Blog · 2025-01-10

Relocation news digest - January 10, 2025

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan stops issuing tax IDs to foreign nationals at its embassies

As of 1 January, issuance of the document has been suspended following the expiry of the pilot programme Assigning individual identification numbers to foreign nationals through the foreign missions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Russians had been using the number to open bank accounts and obtain payment cards.

🇮🇹 Italy will pay you to relocate

Italian authorities are prepared to pay nearly 3.1 million roubles to anyone who moves to the seaside region of Apulia. The money is offered toward buying property there, and entrepreneurs launching a business receive an additional €28,000.

🇺🇸 New York introduces a congestion charge

Starting 5 January, drivers of passenger cars must pay 9 US dollars to enter one of New York's busiest areas during peak hours - Manhattan south of 60th Street. Officials expect the measure to keep at least 80,000 fewer cars a day out of the so-called congestion relief zone.

The cost of entering the city's most gridlocked district depends on the time of day and the type of vehicle. For cars it ranges from 2.25 dollars overnight to 9 dollars at peak hours.

Under the city's plan, these rates will stay in force until 2028, after which they will rise.

The congestion relief zone covers Manhattan south of 60th Street, taking in landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Times Square and Wall Street.

The charge is designed to ease New York's traffic congestion. A second goal is to raise money for improving the public transit system.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul first proposed a paid-entry zone for the city two years ago. Amid complaints from regular commuters and local businesses, the plan was repeatedly revised and its rollout postponed.

🇭🇺 Hungary sharply cuts its work-permit quota

Hungary has reduced the combined quota for employment-based residence permits and guest-worker residence permits to 35,000 (down from the previous 65,000).

Intended to protect local workers in the Hungarian labour market, the change will significantly limit employers' ability to recruit foreign specialists.

🇨🇦 Canada suspends the Parents and Grandparents Program

The Canadian government has issued a ministerial directive announcing that it will accept no new sponsorship applications under the Parents and Grandparents Program in 2025.

Over the course of 2025, the government will process only up to 15,000 visa applications under the programme.

🇫🇮 Finland changes its standard processing times

Standard processing times have changed as follows:

• EU residence permit: extended to six months (up from 14 days).
• Residence permit for self-employment: shortened to two months (down from 11 months).

🇷🇺 The Russian passport slips further

The Russian passport has dropped one place in the Henley & Partners international passport ranking.

In the January 2025 index, the Russian passport fell from 45th to 46th place.

Singapore tops the ranking, with its citizens able to visit 185 countries visa-free, followed by Japan, whose passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 193 countries.

Third place is shared by six countries whose citizens can enter 192 states without a visa: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland and South Korea.

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