Global Immigration Recap: April 2026

Our April global immigration recap includes the latest on potential changes to Canada’s Express Entry system, the scope of Brazil’s business e-Visas for Chinese and Indian nationals, Poland’s new online residence permit system, the UAE’s Police Clearance Certificate requirement for select visa nationals, and more.

Canada – Co-Op Work Permits No Longer Required; Express Entry Changes Under Consideration

Co-Op Work Permits No Longer Required

On April 1, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed that eligible post-secondary students no longer require a co-op work permit to complete mandatory work placements as part of their program. Moving forward, all pending co-op work permit applications will be withdrawn as eligible students can now complete required placements using their study permit.

To qualify, students must be enrolled full-time at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), and the placement must be a mandatory part of their program, comprising no more than 50% of the curriculum. Students are also expected to obtain a letter from their institution confirming the placement requirement, which employers should retain for their records.

Placements that are not a mandatory component of the program remain subject to standard off-campus work limits.

To qualify, students must be enrolled full-time at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), and the placement must be a mandatory part of their program, comprising no more than 50% of the curriculum. Students are also expected to obtain a letter from their institution confirming the placement requirement, which employers should retain for their records. Placements that are not a mandatory component of the program remain subject to standard off-campus work limits.

Express Entry Changes Under Consideration
The government has opened public consultations on potential reforms to the Express Entry permanent residence system. Proposed changes include consolidating the current economic immigration programs into a single stream and revising how points are allocated. This may involve removing points for a spouse or siblings in Canada, reducing general bonus points for French language ability in favor of more targeted selection, and placing greater emphasis on certain types of Canadian work experience and trade qualifications.

We will continue to monitor developments and share updates as they are announced.

Brazil – Limited Scope e-Visa Option for Chinese Nationals; Special Business e-Visa for Indian Nationals

Limited Scope e-Visa Option for Chinese Nationals

Chinese nationals traveling to Brazil for business should note that the scope of their e-Visa differs from that available to nationals of the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Contrary to initial expectations, the scope of the e-Visa for Chinese nationals is more limited. At present, this e-Visa only allows for travel to Brazil for participation in events and trade fairs, including:

• Trade fairs and business events;
• Academic conferences, seminars, or scientific cooperation activities; and
• Artistic and sporting activities, provided there is no remuneration from a Brazilian entity (including support staff).

Additional categories may be introduced over time. In the meantime, however, Chinese nationals engaging in business activities beyond events and trade fairs should obtain the relevant short-term work permit for Brazil.

Special Business e-Visa for Indian Nationals

A special category of business e-Visa has been introduced for Indian nationals. While this e-Visa is obtained 100% online, Indian nationals must submit their application to the consulate via the eConsular system, rather than through the official e-Visa portal. Approval is subject to consular review and is not automatic.

To apply via the eConsular system, Indian national applicants must be able to electronically sign PDF documents using DigiLocker (Aadhaar).

The business e-Visa for Indian nationals allows for travel to Brazil for up to 90 days, exclusively for business purposes. This includes participation in meetings, fairs and business events, commercial prospecting, contract signing, and audits.

Please note that while technical assistance and technology transfer activities are listed as permissible under this visa, travelers engaging in such activities have faced increased scrutiny and, in some cases, denial of entry. It is therefore advisable to obtain the appropriate residence authorization traditionally required for these activities to avoid issues at the port of entry.

Poland – New MOS 2.0 Residence Permit System Now in Effect

As of April 27, 2026, all Polish foreign national residence permit applications must be submitted online via the new MOS 2.0 system. Applicants are still required to apply from within Poland and attend an in-person appointment at the Voivodeship office to provide fingerprints and present a physical copy of all required documents after submission.

Applications must now be initiated by the foreign national. The employer will still need to sign Annex No. 1 before the application can be processed and will be invited to do so electronically in MOS 2.0 once the foreign national initiates the application.

These changes only impact new applications. Applications submitted prior to April 27, 2026, will continue to be processed under the previous rules.

UAE – Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) Now Required for Select Visa Applicants

The United Arab Emirates has introduced a new visa application requirement for nationals of select countries.

Effective immediately, applicants from the following countries must provide a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), also known as a Good Conduct Certificate, when applying for a visa: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Iraq, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Uganda.

Applicants applying from outside the UAE or from within the country on a tourist visa must have their PCC attested by the UAE Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Those who previously resided in the UAE must obtain a locally issued PCC.

Employers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow sufficient time to obtain and attest the required PCC for affected applicants.

Romania – Upcoming Immigration Reforms for Non-EU Workers

Romania is in the process of overhauling its immigration system for non-EU workers. Central to the reform is a new digital platform, WorkinRomania.gov.ro, expected to launch in August 2026, which will unify the current work permit and visa processes into a single application. Two new visa categories will also be introduced: the D/AM1 for highly qualified workers, and the D/AM2 for general labor. The latter will be subject to a shortage occupation list and annual quotas.

Additional changes include tighter rules on posted workers (limiting access for non-EU nationals), increased traceability through visa and residence data, and new employer obligations such as bilingual contracts and reporting requirements.

Further guidance is expected in the coming months, and a transition period will likely be implemented as the new system is rolled out.