International competition to capture remote workers: the increasing use of EOR companies

The increase in remote working and digital nomadism, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, has caused countries to adopt innovative policies to attract and retain remote workers. This article examines the major attractions for digital nomads, the compliance risks associated with working remotely, and the role of Employer of Record (EOR) services utilised in international employment.

Released on Apr 9, 2024

Hungary’s new Guest Investor Programme

The new Hungarian law on ‘General rules for the entry and residence of third-country nationals’ has introduced the Guest Investor Residency Programme. A significant part of the legislation became effective from 1 January 2024, however, the special provisions governing the Golden Visa will enter into force from 1 July 2024. From that point onwards, Golden Visa investors can obtain a ten-year residence permit for investing in a Hungarian real estate fund worth at least €250,000 or purchasing residential real estate in Hungary worth at least €500,000.

Released on Apr 9, 2024

US Citizenship and Immigration Services substantially raises its fees

This article covers the recent raise in the US Citizenship and Immigration Services’ fees and the opposition the move has faced.

Released on Apr 9, 2024

Permanent residency investment visas in Brazil: the new real estate investment visa

This article deals with permanent residency visas based on investments in real estate property in Brazil. Contrary to what may have been previously thought, Brazil’s federal legislation has a vast range of investment visas, which may grant permanent residency and a future path to nationality. Among these, it is worth mentioning the permanent residency visas based on investments in real estate property in Brazil. This sort of permanent residency was introduced under the Immigration National Council’s (Conselho Nacional de Imigração—CNIg) Legal Resolution No.36 of 2018.

Released on Mar 15, 2024

Modern slavery in migration: Australia’s perspective

This article tackles the human trafficking phenomenon and the significant problem it represents in Australia.

Released on May 24, 2023

One year post-pandemic, how are the novel digital nomads regimes impacting workers' mobility?

This article explores the phenomenon of the digital nomad and how immigration regimes across the globe are trying to both accommodate – and perhaps belatedly regulate – the emerging cosmopolitan class of the nomad worker and their families.

Released on May 24, 2023

Character concerns in immigration processes in Australia

This article explores the concept of ‘good character’ in Australian immigration law and the role it plays in in determining whether visa holders can have their visas cancelled.

Released on May 24, 2023

Artificial intelligence and Canada’s immigration system

This article discusses artificial intelligence in Canadian immigration, including recent developments. It also deals with ethical considerations for automated decision-making, and the evolution of artificial intelligence regulations.

Released on Apr 20, 2023

Artificial intelligence and Canada’s immigration system

This article discusses artificial intelligence in Canadian immigration, including recent developments. It also deals with ethical considerations for automated decision-making, and the evolution of artificial intelligence regulations.

Released on Apr 20, 2023

Untangling the nonimmigrant visa backlogs from the pandemic

Endless government closures and backlogs have severely affected the issuing of US visas worldwide. Improvements and additional resources are in progress, and applicants are seeing appointments with manageable dates as nations continue to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Released on Oct 18, 2022

Swedish immigration law: updates from 1 June 2022

On 1 June 2022, the Swedish Parliament introduced new updates to the immigration law. The newly introduced changes aim to discourage criminal activities and prevent companies from engaging in salary dumping. They also maintain trade unions’ level of workers’ protection and interest. Moreover, the law is presented as an additional level of protection against human trafficking. This article discusses the new updates to the immigration law.

Released on Oct 18, 2022

The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Polish immigration rules

Recent months brought many changes to Polish immigration laws. A great majority of them were introduced following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the necessity of arranging the legal aspect millions of Ukrainians fleeing their country, seeking peace and shelter in Poland. However, there are a few more simplified rules of stay and work of particular groups of foreign nationals, for example IT specialists, making Poland an even more attractive hub for the new tech sector. This article discusses the most important changes in Polish immigration law implemented in recent months.

Released on Oct 18, 2022

Citizenship by registration in Nigeria and the struggle for gender equality

Citizenship by registration under section 26 of the Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has been a controversial document as it stipulates that only women married to Nigerian men are eligible for Nigerian citizenship. Foreign husbands of Nigerian women are not entitled to become citizens. On 3 March 2022, members of the Nigerian House of Representatives rejected Bill 36, ‘a bill to expand the scope of citizenship by registration’. This Bill would have enabled foreign men married to Nigerian women to become citizens. Its rejection, along with other gender empowering bills was a massive setback to the fight against gender inequality in Nigeria. Nevertheless, on 8 March 2022, the rejection of the proposed Bill was rescinded by the House. In order to discuss citizenship by registration in Nigeria, it is important to define the concept of citizenship, the controversy surrounding the Bill, and how it affects gender equality in Nigeria.

Released on Oct 18, 2022

What’s next for the Schengen Area?

This article looks at what’s next for the Schengen Area, known as the world’s largest visa-free zone.

Released on Oct 18, 2022

The rise of the immigration remote working visa

When the Covid-19 pandemic forced businesses worldwide to switch their workforces to remote working, it soon became apparent that the remote working visa was a powerful tool to revive tourism, create jobs and support other sectors in the economy. It attracted a new generation of skilled workers along with many existing digital nomads with unique skills and expertise, without affecting local job opportunities. Immigration policies were changed globally to accommodate remote workers. This article outlines the history of remote working and highlights some of the compliance risks which individuals and companies face.

Released on Oct 18, 2022

An overview of the new UK Scale-up Worker Visa

The UK has a history of aiming to attract the brightest and the best to its shores. This article looks at the latest revamp of the UK immigration system, which has seen the introduction of a fast-track, unsponsored points-based route.

Released on Oct 18, 2022

Chile’s new migration law: advances and challenges

It well understood that immigration regulations must adapt to the new international migration challenges and phenomena. This is what lay behind the new Migration and Foreigners Law, to face the exponential increase in immigration to Chile, updating a regulation which had been in force for 40 years. It is necessary to understand if this new law tackles the issues relating to cross-border work which have come about with the advance of new technologies and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Released on Oct 18, 2022

Digital nomads in Brazil: immigration aspects, requirements and formalities

The number of digital nomads has increased substantially over the last few years, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the increasing number of digital nomads, several countries including Brazil, have issued regulations to grant temporary visas. Although Brazilian labour and employment laws do not apply to digital nomads, since they provide services remotely to a foreign company, if the foreign company employing the individual has a local subsidiary in Brazil, the local entity could be exposed to legal risks depending on the way services are provided. Multinational companies with local operations in Brazil should be mindful of such risks.

Released on Oct 18, 2022

A reflection on the Djokovic Australian visa saga in 2022

Australia has some of the strictest rules relating to restrictions on entry, border control, visa cancellation, immigration detention and deportations from the country. This article looks at what happened with tennis player Novak Djokovic was granted a visa to enter Australia with a medical exemption, allowing him to enter without being fully vaccinated.

Released on Oct 17, 2022

Outcomes of the Jobs and Skills Summit 2022

On 1–2 September 2022, members of parliament, trade union figures and council officials, to name a few, came together to work constructively on the challenges and opportunities facing Australia’s labour market and economy. This is notably in the wake of the global economies recovery post-pandemic, where states and countries alike have turned to an imminent focus on the workforce to rebuild their economic shortfalls caused by the enormous effects of border closures and isolation orders on the workforce and key industries. This article explores a variety of outcomes, as a result of the consensus reached at the Summit.

Released on Oct 17, 2022

Italy’s temporary protection for those fleeing from Ukraine

Ukrainian nationals’ emergency status has been accelerated by the extraordinary circumstances that took place over the last few weeks. More than 2 million refugees have fled Ukraine; as the humanitarian crisis seems to spread at the speed of light, many countries have released some regulatory provisions offering temporary protection.

Released on Apr 22, 2022

Immigration law and policy for people affected by the invasion of Ukraine in the Netherlands

The Netherlands has responded warmly to the influx of Ukrainian nationals due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Refugees are not only welcomed in people’s homes, but millions of euros have been collected to help Ukrainians in the Netherlands and abroad.

Released on Apr 22, 2022

Australia’s response to the Ukraine refugee crisis

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Australia promptly implemented a call to action, in preparation and anticipation of the influx of Ukrainian nationals who have sought and will seek protection in Australia.

Released on Apr 22, 2022

Poland’s answer to Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion

Since the invasion of the Ukrainian territory in February 2022, Poland has been supportive of and united with the people of Ukraine. The Polish authorities have introduced a number of improvements in regards the legalisation of stay and work permits.

Released on Apr 22, 2022

Canada’s immigration response to the Ukrainian migrant crisis

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in millions of people fleeing Ukraine. The Canadian government has reacted to this with a series of measures aimed at assisting migrants to find safety in Canada. This approach is focused on getting migrants to Canada as quickly as possible, and is very much in line with the IBA’s Immigration & Nationality Committee’s advocated Emergency Evacuation visa model.

Released on Apr 22, 2022

Spanish immigration law and policy for people affected by the invasion of Ukraine

ain has regulated a specific process applicable to persons displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. Order PCM/169/2022 of 9 March developed the procedure for the recognition of temporary protection for persons affected by the conflict in Ukraine, and Order PCM/170/2022 extended the scope of the protection.

Released on Apr 22, 2022

The Dutch perspective: remote working and digital nomads

This article outlines the options for ‘digital nomads’ seeking to work remotely from the Netherlands for an overseas employer.

Released on Dec 13, 2021

Remote working in the United Kingdom

This article considers whether the United Kingdom will adapt its immigration laws to accommodate the trend towards international remote working and the extent to which current immigration rules permit such activities.

Released on Dec 13, 2021

Remote working in Australia

Although Covid-19 restrictions are beginning to ease around the world, many people continue to work remotely, aided by ever-improving technology. This article considers how Australian immigration law reflects the ongoing demand for remote work and makes recommendations for the design of remote work immigration law.

Released on Dec 13, 2021

International remote working from Spain

This article considers the preliminary draft bill of the ‘Startup Law’ (Act 14/2013), which introduces the regulation of a new residence and visa authorisation covering third-country nationals working remotely from Spain for foreign companies.

Released on Dec 13, 2021