India: Visa practice liberalization
An e-Visa can be obtained three times in a calendar year and is valid for up to 60 days. Previously non-extendable, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) has permitted the extension of e-Visas for up to 90 days.
Foreigners require a Protect Area Permit (PAP), Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and visa to visit areas that have been declared as “Restricted” or “Protected.” These permits were only granted after a reference was made to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) from the State/UT Govt. State Governments or the FRROs can now make decisions locally and grant PAP or RAP to the following foreigners:
- Intending to visit a place covered under the PAP/RAP regime for activities other than tourism on a Tourist Visa
- Visiting a place for tourism that is not open for tourism
- Individual tourists
Restricted area permit discontinued for 30 islands
With a view to promoting the flow of tourism and investment, 30 islands of Andaman and Nicobar have been excluded from the RAP regime. Foreigners will also be allowed to visit 11 uninhabited islands for day trips. Registration before visiting these islands has also been dispensed.
Intern visa relaxation
To attract foreign interns the provisions relating to the issuance of intern visas have been liberalized. Foreign interns are now granted visas during the course of study. The minimum remuneration threshold has been reduced to 360,000 Indian Rupees per annum.
Business visa registration
Business visa holders are required to register with their respective FRRO/FRO in case their stay exceeds 180 days during the calendar year.
Applications may take longer to process and require additional documents. Therefore applications should be made well in advance.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from an MHA press release.
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, Regional Immigration Manager, APAC or Bopanna Nanjappa, Immigration Manager for India.
Malaysia: MDEC Foreign Knowledge Worker Projection for 2019
Companies can now apply for their 2019 Foreign Knowledge Worker (FKW) projection for employment passes.
How does it work?
Companies registered with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) who intend to employ foreign nationals in Malaysia in 2019 must have their projection approved before any Employment Pass applications can be made.
Applications must be made online via MDEC’s eXpats portal. The standard processing time for FKW projection is approximately 5-10 working days from the date of submission. This timeline is also subject to follow-up requests from MDEC for additional information or documents.
Information required for the projection includes:
- The total number of Malaysian and foreign staff the company employs
- The projection request for new and renewal Employment Passes
- A justification for projection
At this time, only companies requiring FKW projection for the first quarter of 2019 should proceed with their submission. Other companies should file their projection requests as and when required in 2019.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Peregrine Immigration Management.
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, Regional Immigration Manager, APAC.
UAE: Long-term visa scheme
Current residence visas for the UAE are valid for up to three years. The UAE cabinet has now approved long-term residence visas for investors, entrepreneurs, key professionals and outstanding students. They will be made available in the early part of 2019.
Further details on eligibility requirements can be found here.
Key considerations
Each category will have strict qualification criteria, and employers and individuals are advised to review these now in preparation for implementation. As the scheme will not be fully implemented until 2019, employers and individuals should keep an eye out for further updates. We will continue to provide information.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Peregrine Immigration Management.
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 Michele Giordani, Regional Immigration Manager, EMEA.
Ukraine: Stricter border controls for Russian nationals under martial law
Until December 27, 2018, Ukraine has declared martial law for the following regions: Chernihiv, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Odessa, Sumy, Vinnytsia and Zaporizhia.
During this time Russian men aged 16-60 (both inclusive) will likely not be allowed to enter Ukraine. The State Border Authority has confirmed that male Russian nationals with valid Ukrainian temporary or permanent residence permits should not be affected. Russian permit holders may not be admitted to Ukraine.
More than 70 Russian nationals have been stopped from crossing the Ukraine border at Boryspil and Kiev airports already. Mainly due to not confirming the purpose of their trips but there were also some illegal visits.
Key considerations
We advise Russian nationals traveling to and from Ukraine to carry the following documents at all times:
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A valid passport |
| Work permit |
| Residence permit or registration sheet |
| Copy of rental agreement or accommodation confirmation |
| Insurance policy documents |
| Proof of return travel |
| Dependent work and residence permit holders: |
| Birth certificate for children |
| For children: |
| Attendance certificate from the school |
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Peregrine Immigration Management, Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ukraine (in Russian) and the President of Ukraine.
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 Michele Giordani, Regional Immigration Manager, EMEA.
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