Blog · 2025-03-21

Relocation news digest - March 21, 2025

🇭🇺 Hungary: authorities want to deport dual nationals deemed a threat to national security

The ruling Fidesz party has announced upcoming changes to the country's fundamental law. The head of its parliamentary group warned that the new legislation would be tough and urged citizens to prepare for it.

"A Hungarian citizen who also holds the citizenship of another state may be expelled from Hungarian territory under conditions defined by law if their activity threatens Hungary's national sovereignty, public order, territorial integrity or security," said Máté Kocsis, leader of the Fidesz parliamentary group.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom: new requirements for sponsoring care workers

From 9 April 2025, the following changes will apply to the rules for sponsoring care workers:

• Sponsors must give preference to candidates from the existing pool of care workers already in the United Kingdom before sponsoring new overseas applicants in categories H and C.
• Sponsors must provide confirmation from regional partnerships that they have attempted to recruit locally.

These rules do not apply in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, nor to care workers already being sponsored in England.

🇨🇷 Costa Rica: new ways to book immigration-service appointments

The DGME website remains down, but alternative mechanisms have been set up for booking immigration-service appointments.

Foreign nationals can now schedule an appointment through the Costa Rica Post Office website or by emailing the DGME, depending on the specific service required.

🇦🇺 Australia: tighter enforcement of the law

There has recently been a marked increase in compliance and enforcement activity by the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO).

Many businesses in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart have been hit with unannounced inspections by the ABF and FWO, or have received formal monitoring requests to assess compliance with sponsorship obligations tied to holders of the subclass 482 visa and other immigration rules.

Several employers across various sectors have faced sanctions, resulting in bans on sponsoring foreign workers ranging from three months to three years, and in some cases infringement notices carrying fines of between 9,390 and 16,500 Australian dollars.

In addition, the Department of Home Affairs has stepped up enforcement against sponsors that fail to notify the department of certain events within the required 28-day window. The department has begun issuing Notices of Intention to Take Action (NOITTA) to sponsors that do not report changes such as an updated company name, the appointment of a new director, or a change in job duties within the set deadline.

🇺🇸 Russia is not on the list of countries whose citizens will be barred from the US

Russia does not appear on the lists of tourist-visa entry bans for the United States - at least for now. The US intends to introduce entry restrictions for citizens of 41 states, split into three categories: "red", "orange" and "yellow".

The "red" group comprises ten states - Afghanistan, Venezuela, Iran, Yemen, Cuba, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Somalia and Sudan. Their citizens will not be able to obtain US entry visas.

The "orange" list includes Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Eritrea and South Sudan. Their residents will face restrictions on entering the US on tourist and student visas, as well as other immigration visas, with certain exceptions.

The "yellow" category covers 26 states, including Belarus and Turkmenistan, though the full list has not been published. The governments of these countries will reportedly be asked to address "shortcomings" within 60 days, failing which the issuance of US visas may be suspended.

Whether Russia will ultimately fall into any of these categories, given the ongoing dialogue between Moscow and Washington through their foreign ministries, remains unclear.

🇦🇪 UAE: new grace period and relaxed residency rules for Blue Residency visa holders and spouses of Emirati citizens

Holders of the UAE Blue Residency visa are now entitled to a 180-day grace period after their visa expires or is cancelled, allowing them to regularise their immigration status or leave the country without penalty. The rules previously contained no such provision for Blue Residency visas.

In addition, Blue Residency visa holders and foreign spouses of Emirati citizens who hold residency permits may now stay outside the United Arab Emirates indefinitely without losing their resident status. Previously, their residency was cancelled if they remained outside the UAE for 180 or more consecutive days.

🇱🇻 Latvia closes pedestrian crossings on its border with Russia

As of 19 March, the "Grebneva" and "Terehova" checkpoints have been closed to pedestrian crossings. Until now they were the only functioning crossings on the Russia-Latvia border. Latvia can now be entered only by car or bus.

Also on 19 March, the "Paternieki" checkpoint on the border with Belarus - which could be crossed by bicycle - was closed.

🇱🇹 Lithuania: MPs propose revoking residence permits of Russian and Belarusian nationals who regularly return home

The proposal would suspend the issuance of residence permits and revoke those already granted for anyone who travels to Russia or Belarus more than once every three months (with exceptions for truck drivers and those travelling for legitimate reasons).

MPs argue this is necessary to protect Lithuania's national security, as people who frequently travel to Russia and Belarus may be targeted for recruitment by intelligence services.

"The overwhelming majority of Belarusians holding temporary residence permits in Lithuania regularly return to Belarus. Among them are people who were granted residence permits on humanitarian grounds. In December 2023, 38,000 such trips were recorded," the explanatory note to the bill states.

🇵🇱 Poland: authorities want to mine the borders with Russia and Belarus

Poland plans to deploy anti-personnel mines along its border with Russia and Belarus. On the eve of the announcement, the defence ministers of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland issued a joint statement calling for withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines.

"We have no choice. The situation on the border is serious. This concerns the Polish-Belarusian and Polish-Russian border… It will be one of the elements of the 'Eastern Shield'."

🇹🇭 Thailand to cut its visa-free period for Russians to 30 days

Thai authorities are reducing the visa-free stay for foreigners, including Russians, from 60 to 30 days. The decision was taken to reduce the risk of illegal activity linked to abuse of the visa-free entry scheme. Before officially announcing the reduction, the authorities will need to work out additional details.

Last July, citizens of 93 countries were granted a 60-day visa-free stay. Before that, Russians could remain in the country visa-free for 90 days.

🇹🇷 VTB and MTS launch QR-code payments in Turkey

Customers of VTB and MTS can now pay for goods and services in Turkey using a QR code. At the same time, Sber has begun testing the system and plans to launch it at the end of March.

VTB rolled out the new feature on 12 March. Customers have started making transactions in shopping centres across various Turkish cities. Purchases can be made instantly at points of sale nationwide simply by pointing the "VTB Online" camera at the QR code on a receipt or terminal.

Payments are made in rubles and subsequently converted into Turkish lira. No fee is charged for processing the payment, and a single transaction is capped at between 10 and 350,000 rubles.

The MTS digital ecosystem has likewise announced payments for goods and services in Turkey via that country's national QR code - TR QR. Individuals can make fee-free payments using the "My MTS" app. The service works in most local shops, restaurants and other outlets. To pay, open the "My MTS" app, select "QR-code payment" under the "Money" tab, and scan the code. Payment is possible either from subscribers' account balances or from bank cards issued by any Russian bank.

All payments are made fee-free in Russian rubles, with conversion into Turkey's national currency. The conversion rate is set at the moment of the transaction.

🇷🇺 Aeroflot to let passengers transport shelter cats and dogs free of charge from 24 March to 25 April

"A social campaign to support homeless animals will run from 24 March to 25 April. It will be available to any Aeroflot passenger who has decided to adopt a pet from a shelter and for whom the airline has confirmed transport on the chosen flight. Free carriage - in the cargo hold or in the cabin under the seat in front - is offered for a cat or dog from any Russian city served by the airline. Eligible passengers are those who have formalised ownership of the animal and planned a flight with it from the city where the shelter is located to their city of residence," the statement reads.

The airline specifies that the animal will be transported subject to the standard service rules published on its website, on flights operating under the SU code across its domestic network. Applications to take part must be sent between 19 March and 21 April to the "Nika" charitable foundation for homeless animals. There is no limit on the number of animals a single traveller may transport under the campaign, but each pet requires a separate application and confirmation of transport. Full terms of the campaign will be posted on the social media channels of the airline and the foundation.

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