Global Immigration Round-up February 2025

February Immigration Updates

Canada

As Canada prepares to go to the ballot box later in the year, the country’s focus on immigration continues.

February saw the 2025 Study Permit Caps for 2025 announced with a total of 437,000 set to be issued over the coming year. This is a ten per cent decrease in 2024’s levels as the Canadian immigration services aim to reduce immigration levels to ease pressure on the country’s housing and healthcare infrastructure.

Two new immigration initiatives have also been announced to help tackle labour shortages in the country’s rural and Francophone communities.

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) will be open to overseas workers who can fill vacant jobs and will offer them permanent residency status.

New rules surrounding health insurance for Super Visa applicants have also been announced by the Canadian government. Anyone applying via this route must now supply evidence they have qualifying private health insurance coverage purchased from a non-Canadian provider. The policy must be valid for their entire stay in Canada and issued by a federally regulated financial institution.

Hong Kong

February saw the Hong Kong government make changes to its Talent List to help attract global talent to much-needed job roles and encourage economic growth.

The changes will be introduced in March and will cover more than 50 different professions including those within finance, technology, aviation and engineering.

Qualifying applicants will be able to apply via the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) routes.

New Zealand

New Zealand is taking steps to help speed up visa application processing during peak times of the year. One part of this is changing the way it handles international student visa applications submitted from within New Zealand.

Immigration New Zealand will prioritise applications from students already resident in the country who are looking to apply for another student visa or change courses or educational institutions. This approach should help to reduce the traditional summer peak which often sees delays in visas being approved, especially as all international students must be granted a visa before they can start their new course.

However, the applications will still be subject to the same criteria as those submitted from outside of New Zealand. Authorities are stressing that it is important to make sure each application is completed correctly and accompanied with supporting paperwork to avoid potential rejection or delays.

United Kingdom

As 2025 continues, the UK has proposed a number of changes that could impact both employers and international travellers.

The Home Office announced a forthcoming rise in some immigration fees, including an increase in the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from £10 to £16, just a few months after the scheme was launched.

While those employing workers face a rise in the cost of issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship from £239 to £525 for workers and £25 to £55 for temporary workers.

However, the government has yet to confirm the exact timeline for these fee increases but it is expected to be in the coming months.

United States

President Trump’s plan to limit US birthright citizenship has been met with strong opposition and a number of legal challenges.

Several federal districts, including Maryland, Boston, and New Hampshire, have issued orders to block the executive order to prevent granting citizenship to children born in the US if their parents are not citizens or lawful residents.

Another immigration law change in February within the US was the removal of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelan nationals. TPS was granted to qualifying citizens in October 2023. However, US Homeland Security has opted not to continue the protection citing Venezuela as no longer meeting the conditions for TPS.

It is estimated the removal of TPS for Venezuelans could mean around 350,000 people facing deportation.

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.