Global immigration news
round-up

7 October 2020

Global immigration rules are changing by the day, both in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and as a result of legislative updates across the globe.

Smith Stone Walters is here to help businesses and individuals keep on top of these developments and identify any changes that may impact your immigration goals. With this in mind, we would like to highlight the following key updates in global immigration.

Canada: Parents and Grandparents Programme opens

The 2020 Parents and Grandparents Programme will open in Canada, allowing Canadian citizens and permanent residents the opportunity to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence in Canada.

The Programme will run from 13 October 2020 until 3 November 2020 and the process starts with an interest form to be submitted during this period. After the interest window closes, sponsors will be invited to formally lodge an application. Numbers are limited to 10,000 per annum and invites are given out in the order interest applications were received.

This limit is a reduction from the previous year of 20,000 but the intention is to increase it to 30,000 in 2021. Other changes include a reduction in the minimum income requirement as detailed here. Both changes are seen as a response to COVID-19.

Georgia: New remote work visa introduced

Georgia is the latest in an ever-growing list of countries to introduce a remote work or nomadic visa including Barbados and Estonia. Unlike traditional work visas, these permits do not require sponsorship from an employer in the country in which you wish to live.

Individuals from 95 countries are potentially eligible to apply for the 180 day + permit. Applications, submitted to the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable development must show a monthly salary of no less than 2,000 USD per month, as well as health insurance for the duration of stay in Georgia.

Employers must keep abreast of where their employees are working from in order to remain compliant. An employee working nomadically can easily incur consequences for their employer if they do not have the appropriate documentation in place.

China: Travel restrictions continue to ease

China has eased entry restrictions for overseas nationals as imported COVID-19 cases come under control. Individuals with residence permits for work, personal matters or family reunion are now permitted to enter the country.

If one of the aforementioned permits is no longer valid, but expired after 26 March 2020, then the individual can apply for a new document through their local Embassy. Regardless of visa expiry, quarantine and COVID-19 testing requirements continue to apply.

This follows a series of measures introduced by China to lift the travel restrictions originally imposed in March, although many are still prevented from entering the country as they normally would. For personal or business travel, it is advisable to plan ahead and seek guidance on the restrictions in advance, and at the time of travel, to pick up any short notice changes.

Let us help you reach your global immigration goals

At Smith Stone Walters, moving people across borders is our business. Our team of immigration experts manage and support immigration moves throughout the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.

If you need advice or support in reaching your business’s global immigration goals, Smith Stone Walters would be delighted to help. Contact us today to discuss your requirements – we are immigration experts.

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