinations that blend career opportunity with quality of life. Here are those top 5 countries:

1. Switzerland
2. Iceland
3. Luxembourg
4. Australia
5. Germany

The report also shares the top 5 destinations for families:

1. Spain
2. China
3. United States
4. Sri Lanka
5. United Arab Emirates

With September arriving, mobility is being heavily impacted by rising housing costs, stricter digital border tracking, and shifting corporate relocation budgets. As we do every two weeks, let's catch up on some of the latest things impacting global mobility programs around the world!

European Union (Schengen Area)

• The following countries have internal checks at their borders in effect up to March 2027: Germany and Poland. Then following countries have internal checks at their borders in effect up to September-December 2026: Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Following the Ceuta incident, Spain and Italy have implemented border controls for arrivals from each other’s country until September 2026. 

Italy

• September will bring major travel disruptions across Italy, with nationwide rail, flight, and public transport strikes scheduled throughout the month. A national rail strike is set for September 8, 2026, from 09:00 to 16:59, causing potential delays and cancellations. Italy also faces multiple transport sector strike windows throughout September, with a multi-mode stoppage peak expected on September 26.

Ireland

• Dublin continues to see strong competition for rental properties, driven by demand from major technology and financial services employers. At the same time, limited housing supply and recent changes to national rent control rules are shaping landlord behavior and keeping the rental market tight. See what is driving rental pressure in Dublin in AIRINC’s latest Data Points update.
• IRP renewals are running approximately 6 to 17 weeks depending on volume and category, managed via the Information on online renewal timelines. Employers must respect the previous permission conditions for up to 12 weeks post-expiry if you applied on time. Standard, visit, and study visas are generally averaging around 20 to 45 working days, though specific categories like business can process faster (approx. 21 days).

Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced an increased Saudization rate for project management professions, (requiring companies to fill their workforce with a certain amount of Saudi nationals, rather than just expatriates), effective Feb. 14, 2027. A 70% Saudization rate will apply to all private-sector establishments that employ three or more workers in project management professions in accordance with the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupations.

New Zealand

• Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that, effective August 24, 2026, Group and Tour Escort visitor visa applications have now moved to INZ’s enhanced Immigration Online system.

Germany

• Hey, our newest location Spotlight webcast is now available: Checkout the Munich Spotlight we did with our Packimpex experts! Thanks Steffen and Simone!

Australia

• Australia’s Department of Home Affairs published updated processing times for skilled visa applications, including the Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Temporary Skills Shortage (subclass 482) and Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) subclasses. New skilled visa processing priorities favor occupations in law enforcement and defense, as well as applicants who already reside in Australia.

South Korea

• On August 24, 2026, The Ministry of Justice announced the opening of the 2027-28 edition of the region-specific visa program, along with some rule changes for the scheme. The program enables local governments to hire foreign nationals based on industrial and social needs by area.

Japan

• Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (ISA) has announced that fees for certain residence-related procedures will be significantly revised from October 1, 2026. The revision applies to fees for permission to change status of residence, permission to extend the period of stay, and permission for permanent residence. Under the new system, fees for changes and extensions of status of residence will vary depending on the period of stay granted.

Vietnam

• Effective September 10, 2026, the Vietnamese government will introduce updated administrative penalties for labor-related violations. While penalties for most work permit and foreign labor violations will remain broadly unchanged, the updated policy establishes new penalties for employers that fail to submit, or submit late, mandatory work notifications.

Thailand

• Thailand’s Ministry of Interior has announced revisions of the country’s visa exemption and visa-on-arrival schemes. Effective September 15, 2026, the existing 60-day visa exemption for nationals of 93 countries and territories will be revoked and replaced with shorter visa-exempt periods for a reduced number of nationalities. Foreign nationals who enter Thailand under the existing 60-day visa exemption before September 15, 2026 may remain for the full period granted upon entry. The revised rules will apply only to travelers entering Thailand on or after that date. 

Malaysia

• Malaysian authorities have introduced a new photograph-verification procedure for certain applications submitted through the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Expatriate Services Division (ESD) systems.  For applications filed through the MDEC, photographs submitted with Employment Pass and related Dependant Pass applications must now also be verified through the eVISA portal.

Middle East

• Checkout these travel considerations from Fragomen related to the Middle East. With the United States and Israel launching an airstrike campaign targeting Iran and subsequent retaliatory strikes, there were significant travel disruptions in the region, which have now largely stabilized. However, regional tensions remain elevated and the situation remains fluid.

Worldwide (multiple countries)

• Several countries are starting to impose travel restrictions to prevent the spread of Ebola. Click here to see the list of 19 countries from the Bahamas to United Arab Emirates. These primarily focus on travelers coming from Uganda, Congo, or South Sudan. 

United States

• The proposed $103,265 H-1B fee is not final, but its potential impact on employer-sponsored immigration is significant. DHS states that the proposed $103,265 fee is based on a separate statutory authority from the administration’s 2025 presidential proclamation that imposed a $100,000 payment requirement on certain H-1B petitions. That earlier policy remains the subject of ongoing litigation.  Notably, DHS indicates that if the proclamation ultimately survives legal challenges or is extended, employers could potentially be required to pay both amounts. There is also a plan to eliminate the 60-day window for H-1B workers to find new employment after a job loss has received approval from a key White House office, signaling its public release soon.
• The State Department updated global visa wait times on Aug. 17, 2026. The average wait times reported do not guarantee a visa applicant will get an appointment within a specific time. U.S. embassies and consulates regularly release additional appointment slots. Applicants who want an earlier appointment slot after initially scheduling their interview should check back frequently and move their appointment to another slot if available.
• On August 25, 2026, Reuters reported that the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has directed U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to pause immigrant visa appointments while consular officers undergo training on the administration’s recently expanded public charge screening requirements. According to the report, the DOS has launched a global training initiative designed to help officers assess whether visa applicants are likely to become dependent on U.S. public benefits and to ensure that immigrant visa applications are evaluated consistently across all posts worldwide.

And let's wrap up with a quick glance across the U.S. on rents. Here are the top locations for rent increases and decreases year-over-year from the latest Apartment List report: