Weekly Immigration Update: July 15–21, 2022

Equatorial Guinea: Regularization of Undocumented Foreign Nationals – Undocumented foreign nationals in Equatorial Guinea have until August 31, 2022 to regularize their status in the country. Those who fail to regularize their status by this date may face fines and deportation, and their employers may face fines as well.

Hungary: Government Processing Delays – Due to high case volume from the Russia-Ukraine crisis, government processing times for initial and renewal Local Hire Permits and EU Intracompany Transferee Permits have increased to 120 days, up from 70 days. Delays can also be expected for Local Hire Permit and EU intracompany Transferee Permit renewals, short-term work permits and family reunification applications.

Kazakhstan: Visa-Free Travel for Iranian, Chinese and Indian Nationals – Iranian, Chinese and Indian nationals can enter Kazakhstan for up to 14 days for tourism or unpaid business travel, based on a new visa-free agreement. Travelers under this agreement can take up to three trips that last up to 14 days each, within a 180-day period. No work can be done during each stay.

Kazakhstan: Quota Applications Due September 30 in Nur-Sultan – The Labour Department is now accepting applications from companies seeking to apply for work permits for foreign workers in positions subject to 2023 quotas. Companies registered in the Nur-Sultan region of Kazakhstan must file their 2023 quota applications by September 30, 2022. Other regions may announce other deadlines, depending on when those regions’ quota positions are filled. Companies that fail to file their quota applications by the prescribed deadline may be barred from hiring foreign workers. Note that the Atyrau and West Kazakhstan regions had only opened the 2023 quota application period on July 1, 2022.

Spain/United Kingdom/Russia: Delays at Spanish Consulates – Spanish consulates in Russia are taking approximately 10 business days to reply to applicants requesting visa appointments and approximately three to four days to assign visa appointments. Additionally, due to an ongoing partial personnel strike at the Spanish consulate in London, the consulate is taking approximately one month to issue visas from the date of submission of the application. Fragomen advises applicants in these countries to utilize the in-country process in Spain to avoid delays.

Sweden: D Visa Available as Possible Solution for Foreign Nationals Awaiting Work Permit Extensions – Foreign nationals who are awaiting approval of their work permit extension application may be eligible for a D visa to allow them to return to Sweden if they must leave to conduct business activities outside of the country. The D visa is available to visa nationals who are holders of the Swedish national work and residence permit and are awaiting a renewal of their permit but need to exit Sweden on business trips. Dependents, students, EU Directive permit holders (Blue Card and Intracompany Transferee permit holders) and other residence permit holders may not qualify.