Immigration Digest 🌏
February 2026 was a busy month for immigration policy in many popular relocation destinations. Let’s take a look at the most important changes.
🇪🇺 European Union – New EU Visa Strategy
At the end of January, the European Commission unveiled its new EU Visa Strategy, a roadmap to use visas more strategically for security, migration management and talent attraction.
📌 Key points to highlight:
1. Short‑stay vs long‑stay framework
Short‑stay visas (up to 90 days in any 180‑day period) are harmonised at EU level and governed by the Visa Code, with common conditions, procedures and validity across all 29 Schengen countries. The Strategy revisits this framework (including visa‑free / visa‑required lists) and introduces a more structured and predictable method for assessing visa exemptions for partner countries.
* Long‑stay visas (over 90 days) remain a national competence, with EU law mainly harmonising conditions for specific categories such as students, researchers and highly skilled workers.
2. Revision of the Article 25a mechanism
This article concerns readmission cooperation with visa bound third countries. The goal is to make it more flexible and reactive when a third country refuses to readmit its nationals, including the possibility to propose targeted measures to the Council (longer processing times, higher fees, fewer multiple‑entry visas) to incentivise cooperation on returns.
3. Making the EU more attractive for talent
In parallel, the Commission issues a Recommendation on attracting talent for innovation, encouraging Member States to draw in international students, researchers, highly qualified and skilled workers, start‑up founders and innovative entrepreneurs.
Suggested measures include:
4. This Strategy is part of a broader set of initiatives already underway, such as:
At the end of January, the European Commission unveiled its new EU Visa Strategy, a roadmap to use visas more strategically for security, migration management and talent attraction.
📌 Key points to highlight:
1. Short‑stay vs long‑stay framework
Short‑stay visas (up to 90 days in any 180‑day period) are harmonised at EU level and governed by the Visa Code, with common conditions, procedures and validity across all 29 Schengen countries. The Strategy revisits this framework (including visa‑free / visa‑required lists) and introduces a more structured and predictable method for assessing visa exemptions for partner countries.
* Long‑stay visas (over 90 days) remain a national competence, with EU law mainly harmonising conditions for specific categories such as students, researchers and highly skilled workers.
2. Revision of the Article 25a mechanism
This article concerns readmission cooperation with visa bound third countries. The goal is to make it more flexible and reactive when a third country refuses to readmit its nationals, including the possibility to propose targeted measures to the Council (longer processing times, higher fees, fewer multiple‑entry visas) to incentivise cooperation on returns.
3. Making the EU more attractive for talent
In parallel, the Commission issues a Recommendation on attracting talent for innovation, encouraging Member States to draw in international students, researchers, highly qualified and skilled workers, start‑up founders and innovative entrepreneurs.
Suggested measures include:
- Fast-track procedures for obtaining long-stay visas and residence permits;
- Clearer, more accessible information for prospective employees and employers, including on recruitment pathways;
- Stronger coordination between national authorities, educational institutions and the innovation ecosystem;
- Deeper cooperation with partner countries through Talent Partnerships and similar initiatives.
4. This Strategy is part of a broader set of initiatives already underway, such as:
- The EU Talent Pool Regulation, designed to match skilled workers with EU employers;
- Existing Talent Partnerships with partner countries;
- The upcoming pilot “European Legal Gateway” office in India, a one‑stop hub to support the mobility of workers to the EU, starting with the ICT sector.
🇬🇧 UK
A final decision on the earned settlement reform is expected soon:
Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme:
Hong Kong BN(O) route expansion:
* BN(O) route (British National (Overseas)) – allows eligible people to live, work, and study in the UK
A final decision on the earned settlement reform is expected soon:
- On 12 February 2026, the UK closed the public consultation on the biggest immigration reform in a decade;
- This means that a final decision on the future of ILR will be taken soon;
- The proposed reform introduces an earned settlement model and increases the qualifying period for ILR from 5 to 10 years as a default rule;
- Although no final rules have yet been officially announced, the changes are expected to take effect in autumn 2026.
Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme:
- Ukrainians can now apply to extend their status up to 90 days before their current permission expires;
- This replaces the previous 28-day application window.
Hong Kong BN(O) route expansion:
- Adult children of BN(O) status holders who were under 18 at the time of the 1997 Hong Kong handover can now apply independently, without parents;
- The BN(O) route also extends to partners and children;
- Around 26,000 people are expected to arrive in the UK under this scheme.
* BN(O) route (British National (Overseas)) – allows eligible people to live, work, and study in the UK
🇨🇦 Canada
Canada remained highly active in immigration selection rounds in February 2026, issuing 25,722 Invitations to Apply for permanent residence through federal Express Entry and provincial programs.
It clearly favoured:
Provincial programs were used extensively to address regional labor shortages, particularly in healthcare, trades, tech and key sectors in Ontario, Alberta, BC and Atlantic Canada.
Canada remained highly active in immigration selection rounds in February 2026, issuing 25,722 Invitations to Apply for permanent residence through federal Express Entry and provincial programs.
It clearly favoured:
- French‑speaking candidates (8,500 ITAs at CRS 400);
- Applicants with Canadian work experience (6,000 ITAs at CRS 508);
- Healthcare professionals (4,000 ITAs).
Provincial programs were used extensively to address regional labor shortages, particularly in healthcare, trades, tech and key sectors in Ontario, Alberta, BC and Atlantic Canada.
🇬🇪 Georgia
Work permit is mandatory for foreigners working in Georgia.
Work permit is mandatory for foreigners working in Georgia.
- Effective 1 March 2026: All foreign workers in Georgia, including self-employed must have a work permit;
- Applies to: Foreigners working for a Georgian employer, and Self-employed carrying out activities in Georgia without permanent residence;
- Self-employed must apply to the Labour Agency directly, while for employed foreigners it is the duty of the employer to obtain the permit.
- Failure to comply → 2,000 GEL (~620 EUR).
This immigration digest is for informational purposes only. If you have any specific questions regarding relocation or a particular country program, please reach out to us at beyondborders.relocation@gmail.com
