Lex Visas Weekly Immigration Roundup: Key Global Mobility & Immigration Updates | 10th July 2026

Another week brings another wave of immigration policy changes across key global destinations. Whether it’s digital visa systems, updated residence permit rules, or revised travel requirements, staying ahead of these Global Mobility Updates is essential for businesses managing an international workforce.

Here’s this week’s Global Mobility Updates roundup featuring significant immigration developments across India, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Slovakia, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates that could impact international travel, workforce planning, and corporate immigration strategies.

India Introduces Online Immigration Appeal System

The Government of India has introduced a new online appeal mechanism for foreign nationals who receive an adverse immigration decision. Under the new process, affected individuals can electronically submit an appeal to the Bureau of Immigration within 30 days of receiving the decision. The digital platform is expected to reduce paperwork, improve processing efficiency, and provide applicants with greater transparency throughout the review process. This initiative reflects India’s continued efforts to modernize immigration services while making administrative procedures more accessible for foreign nationals, employers, and immigration stakeholders.

For multinational companies employing expatriates in India, the new system offers a more streamlined and transparent approach to resolving immigration disputes. By digitizing the appeal process, authorities aim to minimize administrative delays while providing applicants with a more efficient method to track and manage their cases. Organizations sponsoring foreign employees should remain aware of the new timelines and ensure appeals are submitted within the prescribed period to avoid unnecessary complications.

UK Moves to a Fully Digital Immigration System

The United Kingdom has officially completed its transition to a fully digital immigration system, marking a significant step in modernizing its visa administration. Instead of receiving physical visa vignette stickers in their passports, successful applicants will now be issued an electronic visa (eVisa). Their immigration status can be securely accessed, managed, and shared through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) digital account. The move simplifies document verification for employers, educational institutions, and government agencies while reducing the risk of lost or damaged physical documents.

The transition also supports faster right-to-work and right-to-rent verification processes, making compliance more efficient for UK employers. Travellers and visa holders should ensure their UKVI accounts contain accurate passport details and personal information before travelling, as airlines and border officials may rely on digital records during immigration checks. Businesses with international employees should educate their workforce about accessing and maintaining their digital immigration status.

South Africa Introduces Mandatory Traveller Declaration

Effective 1 July 2026, South Africa now requires every traveller entering or departing the country by air, land, sea, or rail to complete an online Traveller Declaration before commencing their journey. The declaration captures essential travel and customs information, enabling authorities to strengthen border security, improve risk assessment, and facilitate faster immigration clearance upon arrival.

The new requirement forms part of South Africa’s broader border modernization strategy aimed at improving traveller processing while enhancing customs and immigration compliance. Airlines and travel operators are expected to verify whether passengers have completed the declaration before boarding. Corporate travellers should therefore ensure this requirement is included in their pre-departure travel checklist to avoid delays or disruptions at ports of entry.

Slovakia Updates Immigration Regulations

Slovakia will implement comprehensive immigration reforms from 15 July 2026, introducing significant changes for both foreign nationals and employers. The revised regulations streamline residence permit application procedures while placing greater emphasis on employer compliance and documentation requirements when sponsoring foreign workers. Additionally, the reforms update eligibility criteria and administrative processes for long-term residence permits and citizenship applications.

The new framework aims to create a more structured immigration system while strengthening oversight of employers hiring international talent. Organizations planning to recruit or relocate employees to Slovakia should review their internal immigration processes, ensure documentation is complete, and remain compliant with the revised sponsorship obligations. Early preparation can help reduce processing delays and support smoother workforce mobility.

Spain Supports Employers with Temporary Work Authorization

To address persistent labour shortages across several industries, Spain has introduced a temporary work authorization measure for eligible migrants whose regularization applications are currently under review. This policy allows qualifying applicants to legally enter the workforce while awaiting a final decision on their immigration status. The initiative benefits both employers facing workforce shortages and migrants seeking employment opportunities by reducing administrative delays and enabling quicker workforce integration.

The temporary authorization is expected to support sectors experiencing high labour demand, including hospitality, agriculture, construction, logistics, and healthcare. For employers, the measure offers greater flexibility in accessing skilled and semi-skilled talent while maintaining compliance with Spanish immigration regulations. Companies hiring foreign nationals should continue to monitor eligibility requirements and ensure all employment obligations are fulfilled throughout the regularization process.

UAE Revises Visa-on-Arrival Eligibility

The United Arab Emirates has revised its visa-on-arrival policy for Indian nationals by removing eligibility for travellers holding valid UK visas. However, Indian passport holders with valid visas or residence permits issued by the United States, Schengen countries, Canada, or Australia continue to qualify for visa-on-arrival under the existing policy.

The policy revision highlights the importance of checking current immigration requirements before planning international travel. Indian business travellers, tourists, and corporate mobility teams should verify visa eligibility well in advance to avoid unexpected travel disruptions. Companies regularly sending employees to the UAE should update their travel policies accordingly and ensure travellers possess the appropriate documentation before departure.

Stay Ahead with Global Mobility Updates from Lex Visas

Since 2005, Lex Visas has been simplifying global talent mobility and corporate immigration for businesses worldwide. Whether you need expert guidance on immigration regulations, visa compliance, global mobility strategies, or end-to-end immigration support, our experienced team is here to help.

Get in touch with Lex Visas to discover how we can support your global workforce and help your business navigate the ever-changing immigration landscape with confidence.