Immigration news update for AMER and EMEA regions
Americas
Canada: Immigration focus 2025
The Canadian government announced the 2025 Express Entry categories. These new categories include a new education category designed to align the selection of federal economic immigrants with Canada’s long-term labour shortages.
For 2025, the focus of the federal economic class draws will be on inviting candidates with experience working in Canada (Canadian Experience Class) to apply for permanent residence.
Also, to meet Francophone immigration targets and address acute needs in health, trades, and education, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will conduct category-based invitation rounds in the following areas:
- Strong French language skills
- Work experience in the following fields:
- Health care and social services, including family physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, and chiropractors
- Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
- Education, including teachers, child care educators, and instructors of persons with disabilities
This summary was prepared using the information from the Government of Canada
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).
Europe, Middle East and Africa
European Union: Rollout of Entry/Exit digital border management system
The European Council has established a regulation for the gradual introduction of the Entry/Exit digital border management system (EES) over six months. This system will digitally record entries and exits, passport data, fingerprints, and facial images of non-EU nationals traveling for short stays in EU member states.
Member states will start operating the EES, aiming for 10% registration of border crossings after the first month. Full biometric functionalities should be implemented at half of the border crossing points within three months, and full registration by the end of the transition period.
The regulation does not set a date for the start of the progressive deployment of the system. This will require a separate European Commission decision once the law has entered into force.
This summary was prepared using the information from the European Council
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).
Ireland: New measures to support home care and planning sectors
The government announced changes to Ireland’s employment permits system, effective from March 10, 2025, to tackle skills shortages in the planning and home care sectors. The quota for home carers will be increased by 1,000 permits to support essential services. Additionally, the role of town planning officer has been added to the Critical Skills Occupations List to attract more qualified planners and address infrastructure bottlenecks in housing and construction. This change is especially important as Ireland aims to tackle its infrastructure challenges and housing shortages.
This summary was prepared using the information from the Government of Ireland
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 Joanna Sogeke (Immigration Team Leader) and Roberta Carnaccini (Global Director of Immigration).
Poland: Lottery systems for work visa appointments and higher scrutiny
Crown Immigration is noticing higher scrutiny applied towards work permits and work visa applications to Poland. The Polish Embassies worldwide are conducting random verification checks on applications that are becoming more frequent.
In many worldwide locations there is now also a lottery system for visa appointments for national visas type D for work purposes. This system is in place for example in India, Turkey, Macedonia.
This means it can even take a few months before the visa appointment is granted and the applicant is allowed to submit their visa applications. This contributes to substantial delays to the entire process.
Switzerland: New platform for short-term work notifications
Starting March 17, 2025, notifications for short-term work in Switzerland must be submitted through EasyGov.swiss, replacing the current app, which will be unavailable from March 14, 2025. The notification process and required information remain unchanged, but the new platform offers improved user guidance. Each company/employer can create a profile and authorize additional individuals for mutual access.
EasyGov will provide all necessary information for the notification procedure after the Go-Live. The online notification procedure will be unavailable from March 14 to March 17, 2025.
This summary was prepared using the information from the Government of Switzerland
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).
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