Immigration news update for APAC and EMEA regions
Asia-Pacific
Malaysia: Endorsement process at the airport 
As of February 20, 2023, endorsement at the ESD Satellite Centre (ESC), Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA1) has been expanded to all new applications of Employment Pass Category lll (EP lll) and Professional Visit Pass (PVP). This decision was made by the Immigration Department of Malaysia and it is available and mandatory for arrivals only at KLIA1.
The endorsement process must be initiated at least two weeks before arrival to Malaysia and will be completed within the same day. The waiting time is expected to be approximately one hour.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Expatriate Services DivisionÂ
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 Debra Jane Beynon (Regional Immigration Manager, APAC)
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Ireland: Closure of the Immigrant Investor Programme
Effective February 15, 2023, the Irish Government has announced the closure of the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications. The IIP was introduced in 2012 with the aim of supporting investors and business professionals from outside the European Economic Area with their business interests in Ireland. Projects or individuals already approved will not be affected by the closure and will continue to be monitored by The Department of Justice, provided they comply with the terms of the Program.
With regard to other programs managed by the government, the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) will carry on. STEP was established in 2012, and its function is to help investors with inventive ideas to apply for a residence permit in Ireland.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the gov.ie
Qatar and Japan: Mutual visa exemption
Qatari and Japanese authorities have agreed on a mutual visa exemption effective April 02, 2023. Individuals from Qatar, holding ordinary passports will be allowed to enter Japan without obtaining a visa prior to travel and may stay up to 30 consecutive days. Preregistration at any Japanese embassy or consulate is needed and it free of charge. The issued document will be valid for three years.
The official requirements for Japanese travelers to Qatar is not known yet.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the MOFA Qatar
United Kingdom: Tech Nation ceasing operation 
As of March 31, 2023, Tech Nation will discontinue its operation due to the termination of the grant funding by the government. Tech Nation has been a tool used to endorse visa applications in digital technology under the Global Talent Visa and has helped to develop the within the United Kingdom at a global level.
Nationals applying through the Global Talent Visa are encouraged to submit their applications at the earliest. As for now, it is unclear who will take over the global talent visa endorsement in the tech sector. It is likely that all current endorsements will carry over to a newly appointed vendor in the future.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from Technation
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 Operations Director, Immigration) or Sabrina Crespo (Team Lead, EMEA).Â
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