Immigration news updates for APAC and EMEA regions
Asia-Pacific
India: Electronic Overseas Citizen of India Card
The Bureau of Immigration, under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India, has officially introduced the e-OCI (Electronic Overseas Citizen of India Card), providing OCI cardholders with a convenient digital version of their OCI documentation. OCI cardholders can now download their e-OCI card through the official OCI Services portal and present it at designated Immigration Check Posts for streamlined immigration clearance.
The introduction of the e-OCI card marks a significant step in India’s ongoing digital transformation of immigration services. The digital card is designed to enhance convenience for OCI cardholders by enabling access to OCI credentials electronically, reducing reliance on carrying physical documents during travel.
Current OCI cardholders should be aware of the following:
- Existing physical OCI cards remain valid and continue to be accepted for travel and immigration purposes. The introduction of the e-OCI card does not invalidate existing OCI documentation.
- Eligible cardholders are encouraged to download and securely store their e-OCI card before travelling to India to facilitate a smoother immigration experience.
- OCI cardholders who obtain a new passport must update their passport details through the OCI Portal within three months of receiving the new passport. Failure to comply may result in a penalty.
- OCI cardholders should ensure that all personal information associated with their OCI record remains accurate and up to date to avoid delays during travel or immigration processing.
The e-OCI initiative is expected to improve traveller convenience, support faster immigration processing, and align with broader digital and biometric integration efforts implemented by the Indian authorities. Enhanced electronic verification capabilities are intended to facilitate more efficient identity validation and immigration clearance at participating ports of entry.
This summary was prepared using information provided from the Online OCI Services
New Zealand: Police certificates now required upfront for temporary visa applications
Effective immediately, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) requires applicants for student visas and certain other temporary visas to provide any required police clearance certificates at the time of application. Applications submitted without a required police certificate may be declined or, in some cases, approved for a shorter validity period.
Applicants must ensure that all required supporting documents, including police certificates, are available before submitting their visa application. Proof that a police certificate has been requested, such as a receipt or application confirmation, will generally not be accepted as a substitute.
INZ has also confirmed that it will not normally contact applicants to request missing police certificates. As processing times for obtaining police certificates vary by country, applicants are encouraged to begin the process well in advance to avoid delays to travel, study, or immigration plans.
For applicants from Fiji, Hong Kong, and Israel, police certificates continue to be sent directly to INZ by the issuing authority. These applicants may upload evidence that a certificate has been requested while INZ awaits receipt of the document.
Impact on applicants
The change places greater emphasis on ensuring that visa applications are complete at the time of submission. Applicants who require a police certificate should allow sufficient time to obtain it before lodging their application, as failure to provide the document when required could result in a visa refusal or a shorter visa duration.
This summary was prepared using information provided from the Immigration New Zealand
Update on English language testing requirements for immigration applications
Effective July 12, 2026, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will only accept in-person Occupational English Test (OET) results for immigration applications that require OET as evidence of English language proficiency. All components of the test must be completed in person at a supervised testing facility.
The OET is commonly used by applicants working in healthcare professions. INZ has advised that the change is intended to support the integrity of the testing process, ensure fairness for all candidates, and confirm that test results accurately reflect an individual’s English language abilities.
Applicants who have already completed an at-home OET, or who complete the test on or before July 12, 2026, may continue to use those results for immigration purposes. Applicants taking the OET from July 13, 2026, onwards must complete the test in person at an approved test center.
This summary was prepared using information provided 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 (Director of Immigration Services, APAC).
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Slovakia: Significant immigration and citizenship changes taking effect July 15, 2026
The Slovak Parliament has approved a series of legislative amendments affecting foreign nationals, employers, residence permit holders, and individuals with Slovak ancestry. Most changes will take effect on July 15, 2026, while the subsistence minimum increased from EUR 284.13 to EUR 295.22 on July 1, 2026, potentially impacting immigration-related financial thresholds and eligibility requirements.
Key Changes:
Easier transition from temporary protection to employment residence
Foreign nationals who previously held temporary refuge (temporary protection) may continue working in Slovakia without additional work authorization if they were employed when their temporary protection ended, or if they subsequently obtained a residence permit for employment purposes and remain in the same position held during their period of temporary protection.
Expanded access to Slovak citizenship by descent
Effective July 15, 2026, Slovak citizenship may be granted without the standard continuous permanent residence requirement to individuals who can demonstrate that a parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent was a Czechoslovak citizen born in the territory of present-day Slovakia. Applicants benefiting from this provision are also exempt from Slovak residence, language, and general knowledge requirements.
New compliance requirements for residence permit holders
Additional obligations will apply to certain residence permit holders:
- Individuals holding temporary residence for business purposes must not have outstanding tax, customs, social insurance, or health insurance liabilities. The requirement applies to their own business activities and to commercial companies or cooperatives they represent.
- Employment-based residence permit holders working under a work permit, employment confirmation, or a qualifying exemption must notify the Foreign Police within seven working days of the start and end of any unemployment period.
- The existing requirement for temporary residence holders to reside in Slovakia for more than half of the relevant period during a calendar year remains in place. Exceptions apply to residence holders engaged in research and development activities and certain individuals exercising mobility rights in another EU Member State.
Additional residence law changes
The amendments also introduce a range of procedural and administrative changes relating to:
- National visas;
- Temporary residence applications and renewals;
- Business residence permit renewals;
- Long-term residence eligibility;
- Residence document issuance processes;
- EU citizen residence registration;
- Digital security features on residence cards; and
- Pathways from temporary refuge to temporary residence.
These legislative changes are expected to facilitate the transition of former temporary protection beneficiaries into longer-term employment-based residence, create new citizenship opportunities for descendants of former Czechoslovak citizens, and increase compliance obligations for certain foreign nationals residing in Slovakia. Employers may wish to review internal processes to ensure timely reporting and ongoing compliance with the new requirements.
This summary was prepared using information provided from the IOM Migration Information Centre
South Africa: Digital traveller declarations required
Effective July 1, 2026, all travellers entering or departing South Africa through air, land, sea, and rail ports of entry are required to submit an online traveller declaration before travelling. The new South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) enables travellers to meet their legal obligation to declare goods in their possession, including currency, through the SARS Customs Online Traveller Declaration Portal, the SATMS mobile application, and Scan-to-Declare QR codes.
The initiative is intended to strengthen data integration across government agencies, support inter-agency risk management, and enhance the monitoring of cross-border activities, while simplifying the declaration process for travellers.
Travellers will not be denied entry into or departure from South Africa solely because they have not completed a declaration before arriving at a port of entry. SARS Customs officials, supported by self-service declaration terminals, will assist travellers who are unable to submit their declarations before travelling. However, SARS encourages travellers to complete the declaration in advance to ensure a seamless and efficient border-crossing experience.
This summary was prepared using information provided from The South African Revenue Service
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 Joanna Sogeke (European Client Services Manager – Immigration).
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