Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan maintains 380,000 permanent residents and 370,000 new temporary residents annually, while shifting economic allocations toward provinces and adding a time-limited 200,000-space measure for people already in Canada. PNP rises to 95,000, Atlantic Immigration to 6,000, and Federal High Skilled falls to 100,000.

Canada has doubled the maximum Low-Wage Stream LMIA duration to two years and added early childhood educators to the exceptions to the high-unemployment processing freeze, effective 6 November 2026. Proposed regional reforms for 1 March 2027 would give provinces and territories greater control over low-wage hiring, including a possible 15% cap in designated communities.

Liberia has introduced a mandatory health declaration and screening for all arriving travelers under Travel Advisory No. 02 on the Threat of an Ebola Outbreak. An online NPHIL form generates a QR code for arrival, while travelers from the DRC must self-isolate for 21 days and those from Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria face daily monitoring for 21 days.

Japan is unlikely to raise the Specified Skilled Worker Type I cap for food service, Minister Kimi Onoda has said, arguing that demand should decline as productivity and AI improve. The restaurant sector reached its 50,000 cap in April 2026 and remains closed to new applications, while meal services at medical and welfare facilities are being addressed through a separate arrangement from April 2027.

Australia has tightened the Training (subclass 407) visa again. From 12 November 2026, most applicants must be outside Australia when applying and when the visa is granted. The change follows March 2026 reforms requiring both Temporary Activities Sponsorship and subclass 407 nomination approval before a valid visa application can be lodged.

Saudi Arabia has confirmed a two-phase increase in the Nitaqat salary threshold: SAR 5,000 from 25 April 2027 and SAR 6,000 from 25 April 2028. Employees earning between the old and new thresholds will count as half a worker. Employers should review salaries and model their Nitaqat classification before the first phase begins.

Cuba's new e-visa portal is live at consular.cu with three visa categories, group applications and consular-managed payment.

India plans to cut visa application fields by 70% across all 22 categories by 2027, though nothing has been formally announced.

Ireland's Employment Permits Portal remains offline after unauthorised activity. Processing continues, but restoration is delayed and no new date is set.

Brazil creates a dedicated residence pathway for foreign workers on qualifying megaevents, covering locally employed workers and technical assistance providers.

A practical 2026 holiday travel guide for foreign nationals: passport validity, visa re-entry, AVR, ESTA, EVUS, SEVIS and I-94 rules.

The UK confirms a 10-year standard pathway to settlement, with 3-year and 5-year routes for high earners and public-service workers.

Milan requires wet-ink or qualified digital signatures on EU Blue Card job offers. DocuSign and similar platforms are rejected, including on pending applications.

Russia proposes cutting e-Visa validity from 120 to 45 days while letting travellers stay for the entire validity period.

Dubai will allow tourist visa applications through Visit Dubai from November 2026, integrating government services into its official tourism platform.

The UK Budget cuts occupation salary thresholds to the 25th percentile from spring 2027 and expands the High Potential Individual visa to top 150 universities.

Sierra Leone denies boarding without a health declaration, while Uganda drops its yellow fever certificate requirement for entry.

Uganda requires an online health declaration for all arrivals, with no exemptions, and bars transit for anyone with recent DRC travel history.

Ireland's Employment Permits Portal is offline after unauthorised activity, with access expected by 3 November 2026.

The Philippines cuts AEP processing to 10 days and removes newspaper publication from the Labour Market Test from 11 November 2026.

China extends the APEC Business Travel Card stay limit from 60 to 90 days from 1 November 2026.

Ireland extends its Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme to 31 December 2026, but eligibility rules and post-New Year uncertainty remain unchanged.

The Ninth Circuit stayed an order to reopen the DV-2027 lottery, leaving registration closed while the appeal proceeds.

Saudi Arabian citizens can now apply for US Global Entry, joining 23 partner countries. Fee, process and disqualifying factors explained.