Global Immigration Recap: October 2025

WR Immigration’s October global immigration recap highlights key developments, including the UK’s increase in Government fees for employers, the UAE’s new AI Specialist, Events and Entertainment Visas, Brazil’s expanded Visitor Visa, and more.

UK – Government Fees for Employers to Increase on December 16, 2025; Home Office Issues Phishing Alert to SMS Users

Government Fees for Employers to Increase on December 16, 2025
The Home Office has announced that the following government fees will increase effective December 16, 2025. This change will impact sponsoring employers in the UK.

• Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) –This fee, which by law must be covered by the sponsoring employer, will increase by 32% to GBP £1,320 for large employers and £480 for small employers.
• Priority Service for Sponsor License applications – This priority processing fee will increase from £500 to £750.
• SMS Priority Service (for Certificate of Sponsorship (Cos) allocation requests, Level 1 user requests, etc.) – The fee for this service will increase from £200 to £350.

Any applications filed prior to December 16, 2025, are subject to current rates. Applications submitted on or after this date will be charged the fees listed above.

Home Office Issues Phishing Alert to SMS Users
Due to a recent uptick in phishing, the Home Office has warned Sponsorship Management System (SMS) users to be on the lookout for phishing emails. The fraudulent emails vary in content but typically instruct recipients to take action and include links to a fake SMS login page designed to capture login credentials.

As a precaution, the Home Office is recommending that all Authorizing Officers login to their accounts, review for any unusual activity and change their passwords.

UAE – New AI Specialist, Events and Entertainment Visas Announced

The government has created new visit visa categories and amended some of its existing categories in an effort to attract global talent, support key industries and provide more flexibility for those who do business in the UAE. 

Most notably, a new AI Specialist Visa is now available to qualified AI and technology professionals traveling to the UAE for short-term collaboration and AI-related activities. This visa requires endorsement by a sponsoring or hosting entity and may be issued as either a single or multiple-entry document. Other newly created visit visa categories include:

• Events Visa – For attendees of festivals, exhibitions, conferences and other events, with a host entity as the sponsor.
• Entertainment Visa – For individuals entering the UAE for creative and performing arts activities.

In addition, the government has updated the conditions for business exploration visas and revised the minimum income threshold for those who wish to sponsor dependents in the UAE.

Brazil – Visitor Visa Expanded to Include Technical Assistance and Technology Transfer Activities

Recent changes to immigration regulations in Brazil have expanded the scope of activities allowed on a visitor visa to include technical assistance and technology transfer activities. Official guidance regarding the practical implementation of this new visitor visa category has yet to be released; however, this change is expected to simplify the application process and eliminate the previous requirement to secure in-country approval for a short-term work visa to perform technical activities. To qualify, applicants would need to meet the following requirements:

• A maximum stay of 90 days, with the possibility to extend to a total of 180 days per year, subject to approval by the Federal Police;
• Proof of a technical cooperation agreement or contact compatible with the activity to be performed; and
• A letter of invitation, clearly outlining the purpose of the trip and relationship with the host entity in Brazil.

Further details on implementation are expected in the coming weeks.

Spain – Ukrainian Nationals with TPS Now Eligible to Apply for Spanish Work Permit In-Country

Following a recent policy change, Ukrainian nationals residing in Spain under Temporary Protection Status (TPS) are now eligible to apply in-country for a Spanish work permit. This change greatly simplifies the application process for these individuals, who were previously required to leave Spain, cancel their TPS status, and apply for a work permit at the Spanish consulate in Ukraine. Please note that the documentation requirements for work permit applicants with accompanying dependents – most notably the requirement for submission of apostilled marriage and birth certificates – may still pose a practical barrier to some applications.

Bermuda – New Work Permit Policy Now in Effect

A new Work Permit Policy is now in effect in Bermuda, introducing updated rules for work permit holders on the island. Notably, the policy has also reduced the maximum allowed stay for Business Visitors from 21 to 14 consecutive days.

Key impact areas for sponsoring employers in Bermuda include:

• Timelines and processing – Applicants may not be in Bermuda while their work permit application is being processed and must land with their original work permit and landing permit to avoid fines. Processing times for these documents is 10 days. An expedited actuarial process has been added to the policy; however, turnaround may still take up to 10 days.

• Hiring and recruitment – Existing work permit holders may be hired by a new employer only after completing two years with their initial sponsor, or 18 months for accountants. Wait periods also apply when hiring work permit holders whose contract with the initial sponsor has been renewed or who are changing employers for a second time. Further, employers must complete the process of rejecting local job applicants before submitting a work permit application, and there are now clear rules for how to justify those rejections.

• New documents required – The following documents must now be submitted along with work permit applications.
  • Relevant Statutory Board (CPA, Bar, etc.) responses or proof of non-response;
  • Police clearance certificates from both the applicant’s last place of residence and their home country; and
  • English language proficiency test results for non-exempt applicants.

Any applicants with new criminal convictions must promptly advise the Department.Resource planning – Promotions for work permit holders now require internal advertising as part of the application process. Upon approval, employees must remain in the new role for one year before any further changes can be made. In case of termination, employers must notify the Department within 14 days of a known termination date. Furthermore, multiple work permits may now be issued to employees who work for officially affiliated employers.