Month: October 2017

TUNISIA: Expats in GCC Countries Now Eligible for Visa-on-Arrival

October 31, 2017

Effective immediately, foreign nationals holding residence visas from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries no longer require consular visas to enter Tunisia and are now eligible for visas-on-arrival valid for stays of up to 15 days. Visas-on-arrival are reportedly now available to GCC expats at all Tunisian airports and border crossings. Requirements To qualify, foreign nationals […]

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AUSTRIA: New Intra-Corporate Transfer Permit

October 31, 2017

Austria has transposed into national law European Union (EU) Directive 2014/66 “on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer”, and has introduced a new combined work and residence permit category for intra-corporate transfer (ICT). The new ICT route, which replaces the “Rotationsarbeitskraft” scheme for intra-corporate transfers, […]

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SAUDI ARABIA: Validity of Block Visas Reduced to One Year

October 30, 2017

Effective immediately, companies in Saudi Arabia will have to utilise their block visas more quickly in order to hire foreign employees. The Saudi Ministry of Labor has announced that it is reducing the validity period of its block visas from two years to one year. Thus, companies now have just one year to recruit and […]

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Global Immigration Update – Monday 30th October 2017

October 30, 2017

In this week’s edition, we announce that employers can pay to attain the required Saudization category in Saudi Arabia and a new online system has been launched for work permits and visas in Thailand.  We also bring you immigration news from UAE, Oman and the United States.

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SINGAPORE: Mobile Phone Numbers Required for Work Permit Issuance or Renewal

October 27, 2017

Effective 17th November 2017, employers must provide their foreign workers’ mobile phone numbers when completing the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM’s) Online Foreign Worker Address Service (OFWAS) prior to issuing or renewing their Work Permits. This change in requirements applies only to Work Permit holders. Requirements and processes for Employment Passes and S Passes are remaining […]

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TANZANIA: Ongoing Audit to Verify Residence Status

October 27, 2017

Ongoing since 5th October, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Immigration Service Department (ISD) in Tanzania is conducting an audit of the residence status of all foreign nationals in the country. The deadline by which foreign nationals and their employers in Tanzania are required to verify the foreign national’s residence status is 4th November. Foreign employees […]

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KUWAIT: Original University Degrees Required to Renew Iqama Residency Permits

October 24, 2017

Effective by the end of October 2017, Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior (MOI) authorities will begin requiring foreign nationals to submit their original university degrees when filing applications for renewal of their Iqama residency permits. Initially, this requirement will apply only to holders of university degrees, but will be applied in the future to holders of […]

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Global Immigration Update – Monday 23rd October 2017

October 23, 2017

In this week’s edition, we bring you news of a trial visa exemption for entry to Taiwan for qualifying Philippine nationals. Plus, the post-arrival temporary residence application process in Costa Rica has been relaxed. We also bring you immigration news from the US, Guatemala and Russia.  

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PORTUGAL: New Immigration Law Introduces EU Intra-Corporate Transfer Permit

October 21, 2017

Law no. 102/2017 of 28th August 2017 transposes into Portuguese law European Union (EU) Directive 2014/66 “on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer” by introducing a new residence permit category for intra-corporate transfer (ICT). This new law also adopts into Portuguese law Directive 2014/36/EU on […]

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SPAIN: New Procedures for Fast-Track Residence Cards at Central Police Station in Madrid

October 21, 2017

Effective 20th October 2017, fast-track applicants for residence cards and número de extranjero (NIE) certificates at the central police station located at San Felipe in Madrid are no longer able to make appointments in advance. Instead, officers will provide application numbers to the first 30 applicants to attend each day. Foreign nationals who do not receive […]

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