Immigration news update for all regions
Asia-Pacific
Australia: Permanent Residency Visa ballot date
The Australian government has introduced a new permanent residency visa program called the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV), designed specifically for nationals of the Pacific Island countries Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Timor-Leste. This program will offer 3,000 permanent residency visas annually to eligible individuals from Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste, as well as their immediate family members, including partners and dependent children. The Pacific Engagement Visa will fall under the subclass 192 category.
Each year, a ballot process will determine the allocation of these visas, and those selected then could apply for permanent residency in Australia. Each country has been allocated a specific number of vias to ensure equitable opportunities for all eligible applicants. The inaugural ballot application process will commence  on June 3, and applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria. Specifically, individuals must be between the ages of 18 and 45, possess a valid job offer in Australia and hold a valid passport, and have either been born in a participating Pacific Island country or Timor-Leste or have a parent who was born in one of those nations.
Additionally, applicants must demonstrate financial capacity, meet English language proficiency requirements, satisfy character and health checks, and complete the payment of a 25 AUD (approximately US$16) registration fee. The Department of Home Affairs anticipates that the first visa applications under this program will be assessed in early July.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Australian Government (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)
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
United Kingdom: Introducing Electronic Visas (eVisas)
As a part of its efforts to fully digitize its immigration system, the United Kingdom is gradually phasing out the use of physical immigration documents, with electronic visas (eVisas) set to replace their current physical counterparts. By the end of 2024, physical immigration documents such as Biometric Residence Cards, Biometric Residence Permits, passport endorsements, and physical „vignette“ visa stickers, which serve as proof of an individual‘s immigration status, will no longer be issued.
Instead, starting form 2025, the immigration status of all individuals will be recorded electronically and will be accessible through an online account with the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) service, linked to the individua’s travel document.
The new electronic format will not affect visa or permit eligibility or application criteria and requirements. Rather, the exclusive use of eVisas will only change the way individuals prove their immigration status. Biometric Residence Cards and Biometric Residence Permits will expire on December 31, 2024. Holders of these documents, as well as those with passport endorsements and physical vignette visa stickers, should set up a UKVI account to access their eVisa. A beta testing phase is currently underway and will be open to most individuals during the summer of 2024 in the UK. Employers should ensure that existing employees with physical immigration documents are aware of these changes and may need to conduct new Right to Work checks if the initial check was performed manually on a time-limited permission.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Government of UK
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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