Global immigration news from around the world
This week, the Global Immigration team at Smith Stone Walters would like to highlight the following recent news updates from Poland, Denmark and Hong Kong.
Poland
New immigration laws take effect 1 June 2025
New laws introducing a range of significant changes to the immigration regulations have now been published in the official journal and will enter into force on 1 June 2025.
Among the principal changes are the following:
• The labour market test is no longer required. Henceforth, the district authorities will establish lists of protected professions which are closed to foreign nationals.
• All application procedures will be digitized.
• Employers must upload a copy of the signed employment contract before the job starts.
• Foreign nationals cannot work less than 25 percent of a full-time job. For jobs of less than 20 hours per week, the work permit will be issued for up to one year.
• Work permits will be issued for up to on year only for companies which have been operating for less than one year.
• Employers have new deadlines for submitting online notifications for, e.g., the date a foreign national starts or terminates employment.
• Fines for illegal employment will increase.
Further details of the implementation of the new rules are expected.
Denmark
New online application forms for applicants for EU residence
On 15 May 2025, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) published four new online application forms for applicants for European Union residence in Denmark.
Applicants will experience several upgrades. Among other things, it will be much easier to apply using a mobile phone or tablet and digital applications may be processed faster. Applicants continue to be able to submit physical applications.
SIRI has moved the online form OD1 to a new IT system. At the same time the form has been divided into four new separate forms:
• OD1A – Application for EU residence, for a citizen of EU/EEA/Switzerland or a posted service provider;
• OD1B – Application for EU residence as a family member to an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen;
• OD1C – Application for permanent EU residence;
• OD1D – Application to change the grounds for EU residence
The four new forms contain a number of changes making it easier to use the forms:
• The forms in the new IT system have been optimized for mobile phones and tablets;
• The signed sworn declaration has been removed, making it possible to sign the application either when appearing at SIRI (OD1A and OD1B) or using MitID (OD1C and OD1D);
• The division into four separate forms makes each form simpler and faster to complete;
• After submission applicants can log on to their user profile in the new system and see the completed and submitted online application.
Those who have already begun to complete an application in the old system can continue to complete and submit their application in the old system for a limited period of time.
Applicants using the new system can log in and view their online application for up to 30 days after it has been submitted.
Hong Kong
Visa-free access for Hong Kong passport holders to Qatar and the UAE/Visa-free period for Hong Kong passport holders visiting Oman extended
The Hong Kong government has announced that it has received notifications from the Consulate General of Qatar in Hong Kong, the Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Hong Kong and the Honorary Consulate of the Sultanate of Oman in the HKSAR regarding the latest visa-free arrangements offered to Hong Kong passport holders.
Hong Kong passport holders may visit Qatar and the UAE visa-free (previously visa-on-arrival) for a stay of up to 30 days. In addition, the visa-free period for Hong Kong passport holders visiting Oman has been extended from a stay of up to 10 days to 14 days. Further to the measure regarding Qatar announced earlier, the other two measures will take effect on 15 May 2025.
As of 14 May 2025, 174 countries and territories have granted visa-free access or visa-on-arrival to Hong Kong passport holders, including all six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Among these, Qatar, the UAE and Oman offer visa-free access, while Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia provide visa-on-arrival facilitation. Further details are available here.
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