Canada
Canada is planning to reduce the number of temporary residents (like students and workers) by 2026. This means rules for visas will be stricter, and officers can cancel documents if people stay too long or break rules.
Big changes are coming for international students and those looking for work permits (PGWP) starting January 21, 2025:
- Fewer study permits will be given out in 2025.
- Work permits after graduation (PGWP) will be harder to get, focusing only on jobs in high-demand areas like healthcare.
- Work permits for spouses of international students will be limited. Only spouses of students doing master’s or PhDs, or those in specific skilled jobs, will qualify.
- Children of foreign workers will generally not get open work permits anymore.
Other news: Canada is still having Express Entry draws (inviting skilled workers), and different provinces are updating their own immigration programs. It’s also easier now to get a Super Visa for parents and grandparents, with fewer health insurance rules. New ways to get permanent residency are opening up in rural areas.
Australia
Australia is getting a new “Skills in Demand” (SID) visa starting December 7, 2024. This will replace the old skilled worker visa and will have clearer ways to get permanent residency.
The minimum salary for skilled workers is going up to $76,515 from July 1, 2025.
If you use an ImmiAccount online, you’ll need to use extra security (like a code on your phone) from June 18, 2025.
Changes for student visas:
- From January 1, 2025, you must have a confirmed offer from a school, not just a letter.
- English language tests will be harder.
Other news: New ways to apply for parent visas online are available. A program for accountants to gain work experience will stop in 2025. Some states are closing their skilled migration programs for the current year.
New Zealand
New Zealand is launching a new visa for parents of skilled migrants on September 29, 2025, allowing them to stay for up to 10 years. This is a visitor visa, not a direct path to permanent residency.
More people are applying for New Zealand’s “Golden Visa” for investors after rules were made easier in April. The minimum money needed to invest was lowered, and you don’t need to pass an English test for some categories.
Chinese passport holders can now use an electronic travel pass when stopping in New Zealand from November.
United Kingdom
The UK wants to reduce immigration significantly with new plans that will be put in place by 2029.
Some big ideas include:
- Staying longer to get permanent residency (ILR): It might take 10 years instead of 5 for most people.
- Skilled Worker Visas: Fewer types of jobs will qualify, and jobs will need to be higher skilled.
- Social care workers: Employers might not be able to hire social care workers from other countries as easily.
- Graduate Visa: The time you can stay on a Graduate visa might be cut from two years to 18 months.
- English Language: Rules for English tests will be stricter for both workers and their partners.
- Immigration skills charge: This fee for employers is expected to go up.
The UK is still looking for highly skilled Indian professionals through its Global Talent visa.
Europe (General & Portugal)
- Portugal: From June 24, 2025, it will take 10 years of living in Portugal (instead of 5) to apply for citizenship for most people.
- Schengen Visas: More people applied for visas to EU countries in 2024. Countries like China, Turkey, and India had the most applications.
- Visa-Free Travel: EU countries have agreed on new rules to make it easier and faster to stop visa-free travel from certain countries if needed.
USA
Social Media Checks (Effective June 19, 2025): If you apply for a student visa or exchange visitor visa, the US government will now check your social media accounts. They will look for anything that shows hostility towards the US.
New Travel Ban (2025): The US has announced a new travel ban for people from 12 countries (mostly in the Middle East and Africa) due to security concerns. India is NOT on this list.
Visa Delays for Indians: People from India are still facing very long waits (up to 10-12 months) for US visa appointments because of high demand.
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