Global Immigration Round-up June 2025

June Immigration Updates

Canada

Ontario is set to launch a new employer portal for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) to replace the current paper-based system.

In a move to improve processing efficiency, employers will now be able to submit details via the portal and applicants can also register an Expression of Interest online.

The Canadian government have also introduced plans to increase eligibility for Canadian citizenship by descent. If the new bill is passed, then it could mean many Canadian citizens who are obtained citizenship via descent will be able to pass it on to their children, even if they are born or adopted outside of Canada.

Italy

Italy is also overhauling its citizenship by descent legislation. Applications to become an Italian citizenship by descent will only be approved if the applicant has a parent or grandparent with exclusive Italian citizenship, or a parent who has lived in Italy for at least two years after being granted citizenship and was resident before the applicant’s birth or adoption.

June also saw the introduction of a new quota-exempt work visa. The new permission will be available for foreign nationals who are descended from Italian citizens and are from a country with a sufficient level of migration from Italy. The qualifying countries have yet to be confirmed.

New Zealand

Sports professionals will be able to benefit from a change in the New Zeland Specific Purpose Work Visa (SPWW).

Those coming to the country with a SPWW will be able to stay for up to 12 months if they are sports players and coaches below national or regional level. While those qualifying as professional sports players or professional coaches at a national or regional level will be granted permission for 36 months.

United Kingdom

This month the UK has focused on how to attract the world’s most talented workers by setting up a Global Talent Taskforce.

The new initiative will focus on how to attract highly skilled investors, creatives, managers, entrepreneurs and researchers. With a budget of £54 million via the Global Talent Fund, it is expected universities and research institutions will be able to help identify and recruit overseas talent to benefit the UK.

Alongside the taskforce, there will be other changes that could help boost the international profile of the UK as a key international workplace including the expansion of the current eligible institutions for the High Potential Individual Visa.

United States

Following a month of protests and ongoing uncertainty around international student visas, the US has also announced that people wishing to travel to the country could be forced to make their social media accounts public.

The American Embassy in London posted that anyone applying for a F, M or J non-immigrant visa should ensure their social media profiles are not private.

Posting on X, the embassy explained applicants “are requested to adjust privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to ‘public’ to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility”.

There have been similar requests for those applying for permanent residence in the US and this new announcement is likely to impact a significant number of people wanting to study in the US.

It is estimated that around 1.1 million students from over 200 countries were enrolled in US-based colleges in 2023/24.

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.