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 Sweden, European Union, Hong Kong, United States, Malaysia, Canada and Australia.

Sweden: Proposal for professions that can be exempt from new salary requirement for work permits

On behalf of the government, the Swedish Migration Board, with the help of the Swedish Public Employment Service, has developed proposals for professions that may be exempted from the proposed salary requirement for work permits in Sweden. The list of proposed professions has now been completed and has been reported to the government and consists of 152 professions.

Currently, one of the conditions for being granted a work permit in Sweden is a good livelihood, which corresponds to a salary that amounts to 80 percent of Sweden’s median salary.  A recent report proposes a salary requirement that corresponds to 100 percent of Sweden’s median salary.

Earlier this year, the Swedish Migration Board was commissioned by the government to present a list of proposals for professions that can be exempted from such a salary requirement.

The report which proposes the introduction of a salary requirement and possible exceptions also contains proposals to exclude certain professions from the possibility of being granted a work permit, namely personal assistants and berry pickers. These professions are also included in the list that the Migration Board has now submitted because the need for labour is not considered to be able to be met within Sweden.

European Union: Commission sets launch date for the Entry/Exit System

The European Commission has announced its decision to establish set 12 October 2025 as the launch date for the start of operations of the Entry/Exit System (EES).

From 12 October onwards, the EES will be progressively rolled out at the external borders of 29 European countries, over a period of six months. This progressive roll-out will give border authorities, travellers and the transport industry more time to adjust to new procedures. 

The EES is an advanced IT system that will digitally record the entries and exits of non-EU nationals travelling to 29 European countries, for short stays. It will register biometric data, such as fingerprints, facial images, and other travel information. 

From 12 October onwards, European countries using the EES will start introducing the EES gradually over a period of six months. Border authorities will progressively register the data of third country nationals crossing the external Schengen borders. At the end of the progressive period, the EES will be fully deployed at all border crossing points.  

In the coming months, the Commission, along with European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA), will keep working closely with European countries using the EES to ensure a smooth deployment of the system. As the launch date approaches, travellers can expect to see information campaigns and awareness-raising activities at border crossing points, including airports across the European countries using the EESU, as well as at consulates in third countries. 

Hong Kong: Revised eligibility criteria for government-subsidised post-secondary student places and subsidies

On 31 July 2025, the government announced a revision of the eligibility criteria for government-subsidised post-secondary student places and subsidies: introducing two categories of tuition fees and revising the eligibility criteria.

Under the current admissions arrangements, holders of dependant visas or entry permits who are under 18 years of age when first issued with their immigration document are considered local students.

Under the revision, dependent children must reside in Hong Kong for two years immediately preceding the start of their academic programme before becoming eligible for “Category I” subsidised tuition fees.

“Category II” non-subsidised tuition fees now apply to:

• dependent children who have resided in Hong Kong for less than two years;
• holders of a full-time employment visa or work permit;
• holders of a visa/entry permit for various admission schemes (including the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme or the Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents); and
• Non-local students (such as holders of a student visa/entry permit; holders of a visa/entry permit under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates; dependant visa/entry permit holders who were 18 years old or above when first issued with such visa/entry permit by the ImmD).

Category II persons may still apply for government-subsidised sub-degree, undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes but have to pay non-subsidised fees.

The revision will apply to the 2027/28 academic year (the application cycle commencing in October 2026) with a transitional one-year residency requirement. The two-year residency requirement will be implemented starting from the 2028/29 academic year.

United States: State Department updates interview waiver categories

Effective 2 September 2025, the Department of State will update the categories of applicants that may be eligible for a waiver of the nonimmigrant visa interview. All nonimmigrant visa applicants, including applicants under the age of 14 and over the age of 79, will generally require an in-person interview with a consular officer except:

• Applicants classifiable under the visa symbols A-1, A-2, C-3 (except attendants, servants, or personal employees of accredited officials), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-6, or TECRO E-1;
• Applicants for diplomatic- or official-type visas; and
• Applicants renewing a full validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa or a Border Crossing Card/Foil (for Mexican nationals) within 12 months of the prior visa’s expiration, and who were at least 18 years old at the time of the prior visa’s issuance.

To be eligible for an interview waiver based on the third bullet point above (applicants renewing a full validity B-1, B-2, B1/B2 visa or a Border Crossing Card/Foil for Mexican nationals), applicants must also meet certain criteria, including that they:

• apply in their country of nationality or residence;
• have never been refused a visa (unless such refusal was overcome or waived); and
• have no apparent or potential ineligibility.

Consular officers may still require in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis for any reason. Applicants should check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about visa application requirements and procedures, and to learn more about the embassy or consulate’s operating status and services.

This supersedes the Interview Waiver Update of 18 February 2025.

Malaysia: Enhanced online company interview tool to take effect

The Expatriate Services Division of the Immigration Department of Malaysia has announced that, effective 6 August 2025, it will introduce an enhanced online company interview function within the ESD Online system.

This enhancement is designed to offer the following conveniences:

• Centralised interview notifications: Interview requirements (if applicable) will be communicated directly through the ESD Online, providing better clarity and accessibility to users.
• Improved scheduling flexibility: Companies will be able to select the earliest available interview slot when rescheduling.
• Clearer communication and documentation guidance: Any additional documentation required to support EP or PVP applications will be clearly outlined via the ESD Online.

These improvements aim to facilitate a more transparent and efficient application experience, while ensuring alignment with the Immigration Department of Malaysia’s regulatory framework

Canada: Review of applications for permanent selection under the Regular Skilled Worker Programme

On 23 July 2025, a ministerial order was published in the Gazette Officielle du Québec. As of 30 July 2025, the review of applications for permanent selection submitted under the Programme Régulier des Travailleurs Qualifiés (PRTQ – Regular Skilled Worker Programme) by persons living in Québec as temporary foreign workers or foreign students is prioritized.

This prioritization seeks to accelerate the selection of persons who have already begun their integration into Québec society.

Consequently, it is intended that by 31 December 2025, for all applications:

• a decision to select, reject or refuse will have been rendered; or
• a notice of intention to reject or refuse the application will have been sent, in accordance with the Act respecting administrative justice and the principles of  procedural fairness.

The Ministère then plans to render a decision in the first quarter of 2026 with regard to applications that were subject to a notice of intention to reject or refuse and for which the applicant responded within the timeframes indicated in the notice.

The PRTQ was replaced by the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés – PSTQ (Skilled Worker Selection Program) on 29 November 2024.

Australia: Chinese and Dominican nationals holding US visas can enter visa-free

The government has announced that, effective immediately, nationals of China and the Dominican Republic who hold a valid tourist visa for entry into the United States are able to enter Argentina without needing to apply for the Electronic Travel Authorisation (AVE) or pay consular fees.

Previously, The Dominican Republic had reported, through its Embassy in Argentina, that it exempts Argentine nationals who travel for tourism purposes to that country from the consular visa requirement, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China had recently announced the entry into force of a unilateral visa exemption for Argentinians, Brazilians, Chileans, Peruvians and Uruguayans, with the aim of facilitating tourism and promoting cultural and commercial exchange

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