Weekly Immigration Update: May 10–16, 2024

Mainland China/Hong Kong SAR/Macau SAR, May 16, 2024
Eased Travel Rules for Chinese Residents to Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR

The National Immigration Administration of Mainland China has announced the following policies to further facilitate the travel of Mainland Chinese residents to Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR:

• A new online process for Mainland Chinese residents of 20 cities in Mainland China who are seeking to replace or reissue their immigration documents;
• Expanded business endorsement application options for Mainland Chinese residents seeking to travel to Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR;
• An expansion of the multiple-entry talent endorsement process in Beijing and Shanghai; and
• Longer allowable stays for Mainland Chinese business endorsement holders seeking to travel to Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR.

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Ireland, May 16, 2024
Automatic Work Rights Granted to Eligible Partners of Irish Employment Permit Holders

• As of May 15, 2024, eligible partners of various Irish employment permit holders (including General Employment Permits, Critical Skills Employment Permits and Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permits) can now work without the need to obtain a separate employment permit.
• This reform applies to spouses or partners with a valid Stamp 3 Irish Residence Permission granted under the non-European Economic Area Family Reunification Policy.
• These changes are likely to both increase the attractiveness of Ireland to foreign workers in the long term while also increasing the pool of currently available foreign talent.

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United Kingdom, May 14, 2024
MAC Recommends For Graduate Visa Route to Remain

• The Migration Advisory Committee has published its rapid review of the Graduate visa route which it was commissioned to undertake by the UK government, concluding that the route should remain in place in its current form.
• The Committee noted that the Graduate visa route had ‘broadly achieved’ the government’s intended goals for the route, and found no evidence of any significant abuse of this visa route.
• Employers are likely to welcome this MAC recommendation, with the Graduate visa route providing an additional pathway for businesses to access skilled talent.

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