Immigration news updates for APAC and EMEA regions
Asia-Pacific
New Zealand: Changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) program and wage thresholds
Immigration New Zealand has announced changes to the AEWV program, by updating the online application form for Green List and licensed roles. These changes will only impact those applying for roles on the Green List and roles that require occupational registration.
Key changes to the AEWV form:
- Occupation-specific questions will be replaced with more broadly ones, across roles.
- Specific requirements for each Green List occupation will be displayed directly in the form, helping applicants clearly understand what they need to meet.
From August 18, 2025, new wage thresholds will be updated to reflect the June 2024 median wage of 33.56 NZD an hour. These changes may affect AEWV applicants:
- earning twice the median wage (67.12 NZD an hour), by exempting from the labour market test and minimum skills threshold.
- earning 1.5 times the median wage (50.34 NZD an hour) by allowing them for a maximum continuous stay of 5 years.
Wage thresholds help determine eligibility for certain visas, such as the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). These thresholds are aligned with New Zealand’s median wage to ensure visa policies reflect current labor market conditions.
This summary was prepared using the information from the Immigration New Zealand
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 Roberta Carnaccini (Global Operations Director, Immigration).
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Belgium: Belgian nationality fee set to rise
A draft programme law submitted to the Belgian Parliament on May 27, 2025, proposes a significant increase in the registration fee for acquiring Belgian nationality—whether through a nationality declaration or naturalisation. The fee would rise from 150 EUR to 1,000 EUR and will be indexed annually.
Although the intention was to implement the change on July 1, 2025, the law still requires approval and publication in the Belgian Official Gazette. Therefore, the actual start date remains uncertain.
Key Rule: Timing of Payment Determines Fee
According to the Federal Public Service (FPS) Finance, unless the law introduces specific transitional measures, the date of payment determines the applicable fee:
- 150 EUR if applicants pay before the law takes effect, even if the nationality request is submitted after the effective date.
- 1,000 EUR if applicants pay on or after the effective date.
The fee must be paid before submitting the nationality request or making the declaration. The Civil Registry official will only issue a receipt if the declaration is complete and the fee has been paid.
The fee will be adjusted annually for inflation.
This summary was prepared using the information from the Vreemdelingenrecht (available in Dutch)
Hungary: Immigration policy changes
Key immigration policy changes have taken effect as of July 1 and July 15, 2025, in accordance with Decree No. 35:
1.Mandatory Certificate of Qualification (from July 1)
Applicants for certain work-related residence permits must now submit proof of qualifications for the job. This applies to:
- Guest worker permits
- Employment for investment purposes
- National Card
- Family reunification (with specific conditions)
- UK nationals employed as of Dec 31, 2020
- Family reunification with Hungarian nationals
 2.Electronic Self-Declaration for Self-Employed (from July 15)
Activity reports must be submitted online via EnterHungary or a future designated app.
3.Employer Responsibilities on Termination (from July 15)
Employers must:
- Notify authorities of employment termination
- Explain immigration consequences to the foreign employee
- Provide a flight ticket for departure
- Ensure the employee leaves Hungary within six days. Failure to comply may result in a five million HUF fine.
4.Application Submission Deadlines
Residence permit applications can not be submitted earlier than 90 days before the intended start date or permit expiry.
This summary was prepared using the information from our service partner.
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).
We track policy changes in over 120 countries. Find out how we can help you in this short video.
