Policy changes
Each entry summarises the change, links to the primary government source, and lists the visa routes affected. Also available as RSS.
·Kingdom of the Netherlands·material
Netherlands publishes 2026 Kennismigrant salary thresholds
IND confirmed the 2026 age-tiered Kennismigrant (highly skilled migrant) salary thresholds and reduced post-Zoekjaar thresholds.
- — The under-30 Kennismigrant threshold, the over-30 threshold, and the reduced graduate threshold were all uplifted in line with the statutory index from 1 January 2026.
- — EU Blue Card thresholds in the Netherlands continue to be set at a higher level than the Kennismigrant over-30 figure and were uplifted in parallel.
- — Orientation-year graduates transitioning to Kennismigrant within three years of graduation continue to qualify at the reduced graduate threshold.
Primary source
IND — Salary requirements for highly skilled migrants · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
Link last verified:
·Republic of Ireland·material
Ireland refreshes Critical Skills Occupation List
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment published a refreshed Critical Skills Occupation List, adding several construction and care-related roles and tightening criteria for some ICT roles.
- — Several construction-trade and senior care-sector roles were added to the Critical Skills Occupation List, unlocking the fast-track Critical Skills Employment Permit for these occupations.
- — Minimum annual remuneration for Critical Skills permits remains EUR 38,000 for listed occupations with a relevant degree, and EUR 64,000 for roles not requiring a degree.
- — Spouses and partners of Critical Skills permit holders retain immediate access to the Irish labour market via Stamp 1G without a separate work permit.
Primary source
DETE — Critical Skills Occupation List · Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
Link last verified:
·Kingdom of Spain·significant
Spain closes its Golden Visa programme
Spain’s residence permit for investors (Golden Visa) closed to new applications on 3 April 2025 following Organic Law 1/2025.
- — New applications under the residence-by-investment route are no longer accepted as of 3 April 2025.
- — Permits already granted remain valid under the previous regime; renewals continue to be assessed under the original framework.
- — Spain continues to operate the Digital Nomad Visa, Non-Lucrative Visa, Highly Qualified Professional and Entrepreneur routes introduced or expanded by the 2022 Startups Law.
·Commonwealth of Australia·significant
Australia replaces 482 TSS with the Skills in Demand visa
Australia launched the Skills in Demand (SID) visa, replacing the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) framework with three income-based streams.
- — The SID visa has three streams: Specialist Skills (income above AUD 135,000), Core Skills (occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List and indexed income), and Essential Skills (lower-paid essential roles).
- — Pathways to permanent residence through subclass 186 (ENS) were broadened for SID holders.
- — Employer sponsorship, English-language, and skills-assessment requirements continue.
Primary source
Department of Home Affairs — Skills in Demand visa · Australian Department of Home Affairs
Link last verified:
·Canada·significant
Canada tightens Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility
IRCC introduced significant changes to PGWP eligibility, including field-of-study restrictions for most programmes and new language-test requirements.
- — Field-of-study restrictions were introduced for most PGWP applicants, mapped to occupations facing long-term shortages.
- — A CLB/NCLC language test became a mandatory eligibility criterion for most PGWP applicants.
- — Private-college PPP (public-private partnership) programmes are excluded from PGWP eligibility.
Primary source
IRCC — Post-Graduation Work Permit Program · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Link last verified:
·Portuguese Republic·material
Portugal tightens D8 digital-nomad documentation requirements
AIMA clarified documentation expectations for the D8 digital-nomad visa, standardising how contract income, remote-work arrangements, and minimum income evidence are assessed.
- — Minimum monthly income for D8 applicants is fixed at four times the Portuguese minimum wage, recalculated each January with the statutory minimum wage update.
- — Contracts must be with non-Portuguese clients or employers; Portugal-source income is excluded from the qualifying income calculation.
- — AIMA may require apostilled contracts and notarised translations into Portuguese where originals are not in an EU language.
Primary source
AIMA — Visto para o exercício de atividade profissional (D8) · Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA)
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·United Arab Emirates·material
UAE expands Green Visa eligibility for freelancers and skilled workers
ICP widened Green Visa eligibility criteria for freelancers, self-employed workers, and skilled employees, extending the 5-year self-sponsored residence option to a broader profile of applicants.
- — Freelancers and self-employed applicants can qualify for the Green Visa with proof of professional qualification and minimum income thresholds set by ICP, without an employer sponsor.
- — Skilled-employee Green Visa applicants require a valid employment contract classified in ICP occupational skill level 1, 2 or 3, plus a minimum monthly salary and a bachelor-level qualification.
- — Green Visa holders can sponsor first-degree relatives and children up to age 25, broader than the standard employment-visa family sponsorship window.
Primary source
ICP — Green Residence · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP)
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·Federal Republic of Germany·material
Germany launches the Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card)
Germany launched a new points-based residence permit for job seekers under the Skilled Immigration Act reforms.
- — The Chancenkarte is a 1-year job-search permit assessed against a points test (qualification, experience, language, age, Germany ties).
- — Holders may work up to 20 hours per week and undertake 2-week trial employment periods.
- — Conversion to an EU Blue Card or §18a/18b skilled-worker residence permit is permitted once a qualifying job offer is secured.
Primary source
Make it in Germany — Opportunity Card · German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
Link last verified:
·United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland·significant
UK raises Skilled Worker salary thresholds
The Home Office raised the Skilled Worker general salary threshold from GBP 26,200 to GBP 38,700, with parallel increases to going rates and shortage-route adjustments.
- — General salary threshold raised to GBP 38,700 for new Skilled Worker applications (with transitional protections for earlier applicants).
- — The Shortage Occupation List was replaced by the Immigration Salary List, with a 20% general threshold discount.
- — Care-worker routes retained distinct thresholds, subject to further rule changes in subsequent Statements of Changes.
·United States of America·material
USCIS final fee rule takes effect
USCIS implemented its first major fee schedule adjustment in nearly a decade, including differentiated H-1B filing fees by employer type.
- — Form I-129 fees differ by employer size (small-employer discount for eligible petitioners).
- — New Asylum Program Fee (USD 600 for most employers) was introduced and applies to H-1B, L-1, O-1, EB-type petitions.
- — Premium processing retained at USD 2,805 (15 business days).
Primary source
USCIS — Final Fee Rule (2024) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
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