Immigration news updates for APAC and EMEA regions
Asia-Pacific
China: New Exit-Entry Administration regulations to take effect on September 15, 2026
On August 7, 2026, Chinese authorities issued further guidance on the implementation of the new Regulations on Exit and Entry Administration (State Council Decree No. 841), which will take effect on September 15, 2026. The regulations introduce significant updates to China’s exit-entry administration framework, including enhanced verification powers, increased accountability for sponsors, stricter penalties for immigration violations, and greater oversight of immigration service providers.
Key Changes:
Enhanced scrutiny of visa and residence applications
Immigration authorities will have expanded authority to:
- Verify applicant identities.
- Review travel purposes and supporting documentation.
- Request additional information, including electronic records where necessary.
- Conduct further investigations in support of application assessments.
The regulations reinforce the requirement that visa, entry, stay, and residence applications must be based on genuine and lawful purposes.
Increased accountability for sponsors and invitation-letter issuers
Companies and individuals issuing invitation letters or other supporting documentation may be subject to greater responsibility for the accuracy and authenticity of submitted materials. The provision of false or misleading information may lead to administrative penalties and could affect future applications.
Stricter penalties for immigration violations
The regulations strengthen enforcement measures relating to:
- Fraudulent documents.
- False statements in applications.
- Misrepresentation of travel purposes.
- Improper acquisition of immigration documents.
Penalties may include visa refusal, denial of entry, and entry bans ranging from one to five years, depending on the circumstances.
Enhanced oversight of immigration service providers
The regulations introduce a filing and oversight framework for immigration intermediaries, including visa consulting and document-processing agencies. The measures are intended to strengthen supervision of the sector and reduce fraudulent practices.
Formalised overseas travel risk warning system
The regulations establish a framework for overseas travel advisories and safety warnings. Authorities may issue destination-specific alerts relating to security, crime, fraud, armed conflict, and other risks, as well as provide safety information during passport issuance and border inspection procedures.
Impact on Employers
Multinational employers sponsoring foreign nationals in China may experience increased scrutiny of supporting documentation submitted as part of immigration applications. The new measures may also result in additional information requests during the application process.
Employers may wish to review internal processes relating to invitation letters, sponsor documentation, and work authorization records to ensure consistency and accuracy. Organizations engaging immigration service providers should also be aware of the new oversight requirements applicable to immigration intermediaries.
This summary was prepared using information provided from China and National Immigration Administration
Japan: Draft guidelines propose stricter permanent residence requirements
Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (ISA) has released draft guidelines proposing significant changes to the permanent residence (PR) framework. If adopted, the measures would introduce more defined financial eligibility criteria, greater emphasis on integration into Japanese society, and longer eligibility periods for certain family-based applicants. The proposed changes are intended to strengthen the assessment of applicants’ long-term financial stability and residence in Japan.
Key Proposed Changes:
Higher Financial Eligibility Standards
Under the draft framework, PR applicants would be expected to demonstrate a higher level of financial independence than is currently required.
Proposed requirements include:
- Annual income exceeding that of an average Japanese household.
- Evidence of long-term financial stability, including future pension entitlements.
- Consideration of savings and other assets where income alone does not satisfy the required threshold.
- Potentially reduced supplementary asset requirements for younger applicants.
These measures would introduce more objective financial assessment criteria than the current framework, which generally focuses on an applicant’s ability to support themselves without becoming a public burden.
Household Size May Affect Financial Requirements
The draft guidance indicates that financial thresholds may be adjusted based on household size and support obligations.
Authorities may consider:
- Family members residing in the same household.
- Dependents living elsewhere in Japan.
- Overseas relatives financially supported by the applicant.
Applicants supporting larger households may therefore be subject to higher financial thresholds. The draft guidance also indicates that income earned by dependents holding non-work visa categories would generally not be included in household income calculations.
Greater Emphasis on Integration
The ISA is proposing a more detailed interpretation of the longstanding requirement that permanent residence be considered in Japan’s national interest.
Applicants may be expected to demonstrate:
- Japanese language ability at an independent-user level.
- Understanding of Japanese laws, systems, and social norms.
- Evidence of successful integration into Japanese society.
The proposed changes suggest that greater emphasis may be placed on social integration alongside residency history and financial stability.
Greater Focus on Family Integration
The draft guidelines also place increased emphasis on family integration.
Applications may receive additional scrutiny where school-age children are not enrolled in school, reflecting the importance placed on participation in education and local communities.
Longer Eligibility Periods for Spouses
A notable proposal would affect spouses of Japanese nationals and permanent residents.
| Current requirements: | Proposed requirements: |
| Three years of marriage; and | Five years of marriage; and |
| One year of residence in Japan. | Three years of residence in Japan. |
If implemented, these changes would extend the timeline before many spouses become eligible to apply for permanent residence.
Implementation Timeline
According to the draft proposal:
- The revised guidelines are expected to take effect on October 1, 2026.
- Applications submitted from April 2027 would generally be assessed under the new framework.
- Certain revised financial assessment criteria may also apply to applications submitted from April 2026 onwards, potentially affecting applications that are currently under review.
Impact on Foreign Nationals and Employers
If implemented, the proposed reforms would represent one of the most significant updates to Japan’s permanent residence framework in recent years. Applicants may face greater scrutiny of their financial circumstances, household composition, and evidence of integration into Japanese society.
The proposed changes could also extend the pathway to permanent residence for certain family-based applicants, including spouses of Japanese nationals and permanent residents. Employers supporting foreign national employees in Japan may wish to monitor developments, particularly where permanent residence forms part of long-term assignment or retention planning.
This summary was prepared using information provided from The Japan Times and Japan Today
New Zealand: Further guidance issued on Skilled Migrant Category reforms
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has released additional guidance ahead of the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) reforms taking effect on August 24, 2026. The updates provide further clarification on evidence requirements, wage threshold rules, and the assessment of eligible work experience under the new Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician pathways.
Key Clarifications:
Evidence Requirements for Work Experience
INZ has clarified the evidence that applicants may need to provide to demonstrate eligible work experience under the new pathways. Supporting documentation may include:
- Employment agreements.
- Job descriptions.
- Tax records.
- Qualification documentation.
Where overseas tax records are unavailable, applicants may be able to provide a certificate of service from a former employer together with other supporting evidence. This alternative is limited to overseas work experience and cannot be used to support New Zealand work experience claims.
INZ has also confirmed that self-employment will not be considered eligible work experience under the new pathways.
Wage Threshold Rules
The updated guidance provides additional detail on how Skilled Migrant Category wage thresholds will apply under different points combinations.
Applicants relying solely on income, qualifications, or occupational registration to meet the required points threshold must satisfy the applicable wage requirements at the time they receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
INZ has also clarified that applicants claiming points for New Zealand skilled work experience may have greater flexibility when selecting the combination of points used to meet SMC requirements.
Assessment Timeframes
Further clarification has been provided regarding the assessment periods used for wage thresholds and skilled work experience.
While both assessments use look-back periods based on the amount of experience required under the relevant pathway, the starting dates differ. Wage thresholds are assessed from the date of the Invitation to Apply, whereas skilled work experience is assessed from the date the residence application is lodged.
INZ has also confirmed that relevant work experience generally must have been obtained within the ten years preceding the residence application.
Impact on Foreign Nationals and Employers
The latest guidance provides additional certainty regarding how the new Skilled Migrant Category pathways will operate in practice. Prospective applicants should ensure they can obtain sufficient documentation to support work experience claims and understand how wage thresholds may apply to their chosen pathway.
Employers supporting skilled worker residence applications may wish to review employment documentation and job descriptions to ensure appropriate evidence is available when required.
This summary was prepared using information provided from New Zealand Immigration, New Zealand Immigration and New Zealand Immigration
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Debra Beynon (Director of Immigration Services, APAC).
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Romania: New WorkInRomania registration obligations
Romania’s new immigration framework has introduced important requirements for employers hiring non-EU nationals. With the WorkInRomania platform now operational, companies must register on the platform and, depending on the applicable pathway, either work with an authorized placement agency or become an authorized employer before sponsoring non-EU workers.
These requirements also apply to non-EU nationals already residing in Romania who are changing employers, meaning that an employee’s presence in Romania does not exempt employers from the new obligations.
We strongly encourage Romanian employers to complete the eligibility assessment and WorkInRomania registration process as soon as possible, even if no immediate hiring needs are planned. As these are one-time company-level procedures, completing them in advance can help avoid delays in future recruitment processes.
If registration is only initiated once a candidate has been identified, employers should currently anticipate at least a two-month delay before the individual immigration process can begin, subject to authority processing times and the platform’s operational capacity.
This summary was prepared using information provided from our Service Partner.
Sweden: New citizenship eligibility rules for certain temporary residence permit holders
Sweden introduced new citizenship eligibility rules on July 12, 2026. As permanent residence permits will generally no longer be granted, certain individuals holding temporary residence permits may now apply for Swedish citizenship without first obtaining a permanent residence permit.
Eligible Temporary Residence Permit Holders
The exemption applies to individuals holding temporary residence permits:
- As long-term residents in Sweden.
- As refugees or beneficiaries of subsidiary protection.
- Due to exceptionally distressing circumstances.
- Due to certain persistent impediments to the enforcement of expulsion.
- As family members of individuals holding one of the permit types listed above.
To qualify for the exemption, applicants must generally have well-founded prospects of being granted a long-term residence permit in the future. The Swedish Migration Agency will assess this on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants who have resided in Sweden for at least ten years and who meet all other citizenship requirements are exempt from the requirement to demonstrate well-founded prospects of obtaining a long-term residence permit.
Applicants must continue to hold a valid residence permit at the time they submit their citizenship application. Applications cannot be submitted while awaiting a decision on a residence permit extension. Other citizenship requirements, including proof of identity, habitual residence, and maintenance requirements, continue to apply.
This summary was prepared using information provided from the Migrationsverket
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Joanna Sogeke (European Client Services Manager – Immigration).
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