Global Immigration Round-up April 2026

April Immigration Updates

Ireland

There was a major update in Ireland with an announcement that could see more people qualifying for Irish citizenship.

A change to section 16 means exceptional circumstances can now be considered as a reason to grant citizenship.  For those with a familial connection to Ireland based on blood, marriage or civil partnership, it could be enough to waive the standard Irish citizenship by naturalisation requirements.

It is expected this could lead to an increase in applications, especially from those looking to relocate from the United States.

Italy

In April, Italy’s government introduced a number of new measures that could restrict citizenship by descent.

The new criteria means Italian descendants born overseas will automatically be citizens for only two generations, while only those with at least one parent or grandparent born in Italy will be classed as citizens from birth.

Any applications submitted for citizenship by descent after the end of March will now be processed according to the new regulations.

It is expected further restrictions will be introduced in the coming months which may require citizens who are born and live abroad to retain ties with Italy to continue to be eligible for Italian citizenship.

Spain

At the start of April, the Spanish immigration services confirmed the end of the popular residence permit given to those investing in real estate. Known as the Golden Visa, the route allowed those who invested more than 500,000 euros into property to be granted a residence visa.

The decision to close the popular Golden Visa was made over concerns about the supply of housing for Spanish citizens and follows similar decisions made by other European Union countries.

United Kingdom

There was a rise in immigration fees during April in the UK, with costs up for many categories. The changes impact the price of applying for student visas, visitor visas, work visas and the sponsorship. Read more about the exact increases.

United States

It was another uncertain month for the US and immigration, with ongoing concerns about a potential increase in deportation and the ongoing hold on some visa processing.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) also confirmed they have now received enough applications to reach the cap for the 19,000 H-2B visas made available for returning workers. This is a route popular with seasonal workers and many employers rely on it to boost their workforce during peak times.

April also saw Trump reach the milestone of 100 days in office, you can read more about the impact his second term has had on immigration and our predictions for what happens next in the US.

How IAS Can Help With Global Immigration Changes

The team at IAS can ensure sure you stay up-to-date with the latest immigration policies to understand how it could impact you, family members or your business.

Get in touch with one of our immigration experts to stay informed and ensure your ongoing compliance with international immigration policies or find out more about new immigration routes.

For the latest information on global immigration and the range of visas available to those seeking to live, work or study overseas call the IAS team on +44 (0)333 414 9244, use our live chat service or reach out via social media.