Immigration news updates for APAC and EMEA regions
Asia-Pacific
New Zealand: Increases in immigration application fees
Immigration New Zealand announced increases to the Immigration related application fees with effect from October 01, 2024. There are some significant increases in some cases (see AEWV for example). These key changes may impact clients who are budgeting for NZ assignments. The application fees are as follows:
| Application Type | Current Fee | New Fee |
| Job Check | $610.00 | $735.00 |
| Accredited Employment Work Visa (AEWV) | $750.00 | $1,540.00 |
| Partner of a Worker Visa | $700.00 | $1,355.00 |
| Dependent Student Visa | $395.00 | $750.00 |
| Child of a Worker Visitor Visa | $211.00 | $341.00 |
| Variation of Conditions | $210.00 | $325.00 |
| Residence | $4,890.00 | $6,450.00 |
This summary was prepared using information from the Immigration New Zealand
Singapore: Revision of the salary benchmark for Employment Pass (EP)
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) released the revision of the Employment Pass (EP) Salary Benchmark for all applications (new or renewal). The salary benchmark was derived from MOM’s Manpower Research and Statistics Department’s (MRSD) annual Comprehensive Labour Force Survey.
The updated salary benchmark is effective for new applications from January 01, 2025, and for renewals from July 01, 2025. In the link below (Ministry of Manpower), is the updated table for easy reference.
The salary benchmarks are part of the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) Criteria. To earn points under this criterion C1 – Salary, a candidate’s fixed monthly salary must meet or exceed the 65th percentile of local PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians) salaries in the relevant sector. These benchmarks are updated annually to reflect the latest market conditions.
The minimum qualifying salary will continue to increase progressively with the age of the applicant. For any assessment, please reach out to your Crown Immigration Consultant for further assistance.
The requirements of EP Eligibility remain the same in 2-stages:Â Stage 1:Â EP Qualifying Salary and Stage 2:Â Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) score of 40 points.
This summary was prepared using information from the Ministry of Manpower
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Roberta Carnaccini (Global Director of Immigration) and Debra Jane Beynon (Regional Immigration Manager, APAC).
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Estonia: Formalized cohabitation between two adults regardless of gender
Following the enactment of the Registered Partnership Act’s implementing regulations and the revision of the Family Law Act, Estonia now allows two adults to legally recognize their relationship, provided one of them resides in Estonia, without regard to gender. This legal recognition, known as a registered partnership, equates to a marriage in terms of formalizing a de facto union, offering stability to both partners and their offspring. Additionally, the Family Law Act’s modification allows for marriages between two adults in Estonia, irrespective of gender.
Subsequently, it was imperative to align other national laws with these significant changes. This led to the modification of the Aliens Act, which governs the conditions for non-EU citizens’ entry, residence, livelihood, and employment in Estonia. The revised immigration statutes now equate same-sex marriages and registered partnerships for foreigners to that of heterosexual ones. Consequently, a non-EU individual may relocate to Estonia with their same-sex partner or spouse under the same provisions once exclusive to heterosexually married couples.
This summary was prepared using information from our local service provider.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Roberta Carnaccini (Global Director of Immigration).
United Kingdom: eVisa process
The Home Office is in a process of replacing physical immigration documents with a digital proof of immigration status called eVisa and has released further guidance.
All applicants that hold a biometric residence permit (BRP) expiring on December 31, 2024, can now create a UKVI account and access their e-Visa online. They should do this before the expiry date of their BRP card and they can use their travel document, such as passport or visa application reference number to create their UKVI account, if they have lost their BRP card. They should only request a replacement BRP if it has been lost or stolen and they have no other form of identity document to create a UKVI account.
If they cannot see their eVisa details as soon as they create their UKVI account, they do not need to do anything. UKVI will contact them directly by email once their eVisa is available to view. They can use their BRP to prove their immigration status until their eVisa details are available.
The removal of physical documents means that customers who use those to evidence their immigration status will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. People with a visa vignette, wet ink visa stamp, form for affixing a visa to a passport or no physical proof of their visa cannot access an e-Visa, but the guidance recommends that people in this position make a ‘no time limit (NTL)’ application to obtain a BRP and then use this to register for a UKVI account.
Customers who already have an eVisa, including anyone granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme, do not need to do anything other than keep their UKVI account up to date with their latest passport and contact details.
Customers who successfully apply for a visa and are issued with a BRP card up until autumn 2024 will also need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. From autumn 2024, most customers will no longer be issued with a physical document such as a BRP card and will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa.
Customers can continue to use their BRP, BRC, or other legacy paper document alongside their eVisa, and they should continue to take it with them with their passport whenever they travel internationally to avoid unnecessary delays.
The Home Office has also started reaching to employers directly with an information pack and ready materials to circulate within the business and to spread awareness. Employers are advised to reach out to their affected sponsored workforce, to prompt them to create a digital account.
This summary was prepared using information from the UK Government
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Roberta Carnaccini (Global Director of Immigration) and Joanna Sogeke (Team Leader, EMEA).
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