Japan has stopped accepting new visa applications for foreign restaurant workers under its specified skilled worker program as it approaches a 50,000-worker cap. The move takes effect Monday and anticipates the limit being reached by May 2026. Launched in 2019, the program targets labor shortages across multiple industries, not just restaurants.
Japan is set to increase visa renewal and permanent residency fees through proposed amendments to the Immigration Control Act. A five-year visa renewal is expected to cost around 70,000 yen, while permanent residency permits could climb to 200,000 yen. The government says the changes reflect shifting administrative needs, with higher ceilings for fees.
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Saudi Arabia says this year’s Hajj will exclude all visit visa holders, limiting entry to Mecca and other holy sites only to people with official permits. The restriction runs from the start of Dhu Al Qi’dah until the 14th of Dhu Al Hijjah. Authorities cite the need to control pilgrim movement and improve safety.
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs says student and visitor visa processing has improved sharply: student visas now average a 33-day median, and most visitor visas are decided in under a day. But the same update shows permanent pathways remain slow, with skilled visas averaging about nine months and partner visas around 17 months.
India’s medical tourism has slipped below its pre-Covid high, with industry citing geopolitical tensions, slow or delayed visas, and tougher competition from other Asian destinations. Leaders argue the way back is to sharpen high-tech capabilities and ensure reliable patient care. They also point to improving ties with Bangladesh as a potential boost to international arrivals.
Children born in New Zealand after January 1, 2006 are not automatically citizens. Their citizenship or visa outcome depends on the parents’ legal status at the time of birth. If neither parent is a New Zealand citizen, the child may be granted a visa linked to the parents’ valid visa, subject to confirmation from Immigration New Zealand.
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Canada has launched a new immigration pathway aimed at attracting highly skilled workers, including specialized military recruits. The government says its existing system has become unsustainable and is being overhauled. Under the plan, foreign military applicants will fall into a new skilled recruits category that can include doctors, nurses, and pilots, alongside traditional defense roles.
Thailand’s Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi has announced revised visa, legalisation, and consular service fees for Indian applicants effective April 27, 2026. The changes apply to tourist, non-immigrant, SMART, and long-term visas, plus passport and document services, with fees rising across categories from ₹2,500 for transit visas to up to ₹1,40,000 for long-term residency permits.
South Korea is rolling out a new immigration push for the 2030s, expanding visa benefits for high-tech professionals and creating a separate pathway for skilled technicians. The plan broadens eligibility for its “top-tier visa” and introduces a “K-Core visa” for intermediate technical skills, aiming to attract global talent while easing labor shortages and supporting regional development.
Australia is tightening rules for employer-sponsored visas starting July 1, 2025, by raising income thresholds linked to annual wage indexation. The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold is set at AUD 76,515, while specialist roles must meet a higher AUD 141,210. The policy aims to ensure overseas workers receive pay comparable to local employees.
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Canada says it has cut processing times for temporary residence applications since April 15, and Indian applicants are seeing faster decisions for visitor visas, study permits, and super visas. The one wrinkle: work permit processing for applications from India has increased slightly, even as other categories move quicker.
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