Global Immigration Round-up December 2024

December Immigration Updates

Australia

Australia is ending the year by introducing a new visa to help tackle a lack of appropriately skilled workers. The Skills in Demand (SID) visa has replaced the Temporary Skills Shortage.

Holders of the SID visa will be able to live and work in Australia for up to four years, or up to five years if they have a Hong Kong passport.

To be eligible for the new SID pathway, workers must be employed in a role listed on the new Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and meet several other requirements including English language criteria.

Canada

Canada is set to continue its tougher approach to immigration in 2025 as it aims to reduce reliance on overseas workers.

One major change heading into the new year is the temporary move to not allow Express Entry candidates to receive additional points for having a job offer. The change, set to come into force in spring 2025, will only apply to new applicants and is designed to reduce incidents of fraud by reducing the benefits of illegal labour market impact assessments.

Other changes expected in 2025 that will impact those planning to relocate to Canada include the creation of several new pathways such as the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, Rural Community Immigration Pilot and Enhanced Caregiver Pilot Programs.

Ireland

Ireland’s immigration service has seen a year of delays in 2024 as it has struggled to keep up with processing applications. It is hoped the next 12 months will improve drastically as they switch to a digital approach to permits and visas.

However, in order to ease pressure, the Irish government has confirmed individuals will be allowed to temporarily travel internationally even if their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) has recently expired, as long as they have applied to renew it before the expiry date.

The special dispensation will be in place until the end of January and travellers should ensure they are able to provide proof of their renewal application to immigration officials.

Spain

In 2025, Spain has confirmed it plans to focus on three key areas of change in terms of immigration policy – family, education, and work.

It is expected the process of family reunification will be improved with the creation of a residence permit for relatives of Spanish citizens to allow older children to join family members as well as it being easier to demonstrate financial support for relatives.

Those looking to study in Spain will benefit from extended permits which will last the length of their chosen course and will not need to be renewed annually. Graduates will also be able to enter the world of work easier with fast-track access to work permits.

Seasonal workers will be able to apply for a specific residence and work permit, as well as be granted additional workers’ rights to prevent exploitation. All workers must be provided with written information about their working conditions in a format they can understand.  

United Kingdom

With a change in government in the UK this year, there have also been some changes to the country’s immigration policies.

The start of 2024 saw a significant increase in the minimum salary requirements for the UK Skilled Worker visa, with the Conservative government planning to introduce further rises in 2025.  However, this has now been paused under Labour’s Kier Starmer, although there is still a strong focus on reducing net migration.

It is expected the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will play a key role in influencing policy over the coming 12 months as the government seeks to encourage employers to recruit from the UK’s existing workforce and focus on filling any skill gaps domestically.

United States

US immigration policy is ending 2024 on a very uncertain note. With Donald Trump’s re-election, it is unclear what exactly this means for foreign nations already living in the country and those planning to move stateside in the near future.

The recent “discussion” between Trump and his key supporter Elon Musk surrounding the popular H1-B visa has highlighted how this confusion seems to be from within the White House itself.

H-1B visas have been a major talking point in recent months with many Trump supporters calling for the scheme to recruit foreign skilled workers to specialist roles to be closed. However, supporters of the pathway, including Musk, believe rather than undercutting American workers it helps to attract the best expertise from around the world which boosts the country’s economy.

With Trump set to take office on January 21st, with talk of travel bans and visas being revoked, there is little doubt that 2025 could be interesting and challenging for US immigration policy and IAS will keep you informed!

How IAS Can Help With Global Immigration Changes

With 2025 all set to be a major one for global immigration make sure you stay up-to-date with all the changes 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.

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 or use our live chat service.