Blog · 2024-04-21

Relocation news digest: what changed for global movers

Relocation news digest

China: major banks tighten scrutiny of payments from Russia

Several large Chinese banks, including Bank of China and Great Wall West China Bank, have tightened controls on transactions arriving from Russia. They are now requesting details about whether payments are linked to particular regions and countries.

The move is intended to shield the banks from fines and sanctions.

Andorra: officials propose making knowledge of the state language mandatory for residence permits

Andorra's official language is Catalan. Applicants would need an A1 level to obtain a residence permit and A2 to renew it.

Language requirements are becoming a common feature of naturalization across Europe.

Russia: Aeroflot to allow pets under 15 kg on adjacent seats

The option will be available on all of the carrier's flights, as well as those of its subsidiary Rossiya, regardless of the class of service.

The expected terms: the pet carrier may only be placed on a window seat, and the fare for the animal will match the full price of an adult passenger's ticket.

Greece: minimum property investment for the golden visa raised

The minimum property investment required for a golden visa has risen to between 400,000 and 800,000 euros, depending on the region.

Limits have also been introduced on how many properties a single investor may buy in a given area.

Belgium: authorities announce new EU Blue Card options

Blue Card holders who have lived in any EU member state for at least 12 months will now be entitled to live and work in Belgium without a separate visa. Foreign nationals will still need to apply for a work permit.

EU: a push to simplify legalization across Europe

The European Council has adopted a directive introducing a single EU-wide residence permit that will streamline the legalization process for movers from third countries.

Processing times for permit applications will be cut to three months. The directive is due to take effect within two years.

Singapore: employers required to consider four-day-week and remote-work requests

Employees at any business whose operations do not depend on daily on-site tasks may now request a four-day week, flexible hours or a switch to remote work.

Turkey: a digital nomad visa in the works

Turkish authorities are developing a digital nomad visa. To qualify, applicants will need:

A university degree
Proof of remote employment
Income of at least $3,000 a month or $36,000 a year
Age between 21 and 55

Russia: the ECB demands a faster wind-down of Raiffeisen Bank's business

The European Central Bank has asked Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) to speed up the reduction of its operations in Russia. The ECB's requirements include cutting lending to the bank's Russian clients to 65 percent of 2023 levels, along with a reduction in international payments originating from Russia.

Dominican Republic: migration applications may face delays

The head of the Migration Department has resigned and no successor has yet been appointed. As a result, the processing of migration applications will be delayed by several months. The holdups may affect the issuing and renewal of residence permits, citizenship applications and other procedures.

FAQ

How much is the Greek golden visa?

The threshold depends on where the property is: after the reform, minimums rose to roughly 400,000-800,000 euros, with the highest tier covering Athens, Thessaloniki and the popular islands and lower thresholds in less sought after regions. Reduced entry levels survived for specific cases such as restoring listed buildings or converting commercial premises into housing. Greece has revised these thresholds more than once, so confirm current amounts, minimum floor area and short term rental restrictions before you sign anything.

Do you need to speak the language for a residence permit?

Increasingly yes: language requirements in Europe are spreading from citizenship to residence permits and their renewal. Andorra, for instance, debated requiring Catalan at A1 to obtain the permit and A2 to renew it, and that is a trend rather than an exception. Levels, deadlines and exempt categories differ by country and keep changing, so check the requirement before applying and budget time for classes and the exam.

Why do Chinese banks reject payments from Russia?

Large Chinese banks sharply tightened compliance because of secondary sanctions risk: they ask about the source of funds, the purpose of the payment, and whether the goods or counterparty are linked to certain regions, and they delay or return anything questionable. This covers yuan payments and settlements routed through third countries alike. Practice varies between banks and keeps shifting, so confirm the route and timing before sending money rather than after.

Can you fly with a pet in the cabin?

It depends on the airline and the route: pets are usually allowed in a carrier under the seat in front if the combined weight stays around 8-10 kg, and some carriers let you buy the adjacent seat for a larger animal. International flights add their own layer - microchip, valid rabies vaccination, a pet passport and whatever certificates the destination requires, with quarantine on some routes. Check weight limits, the number of animals allowed per flight and the fee when booking, since in-cabin pet slots are limited.

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Relocation news digest: what changed for global movers