Blog · 2024-07-06

Relocation news digest: what changed this July

🇨🇦 Canada: Quebec caps family reunification applications

Quebec's Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration has introduced, for the first time, a ceiling on the number of family reunification applications it will consider.

Between June 26, 2024 and June 25, 2026, Quebec will accept no more than 13,000 applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents sponsoring relatives for permanent residence in the province. Of these, 10,400 are reserved for sponsoring spouses, common-law partners and dependent children aged 18 and over, and no more than 2,600 for sponsoring parents and grandparents.

🇬🇩 Grenada: longer passport validity

As of July 1, 2024, Grenada issues passports to adults with a ten-year validity period. The government fee has risen to $350, up from $250.

🇲🇩 Moldova: a visa regime with Russia on the table

Moldova is looking to introduce a visa regime with Russia ahead of its presidential election, which is scheduled for October 20.

🇹🇷 Turkey: new law regulates cryptocurrency

Turkey has approved a cryptocurrency bill that carries fines of up to $182,600 and prison sentences of up to five years.

Under the new law, crypto exchanges wishing to operate legally in the country must obtain a license from the Capital Markets Board, Turkey's financial regulator and supervisory authority.

Crypto providers will also be responsible for carrying out enforcement measures such as asset freezes. In addition, platforms must ensure that law enforcement has access to client fund transactions, including deposits and withdrawals.

🇬🇷 Greece: a six-day working week is now permitted

From July 1, employers in certain sectors in Greece are allowed to introduce a six-day working week with monetary compensation. Under the law, many employees will not be able to decline the additional hours.

Staff will receive a 40% premium for the extra hours worked on the sixth day. If that day falls on a Sunday or public holiday, the employee is entitled to a supplement of up to 115% of their daily wage. The new legislation also prohibits working more than eight hours on the sixth day of the week.

🇦🇺 Australia: student visa fee more than doubles

Australia has more than doubled its student visa fee, from 710 to 1,600 Australian dollars, in a bid to slow the flow of migrants. The new measures took effect on July 1.

🇷🇴 Romania: citizenship law amended, Romanian language now mandatory

Romania's Chamber of Deputies has passed amendments to the citizenship law in a final reading. One of the key changes: applicants for a Romanian passport must now demonstrate knowledge of Romanian at B1 level or higher.

Until the law is formally adopted, however, it remains unclear whether the requirement will apply to those who filed for Romanian citizenship before the bill was passed.

🇲🇲 Myanmar: visa-free entry for Russians extended to June 30, 2025

Russian citizens may stay in Myanmar visa-free for up to 30 days. Russian authorities plan to sign a full visa-waiver agreement with Myanmar in September 2024.

🇨🇿 Czech Republic: no stay for Russians without a biometric passport

Russian non-biometric passports ceased to be valid in the Czech Republic on July 3. Prague announced the move at a meeting of the relevant EU body and urged other countries to follow suit.

🇸🇰 Slovakia: language requirement introduced for residence permits

From July 15, 2025, applicants for long-term residence permits must prove knowledge of Slovak at A2 level or above. At present, no language requirement exists.

🇩🇰 Denmark: spousal reunification rules eased

Effective July 1, 2024, the rules for spousal reunification have been relaxed:

• Spouses who have worked for at least five years in roles that substantially require communication in Danish are now exempt from the formal Danish-language requirement in any spousal reunification application.
• The financial guarantee required for a spousal reunification application has been cut to 57,000 Danish kroner, down from 114,000.

🇹🇷 Turkey: tighter airport screening rules

On July 4, Turkey's parliament adopted amendments to the civil aviation law.

On entering the airport and passing into the boarding area, all passengers and their baggage will be screened using technical equipment and, where necessary, by hand. Passengers who refuse screening may be denied boarding.

🇮🇪 Ireland: changes coming to labor law

Ireland is set to introduce a new work permit for seasonal workers, streamline its labor market testing process, and revise the rules on changing employers.

These reforms are likely to draw more skilled professionals to the country.

We will share the details once the reforms officially take effect.

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