Immigration news updates for APAC and EMEA regions
Asia-Pacific
New Zealand: Accredited Employer Work Visa reforms
The New Zealand Government have announced that there will be several reforms to the Accredited Employer Work Visa pathway. These positive changes will include the removal of wage thresholds, a change to the work experience requirements and streamlining of the Job Check application process. They are also introducing work rights for more Interim Visa holders.
Employer Accreditation Compliance
Accredited Employers will not need to complete the ENZ on-line modules during each accreditation period, or ensure that employees complete the modules during work time, after January 27, 2025. At that time, INZ will start providing employers and workers with links to freely available on-line resources, which set out employment rights and obligations at the relevant points throughout the immigration process.
For those in the construction sector, in the past there has been a minimum requirement around the percentage of New Zealanders that must be employed, before those in the sector could employ AEWV holders. This will be decreased from 35% to 15%.
Wage Thresholds
The current wage thresholds, primarily the median wage requirement, will be removed for the Accredited Employer Work Visa Category from March 2025. The role will still need to be advertised unless there is an exemption in place and offer the market rate for the intended position and location. In addition, it’s important to note that the current wage criteria will remain in place when it comes to assessing residence, so this could be a consideration for future applications. It is also important to note that there will also be a minimum wage requirement for migrants who will be accompanied by dependent children of NZD 55,844 per year.
Work Experience & Labour Market Testing
Earlier in 2024, Immigration New Zealand implemented a minimum requirement of at least three years relevant work experience, this will be reduced to two years as of March 2025. The current requirement for qualifications (in lieu of experience) remains unchanged, being a minimum of a recognised NZQA Level 4 qualification. Note: a Bachelor Degree from any country will be recognised at Level 7 without a qualification assessment from NZQA.
The current requirement for employers to engage with Work & Income for positions which are ANZSCO level 4 and 5 will be removed. In place of this, employers will need to declare that they have advertised these positions with Work & Income and interviewed any candidates who could have been suitable for the job. The current 21 day time frame for engagement with Work & Income will also be removed.
Visa Duration & Interim Visas
From April 2025 holders of other Work Visa categories and Student Visas who then apply for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) will receive an interim Visa that allows the holder to continue working seamlessly whilst awaiting a decision on the AEWV application. This replaces the process of granting an Interim Visitor Visa.
The duration of AEWV’s for migrants in ANZSCO level 4 & 5 positions will increase from two years (with an option to extend for one year) to 3 years, this aligns with the maximum time those in level 4 & 5 positions can stay in New Zealand on an AEWV. Migrants currently on two-year visas will be able to apply to extend for a further year.
The changes will be implemented in four different stages during 2025, starting in January with Changes to wage thresholds.
This summary was prepared using the information from 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 Jane Beynon (Regional Immigration Manager, APAC) and .Roberta Carnaccini (Global Director of Immigration).
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Belgium: Contribution fee
The government contribution fee has been indexed since January 1, 2025. The contribution fee covers the administrative costs for processing an application for a visa D or an application for residence.
– Single Permit holder = EUR 148 (previously EUR 144)
– spouse = EUR 213 (previously EUR 206)
This summary was prepared using the information from the Immigration Office
Denmark: New SIRI (Styrelsen for International Rekruttering og Integration) Application Fees and Regulations
The financial thresholds for obtaining residence and work permits under the standard amount scheme, the supplementary amount scheme, and the corresponding tracks in the fast-track scheme have been updated as of January 1, 2025.
The threshold for the standard amount scheme and the fast-track’s amount is now DKK 514,000.
The threshold for the supplementary amount scheme and the fast-track’s supplementary amount track is now DKK 415,000.
These thresholds are adjusted annually based on the state regulation percentage and an adjustment percentage, ensuring they align with wage developments in the local society.
Updated Practice Note for Salary Assessment:
- SIRI will not assess salaries covered by collective agreements.
- For employers in an Employer’s organization, SIRI will assess salaries up to just above the minimum requirement.
- In other cases, SIRI will assess salaries but if the monthly gross salary including pension exceeds DKK 74,959, it will be considered according to Danish standards without needing a DISCO code.
New Rules for On-the-Spot Checks:
- SIRI will require employees to show their ID during on-the-spot checks to verify residence and work permits and ensure compliance with permit conditions.
The new thresholds apply to applications submitted from January 1, 2025.
This summary was prepared using the information from the SIRI and our local service partner.
Latvia: New Hiring Rules for Foreign Workers
Effective from January 1, 2025, there are updates regarding the publication of job vacancies for employing foreigners with a regular work permit in Latvia:
- Previous Process: Employers had to publish job vacancies on the State Employment Agency’s portal and keep them open for 10 working days.
- New Amendments:
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- Employers must now provide justifications for the number of vacancies and reasons for rejecting candidates within 10 days.
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- An agency opinion is required before submitting the job offer.
- Purpose: These changes aim to promote transparency, ensuring the Agency understands the company’s needs and that all candidates are evaluated objectively.
- Matching Skills: The vacancy and the foreigner’s skills must align with the submitted documents.
This summary was prepared using the information from our local service partner.
Romania and Bulgaria: Schengen update
Romania and Bulgaria have become full members of the EU Schengen area as of January 1, 2025, ending a 13-year wait. This development allows for seamless travel and connectivity across Europe. Key updates include the cessation of border checks between Romania, Bulgaria, and neighbouring EU countries, and the ability for citizens to travel across the 27-member Schengen zone without a passport. Random checks at borders will continue for six months, focusing on larger vehicles, to deter criminal activity. This milestone enhances mobility, connection, and collaboration in Europe, fostering unity and also helping the tourism sector .
This summary was prepared using the information from our local service partner.
Sweden: New EU Blue Card Directive
The Swedish government has decided to implement the EU’s new Blue Card Directive, effective from January 1, 2025.
Key changes include:
- Salary threshold reduction: From 1.5 times to 1.25 times the average gross annual salary in Sweden.
- Employment period requirement: reduced from one year to six months.
- Expanded eligibility: more categories will be eligible for an EU Blue Card.
- Job mobility: holders can switch to other highly qualified jobs without applying for a new Blue Card but must notify the Swedish Migration Agency of changes.
- Simplified switching: easier transition from other residence permits to EU Blue Cards without leaving the country. Those with an EU Blue Card from another EU state for at least 12 months can apply in Sweden with a simplified procedure.
This summary was prepared using the information from 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 Roberta Carnaccini (Global Director of Immigration).
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