Immigration news update for the EMEA region
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Finland: A1 certificates required for short business trips
The Finnish “Centre for Pensions” has advised that an A1 certificate is now needed for short business trips. Individuals must apply for the A1 certificate together with their employers, for a validity of two years at a time. The certificate shows the worker is entitled to social security coverage in Finland during the period of the business trip. This is needed for EU countries or a country with a social security agreement with Finland.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Finnish Centre for Pensions
Ghana: Changes to work permit process
Work permit applications must now be completed in person at the Ghana Immigration Services. Applicants must enter the country with an approved entry visa. Foreign nationals cannot work until the work permit has been approved. The current processing time is five to six weeks.
No source at time of writing.
Ireland: Review of the occupation lists 
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced that the Ineligible List of Occupations and the Critical Skills Occupations List are going to be revised according to suggestions submitted by individuals. Those who believe their skills or occupations are in shortage and may be affecting the industry in Ireland can send their submissions via a form which can be found on the government website.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Portugal: Possible cancellation of the Golden Visa
The Portuguese government has announced the cancelation of the Golden Visa program, the residency-by-investment program designed for non-EU citizens. The exact date of the official closure is not known yet, since the government does not have legal power to make such a change. For now, the law will remain unchanged for at least the next 45 days as of February 16, 2023. There may be exceptions for renewing existing Golden Visas under extra requirements.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Get Golden Visa
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 Manager, Immigration) or Sabrina Crespo (Team Lead, EMEA).
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