IRCC extends “no-flagpoling” option: IEC participants can activate a second work permit entirely online
Temporary Link Bridge at HZMB Zhuhai Port to Close on 15 February, Travellers Urged to Re-Route
Ireland extends Temporary Protection permissions to March 2027
Latest News
Dual British nationals warned: No British passport, no entry from 25 February
From 25 February 2026 UK carriers will refuse boarding to dual British nationals who do not show a British (or Irish) passport or a £589 certificate of entitlement. The sudden enforcement, part of the UK’s fully digital border roll-out, has sparked confusion among expatriates and business travellers and could strand families overseas. Companies must urgently review travellers’ documentation to avoid costly disruptions.
Lufthansa Restores Schedule After Dual Pilot-Cabin-Crew Strike Grounds 100,000 Travellers
Flights at Germany’s biggest airline are back on schedule after a one-day strike by both pilot and cabin-crew unions cancelled nearly 800 services on 12 February. Frankfurt handled a record 1,160 take-offs and landings on Friday to clear the backlog. Companies should expect further collective-bargaining turbulence this spring and keep alternative routing options ready.
Flanders Tightens Work-Permit Rules Even as Labour Migration Hits New High
Official data released on 13 February show record numbers of work permits for non-EU nationals in Flanders, but new regional rules simultaneously make it harder for employers to hire abroad for many medium-skilled roles. Companies will face longer labour-market tests and a slimmed-down fast-track list, while high-skill routes remain open. Businesses warn the changes could deepen skills shortages; the government says local job-seekers must come first.
Greece reopens all visa application centres across India after cyber outage
All nine Greece Visa Application Centres in India reopened on 12 February 2026 following a cyber-incident shutdown that began in mid-December. Standard 15-day processing and limited five-day priority service have resumed, unblocking more than 22,000 pending Indian Schengen applications. The restart eases pressure on other EU consulates and restores confidence for Indian leisure and business travellers heading to Greece.
ACT Raises Income Thresholds and Scraps 482-Visa Pathway in 2026 Skilled-Migration Overhaul
From 1 February 2026 the ACT will hike weekly income thresholds for Subclass 491 and 190 nominations and abolish its fast-track pathway for 482-visa holders. The tougher rules aim to attract higher-paid talent but create new hurdles for employers and migrants already in Canberra.
Western Sydney International Airport on Track for July Cargo Launch and October Passenger Flights
Western Sydney’s curfew-free second airport will handle its first cargo flights in July and welcome passengers from October 2026. Launch partners Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand are preparing to put seats on sale, while integrated testing of baggage, security and emergency systems is under way. The project will unlock more than 200 extra daily flights by 2030, easing slot pressure at Sydney Kingsford Smith and giving business travellers greater schedule flexibility.
Emirates keeps Algeria flights running but sets final service for 3 February 2027
Emirates has reassured customers that Dubai–Algiers flights will operate normally for at least one year, naming 3 February 2027 as the final service after Algeria moved to cancel its air-services treaty with the UAE. The notice period gives businesses a clear timeline to adjust travel policies and relocation plans while signalling potential network redeployments by the airline.
Polish Border Guard Raid in Opole Region Uncovers 38 Undocumented Foreign Workers
Border Guard officers arrested 38 Filipino and Colombian nationals working illegally near Nysa on 13 February 2026 and issued 37 return orders plus a one-year Schengen ban. The action underscores Poland’s tougher workplace-inspection regime and the need for employers and staffing agencies to double-check immigration compliance.
Italian Government Moves to Block Airport Strikes During Milano-Cortina 2026
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini says an emergency decree will bar two nationwide airport strikes slated for 16 February and 7 March, arguing they would tarnish the Milano-Cortina Games. The move invokes a rarely-used clause of Italy’s strike law, giving airlines and travellers short-term certainty but signalling a tougher stance on labour unrest during hallmark events.
Audit Exposes Systemic Failures in Cyprus Immigration Department
Cyprus’s Auditor-General released a damning report on 13 February 2026 revealing nearly 12,000 pending citizenship files, rampant identity-fraud vulnerabilities and millions in uncollected fines at the Civil Registry & Migration Department. The systemic failures mean longer processing times, higher compliance costs and reputational risks for companies relocating staff to Cyprus.