Ireland: Registration renewal system to be introduced in Dublin
On July 20, 2020, Ireland will introduce a new online Registration Renewal System for non-EEA nationals based in Dublin.
Impact
Applicants seeking to renew their registration will no longer have to book an appointment and attend the registration office in person. They can complete the online application form, upload supporting documents and make the payment online. They will then be required to post their passport and current Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card. If approved, a new IRP card will be issued and sent via post.
This system was first made available for students at the end of June 2020. Only those required to travel urgently and in need of a new IRP card can use the system before it is rolled out on July 20.
The Registration Office in Burgh Quay, Dublin, will also reopen on July 20 for the first time since March. The Immigration Service will contact applicants who had their first-time registration appointments cancelled. Other applicants should contact the Immigration office via email in order to request an appointment.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Department of Justice and Equality.
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 Laxmi Vikraman, Regional Immigration Manager (EMEA).
United Kingdom: New immigration system update
On July 13, the U.K. Government published further details on the new immigration system. New arrangements will take effect on January 1, 2021, once freedom of movement within the European Union comes to an end.
Impact
EU citizens (except Irish nationals) will need to obtain a visa for all activities except short-term visits. New immigration routes will open later this year for applications to work, live and study in the U.K. after January 1.
Immigration routes
The routes described in the published document cover the main economic migration routes for those wishing to work, study or set up a business in the U.K..
Skilled Worker
Remains unchanged since the proposals published in February.
Main characteristics (some of them tradeable):
-
- A job offer skilled to A level (and above) from a licensed sponsor in the U.K.
- No cap on the number of migrant workers
- No resident labor market test
- Minimum salary requirement
- Applicant must speak an appropriate level of English
Employers will need a sponsor license and be required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge to sponsor EU citizens (£1,000 per worker per year for medium and large companies and £364 for small companies).
Skilled Worker
Remains unchanged since the proposals published in February.
Main characteristics (some of them tradeable):
-
- A job offer skilled to A level (and above) from a licensed sponsor in the U.K.
- No cap on the number of migrant workers
- No resident labor market test
- Minimum salary requirement
- Applicant must speak an appropriate level of English
Employers will need a sponsor license and be required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge to sponsor EU citizens (£1,000 per worker per year for medium and large companies and £364 for small companies).
Skilled Worker: Health and Care Visa
Designed for doctors, nurses and other health professionals with job offers in the National Health Service and wider health and care sector. Care workers/care assistants are excluded. Applications will be fast tracked, application fees reduced and the Immigration Health Surcharge will not apply.
Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) and ICT Graduates
These routes remain largely unchanged from what they are now.
Graduate
Students who have completed undergraduate and master’s degrees can apply to remain in the U.K. for two years (PhD students can apply for three years). They’ll have the ability to work at any skills level during that period and switch to other work routes after. It will be launched in summer 2021.
Global Talent
Designed to attract recognized global leaders in science, humanities, engineering, the arts (including film, fashion design and architecture) and digital technology. Top scientists and researchers will benefit from a quicker endorsement process as part of a fast track Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) scheme.
Highly Skilled Workers
This route will allow highly skilled workers to come to the U.K. without a job offer. There will be a cap on the number permitted. The route will not be available in January and further details will be published in due course.
Start-up and Innovator
These routes are designed to attract entrepreneurial talent and innovative, scalable business ideas to the U.K..
Other routes
There is little detail on other work-related routes currently in operation, such as the Youth Mobility Scheme, Ancestry and Government Authorized Exchange. It is expected they would continue to operate with the inclusion of EU nationals.
Other notable changes:
- EU and non-EU citizens under the new system will be able to demonstrate their right to work and rent via an online system.
- Most EU citizens will not be required to attend a Visa Application Centre to provide biometrics. Instead they will be able to provide facial images using a smartphone self-enrollment application form.
- The “cooling off” period is going to be removed in ICT category. This rule has meant, in many circumstances, that sponsored workers have had to wait 12 months before being able to apply to return to the U.K. in the work sponsored visa category.
Looking ahead
U.K. businesses that do not currently hold a sponsor license are urged to apply for one. The Home Office processing time for sponsor license application is at least six to eight weeks. Time required to obtain documentation to submit the application should also be factored in.
U.K. businesses that hold a sponsor license should review its status and ensure the information held by the Home Office is up to date. This should include adding or updating any European entities on the license (with a view to facilitating Intra-Company Transfers from within the EU). The Home Office processing time for changes to the sponsor license is at least six to eight weeks. All priority services are currently suspended.
U.K. businesses should also bring forward any EU national assignments to the U.K., so they can commence before December 31, 2020.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Gov.uk and the Home Office.
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 Laxmi Vikraman, Regional Immigration Manager (EMEA).
Latest coronavirus news:
AMER
Uruguay:
- Arrivals must present a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result issued by Health Insurance in the country of origin.
No source available at the time of writing, please contact Roberta Carnaccini, Global Operations Director, Immigration, for more info.
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.
EMEA
Austria:
- Some Austrian Embassies are re-opening and it is now possible to submit applications for specific visa categories at some Consular Posts, such as Istanbul, Ankara and Moscow. The Embassy in India is still closed but the VFS Centre may re-open soon. Some Embassies that are still closed may accept family reunification applications.
- Personal appearances at the offices of Austrian immigration authorities are possible with scheduled appointments only. Some immigration authorities in other regions allow personal appearances during office hours (as prior to Covid-19), but it is recommended to check with the relevant authorities.
No source available at the time of writing, please contact Laxmi Vikraman, Regional Immigration Manager, for more info.
Saudi Arabia:
- On July 1, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the increase in VAT to 15% as part of measures to shore up its economy and low oil prices.
- The increased rate applies to all supplies of goods and services that are currently subject to the 5% VAT rate.
More info at: General Authority of Zakat and Tax
UAE:
- Travelers arriving on Emirates airlines are required to provide a Covid-19 negative certificate prior to departure from the below countries only. Other nationalities will be tested upon arrival.
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- India
- Iran
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Russian Federation
- Tanzania
- U.S. – Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Orlando (MCO), including passengers originating from California, Florida and Texas connecting to an Emirates flight to Dubai.
- Effective July 1, all visitors and UAE residents with valid residency visa permits who are currently out of the country must undergo a Covid-19 test and receive a negative report before traveling/returning to the Emirates. Visit this accredited lab to see where residents and visitors can get a Coronavirus test.
- Visitors and residents who don’t have a valid negative Covid-19 result (taken 48-96 hours prior to departure) will not be granted permission to board their flight.
- A completed self-declaration health form and quarantine undertaking letter (in Arabic) must be printed, completed and handed over to the Dubai Health Authority upon arrival.
- Individuals will bear costs for quarantining and medical assistance. In certain cases, companies that employ returning residents may incur the expenses.
- In cases of countries without an accredited lab, Covid-19 tests for expats will be conducted upon arrival in Dubai.
- Residents will have to quarantine for 14 or 7 days (either at home or take institutional quarantine). For visit visas, visitors who haven’t taken a Covid-19 test in their home country or there is no accredited lab available, can take a PCR test upon arrival in Dubai. They must self-isolate in hotels until a test result is received. They can leave isolation with a negative result.
- Returning UAE residents are instructed to obtain permission to return from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs before departure and download one of the approved apps.
- Coronavirus tests to fly will depend largely on the traveler’s origin and destination. Select destination countries may require that negative results are submitted before boarding the plane. In other instances, negative results may be required before travelers can enter a country or leave the airport.
- Travelers are required to keep PCR certificate timelines in mind when planning trips to the UAE. PCR certificates are issued in all countries within 24-48 hours for normal tests and 8-10 hours for urgent tests.
- PCR certificates may not be required for travelers under 12 years.
No source available at the time of writing.
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 Laxmi Vikraman, Regional Immigration Manager (EMEA).
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