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October 21, 2025 | SingaporeSingapore: Permanent Residents Will Need to Apply for a Re-Entry Permit to Maintain Permanent Residence Status
October 21, 2025 | DenmarkDenmark: New Online System for Foreign Service Providers’ Requirements Forthcoming
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Weekly Immigration Update: January 5–11, 2024

January 11, 2024

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In immigration news this week:

  • United States: A final Department of Homeland Security fee regulation that would increase the filing fees for many immigration benefit filings is under federal review, bringing the regulation closer to publication and implementation.
  • South Korea: A digital nomad visa called the ‘Workcation Visa’ is now available in a trial program for an indefinite period.
  • Kenya: Effective January 1, all foreign nationals can now enter Kenya without a visa for tourism or business for stays up to 90 days.
  • Worldwide/Ukraine: Spain and Sweden will allow temporary protection status holders to extend their status until March 4, 2025. Sweden also now allows some individuals who have been residing in Sweden before December 22, 2023 to be eligible for temporary protection status. Ireland has automatically extended all temporary protection residence permits until March 4, 2025. See our consolidated alert for details.
  • Minimum salary updates: Albania, Finland, and Romania have increased their minimum salaries, while Ireland will increase minimum salaries for several work permit types on January 17. See our consolidated alert for details. 
  • Brazil: The visa requirement for nationals of Australia, Canada and the United States has been postponed to April 10. See our news brief for details.
  • South Africa: The Department of Home Affairs has extended the deadline for public comments on the “White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection” to January 31, up from January 19. See our alert for details.
  • European Union/Bulgaria/Romania: Following further guidance from EU officials, it has been clarified that Bulgaria and Romania are expected to start issuing uniform Schengen C visas on April 1. See our alert for details.
  • European Union: Effective January 1, Italy joined the framework agreement on social security rules for teleworking. See our news brief for details.
  • Canada: An online portal is now available for Designated Learning Institutions to verify a study permit applicant’s letter of acceptance. See our alert for details. Also, the dedicated temporary residence pathway for those in Gaza who are eligible extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents has officially opened. See our news brief for details.
  • Greece: In-country applications for Digital Nomad visas did not cease as expected on January 1, and it is still possible to submit in-country applications for this visa type. See our news brief for details. The effective date of the law, which would have created an Investor Residence Permit, among other changes, has been postponed. See our alert for details.
  • Qatar: The validity of existing Hayya Cards has been extended to February 24. See our news brief for details.

These items and other news from Mainland China, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore follow in this edition of the Fragomen Immigration Update.

Important updates in immigration this week

Ecuador, January 10, 2024
State of Emergency Affecting Mobility and Immigration Processing

  • Escalating violence and security concerns in Ecuador are limiting mobility and causing immigration service disruptions.
  • Due to security concerns, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility has closed all its branches.
  • Employers and foreign nationals will not be able to submit initial or renewal visa applications in Ecuador and will not receive adjudications on their applications until the Ministry reopens.
  • Service disruptions and processing delays for all other immigration-related applications can also be expected until the situation normalizes.
  • Fragomen is working with affected clients on a case-by-case basis.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Netherlands, January 10, 2024
Immigration Authority Implements Several Elements of Revised EU Blue Card Directive

  • The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) has amended the rules for the EU Blue Card permit, mirroring several elements of the revised EU Blue Card Directive.
  • Under the reforms, the IND has established alternate professional experience application pathways for information and communication technology managers or professionals. Employment contract durations have also been reduced.
  • The rules also expand eligibility to international protection beneficiaries, and provide more generous long-term mobility options, while retaining existing short-term mobility options.
  • Although these rule changes already went into effect, the Netherlands has not yet formally transposed the revised EU Blue Card directive. This is expected to occur in early 2024, and may further change the country's EU Blue Card policy.

To view entire article, click here.

 

United States, January 9, 2024
DHS Fee Rule Under Federal Review – Steep Increases Anticipated for Employment-Based Petitioners

  • A final DHS fee regulation that would increase the filing fees for many immigration benefit filings has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.
  • The new fee regulation is expected to increase and create separate fees for H-1B, L-1, and other nonimmigrant case types, increase the H-1B cap registration fee, impose an additional fee on Forms I-129 and I-140, increase premium processing timelines, and unbundle adjustment of status and ancillary benefit fees, among other measures.
  • The final regulation is slated to be published in April 2024, but could be finalized earlier.

To view entire article, click here.

 

South Korea, January 8, 2024
Digital Nomad Visa Trial Program Introduced

  • The government of South Korea announced that a digital nomad visa called the ‘Workcation Visa’ is now available. It is currently in a trial program for an indefinite period.
  • The visa will allow eligible foreign nationals (and family members) to reside in South Korea while teleworking for their home employer for up to two years.
  • Eligibility requirements include a sufficient minimum income according to government regulations; a clean criminal record; and work experience in their field for at least one year, among other requirements.

To view entire article, click here.

 

Kenya, January 5, 2024
New Visa Waiver for All Nationals; Electronic Travel Authorization Required for Some

  • All foreign nationals, regardless of nationality, can now enter Kenya without a visa for tourism or business travel for stays up to 90 days, as of January 1, 2024.
  • Travelers must obtain a new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) online prior to travel. The ETA costs USD 30 and government processing takes up to three business days.
  • East African Community nationals are exempt from the ETA requirement.
  • The ETA is only valid for one trip and affected travelers must obtain a new ETA for each visit to Kenya.

To view entire article, click here.

Other weekly news briefs

Mainland China, January 9, 2024
Relaxed Application Rules for Visa Applicants in the United States

Egypt, January 11, 2024  
Travel Restrictions for Unaccompanied Minors Announced

Indonesia, January 11, 2024
New Online Visa Platform Introduced

Italy, January 10, 2024
Fines for Citizens Failing to Register While Residing Abroad Increased

Nigeria, January 9, 2024
Online Passport Service Expanded

Romania, January 11, 2024
2024 Work Permit Quota Released

Russia, January 10, 2024
Discounted Visa Processing Fees Eliminated

Saudi Arabia, January 11, 2024
Several Consular Posts Now Require Monkeypox Testing for Certain Visa Applications  

Singapore, January 9, 2024
Employee Information Must be Submitted

Singapore, January 9, 2024
Online Form Now Required for Work-Related Changes

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.

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