Immigration news update for the EMEA region
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Italy: Quota allocation set for foreign workers 
The Italian government has set a quota of 82,705 entries for 2023, 44,000 of which are reserved for seasonal work. The remaining entries (38,705) are for non-seasonal and self-employed work, of which the vast majority (30,105 units) is reserved for entries for non-seasonal subordinate work in the transport, construction and tourism-hotel sectors, as well as mechanics, telecommunications, food and shipbuilding.
7,000 entries are reserved for foreign nationals who already hold a residence permit in Italy or for the EU and want to convert this permit to another category.
Lastly, 500 entries are for self-employment work.
As part of the criteria, the employer must verify at the relevant employment centre, that there are no other workers who qualify for the job for which the intended foreign worker will be hired.
The approval will be automatically issued after 30 days from the submission of the application, provided there are no challenges that arise. The approval is sent electronically to the Italian diplomatic representation of the country of origin which must issue the entry visa within twenty days of the relative application.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
Qatar: Mandatory health insurance requirement 
Effective February 01, 2023, the Qatari government requires all individuals applying for or renewing a visitor visa to hold proof of a Qatari health insurance policy.
The premium for the mandatory health insurance coverage is QAR 50 per month.
Those holding an international health insurance policy which includes coverage for Qatar are exempt from this new requirement.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Qatar Ministry of Public Health
Switzerland: Relaxation of work permit rules 
Effective February 01, 2023, various changes have been implemented by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) with regards to the hiring requirements for certain categories for non-EU/EFTA nationals.
A local labor market search may not be required for the categories that are affected by a shortage of skilled workers. This includes the following occupations: managers (executive positions), engineering occupations, scientists and researchers, specialized professionals, healthcare professions and university teachers.
The following positions may benefit from not requiring a university degree: specialized nurses,, technical or specialized occupations. Training qualifications or at least five years of professional experience is required as an alternative to the relevant university degree.
Non-EU/EFTA nationals with valid B permits still need to obtain approval to switch to self-employment, however, this change will be done with greater facilitation.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Swiss Confederation
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 Roberta Carnaccini (Global Operations Director, Immigration) or Sabrina Crespo (Team Lead, EMEA).
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