What’s new in global immigration?

29.07.2025

This week, the Global Immigration team at Smith Stone Walters would like to highlight the following recent updates from the European Union, Denmark, Ireland and the United States.

European Union: ETIAS will cost EUR 20

The European Commission has announced a new fee for non-EU travellers not requiring a visa to enter 30 European countries. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) fee will be EUR 20 instead of the previous EUR 7. This increase aims to cover the operational costs of ETIAS, all its functionalities and inflation rates. It also aligns the EU fee to the ones of other countries that have similar travel authorisation programmes.

The ETIAS system will make it easier for visa-exempt non-EU nationals to travel to the EU while improving security. Travellers will need to fill out an online application before their trip, providing personal information. The application will be processed automatically, and the traveller will receive a decision within minutes. Certain groups, including individuals under 18 or over 70, will be exempt from paying the fee.

The adjustment of the fee will now undergo the two-month review period of the Council and the European Parliament. It will enter into effect as soon as ETIAS is operational, which is expected for the last quarter of 2026.

Denmark: Proposed new work permit rules for nationals of 16 countries

The government has announced a new deal which will ease work permit rules for nationals of 16 non-EU countries.

Under the scheme, the salary threshold will be significantly reduced to DKK 300,000 from the current DKK 514,000 (or DKK 415,000 for sectors experiencing labour shortages).

The countries initially covered by the scheme are Albania, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Singapore, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States.

To be certified for the scheme, employers must be covered by collective agreements, and must also meet the conditions that already apply for certification for use of the fast-track scheme. This means that the company must:

• have a minimum of 10 full-time employees;

• not be subject to a legal labour dispute;

• not have been punished more than twice under the Immigration Act within the last two years;

• not have an immediate order from the Danish Labour Inspectorate that has not been complied with; and

• have participated in a guidance meeting at the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration.

The certification is valid for three years with the possibility of extension for up to four years at a time, and the certified company can employ foreigners with the possibility of a quick job start with a temporary residence and work permit.

Employee inclusion requirements

In order for a foreigner to be granted a residence and work permit under the collective agreement-based business scheme, the person concerned must:

• have a salary of at least DKK 300,000 per year (2025 level);

• work full-time in accordance with the collective agreement they are employed under;

• have their salary paid into a Danish bank account;

• not have committed certain types of crime within the past two years; and

• be a citizen of one of the specified third countries.

If the company has its certification revoked, the foreigner has the right to stay and work until the permit expires.

The government has not yet announced a time frame for the implementation of the new scheme.

Ireland: Public consultation on review of Employment Permit Occupations lists

On 23 July 2025, the government announced the opening of the consultation period inviting submissions from stakeholders on the status of occupations on the employment permits Occupations Lists.

The Lists are used to administer Ireland’s employment permits policy. They consist of the Ineligible Occupations List – occupations for which there is an adequate supply of labour and skills with Ireland and the EEA, and for which an employment permit will not be issued, and the Critical Skills Occupations List – occupations in short supply in Ireland and across the EEA.

Inclusion on the list

An occupation may be considered for inclusion on the critical skills occupation list or removal from the ineligible lists provided that:

shortage exists across the occupation, despite attempts by industry to train and there are no suitable Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work;
development opportunities for Irish/EEA nationals are not undermined;
genuine skills shortage exists and that it is not a recruitment or retention problem; and
the Government education, training, employment and economic development policies are supported.

The last review of the occupations lists took place in 2023. This resulted in 11 additional roles being placed on the Critical Skills Occupations List. 32 roles were also made eligible for a General Employment Permit.

As part of this review process, submissions are sought from employers, representative bodies, Government Departments, Agencies, and other interested parties relating to occupations currently included on or absent from the lists.

Submissions will be accepted through the online consultation form on the Department’s website from 23 July to 19 September 2025.

United States: USCIS reaches fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa US advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year 2026.

USCIS will continue to accept and process applications that are otherwise exempt from the cap. Applications submitted for current H-1B workers who have been counted previously against the cap, and who still retain their cap number, are exempt from the FY 2026 H-1B cap. USCIS will continue to accept and process applications submitted to:

Extend the amount of time a current H-1B worker may remain in the United States;
Change the terms of employment for current H-1B workers;
Allow current H-1B workers to change employers; and
Allow current H-1B workers to work concurrently in additional H-1B positions.

The H-1B programme allows companies and other employers in the United States to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialised knowledge and a bachelor’s degree or higher in a directly related specific speciality (or its equivalent) as a minimum for entry into the occupation in the United States. H-1B speciality occupations may include fields such as architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, medicine and health, education, business specialities, accounting, law, theology, and the arts.