Global immigration news round-up
This week, the Global Immigration team at Smith Stone Walters would like to highlight the following recent updates from Brazil, China, France & the United Arab Emirates.
Brazil: New entry visa requirements for certain nationalities
Effective 10 April 2025, Australian, Canadian and US citizens now need a visa to travel to Brazil on tourism or business.
Citizens from Australia, Canada and the US who plan on travelling to Brazil should apply for an electronic visa (e-visa) using the new online platform. This procedure exempts the applicant from going to a Brazilian consulate. There is also no need to make appointments to deliver documents, affix physical visas, and hand passports.
The application costs USD 80.90. The e-Visas are for multiple entry, with the same validity as the physical visa.
China: “High-end foreign talents” exempt from tax document requirement
The Beijing Overseas Talent Centre has announced that “high-end foreign talents” (Category A) with an average salary at least six times the previous year’s regional average wage for urban employees are exempted from submitting tax documentation when applying for work permit extensions and cancellations. Compliance with this policy will be verified through random inspections conducted by the relevant authorities.
Background
In 2017, China introduced a three-tier grading scheme for foreign talent. Foreign national applicants are placed in Tier A, B, or C by earning the associated number of points under a point scoring system, or by fulfilling a condition that automatically places them in a given tier.
To qualify for tier A, applicants must score at least 85 points; or be employed through a regional talent plan; or meet recognised international standards in their field; or earn over six times the average local salary; or be employed in certain positions; or be demonstrably entrepreneurial; or be a graduate student under 40 years of age with a degree from a high-ranking university.
France: French language assessments evolve ahead of new immigration requirements.
From 12 May 2025, the TCF Integration, Residence and Nationality (IRN) test will allow candidates to be evaluated up to level B2.
Following the promulgation of Law No. 2024-42 of January 26, 2024, the new government requirements for mastery of French are evolving and will be applied by the authorities no later than 1 January 2026:
• For naturalization, a B2 level will be required (currently B1 required);
• For a resident card, a B1 level will be required (currently A2 required);
• For a multi-year residence card, an A2 level will be required (currently none required).
To anticipate these new requirements, the TCF IRN is adapting and allowing candidates to be evaluated up to level B2 from 12 May 2025.
Only the comprehension tests undergo modifications:
• The listening test will increase from 20 to 25 questions and from 15 to 20 minutes;
• The reading test will increase from 20 to 25 questions and from 20 to 35 minutes.
TCF IRN B1 certificates are valid for naturalization until the promulgation of the decree (date of publication unknown to date).
For other applications (resident card and multi-year residence card), these certificates remain valid until their expiry date.
United Arab Emirates: Free Zone companies can operate in Dubai mainland
The Executive Council of Dubai has issued Resolution No. (11) of 2025 (effective 21 March 2025), which applies to free zone companies seeking to operate outside their relevant free zone, in mainland Dubai.
According to the resolution, any company or institution licensed by a relevant free zone authority may operate outside the free zone and within mainland Dubai, as long as it obtains one of three types of license or permit from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
• A license to establish a branch of the free zone entity in mainland Dubai (as per the existing requirements);
• A license to establish a branch of the free zone operating out of the free zone (one year validity with an AED 10,000 issuance or renewal fee);
• A permit for the free zone entity to practice some activities within mainland Dubai (up to six months validity with an AED 5000 issuance or renewal fee).
The DET, in coordination with the relevant licensing authority, will issue, within a period not exceeding six months from the effective date of this resolution, a list of economic activities that a company may conduct within Dubai, specifying which type of licence or permit each activity requires.
A company licensed or authorised under this resolution to conduct its activities within mainland Dubai can engage its existing workforce registered on the Free Zone portal, and may continue to benefit from all Free Zone employment privileges applicable to that workforce.
Companies conducting activities outside the Free Zone and within Dubai by the effective date of this Resolution (21 March 2025) must comply with its provisions within one year from that date. The Director General may, where necessary, extend this grace period once for the same period.
Did you know?
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