Editors Pick

Highlights: Spain to issue 900,000 Residency and work permits by 2027

• Spain has announced it will grant up to 900,000 residency and work permits in the next three years.
• Under the new scheme, around 300,000 migrants will likely become residents or acquire work permits in 2025.
• The newly announced policy will be effective starting May 2025.
• Around 54,000 migrants have entered Spain from January to November 2024.  

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Spain to issue Residency and Work Permits to nearly 900,000 Undocumented Migrants

The Spanish government has announced that it will issue residency and work permits to up to 900,000 undocumented migrants, allowing them to register as salaried or self-employed workers in the country. Under the new policy to be implemented from May 2025, around 300,000 migrants will gain work permits and residency in Spain in 2025.

The new policy aims at addressing the aging population and labor market shortages. As per the latest Schengen News report, thousands of irregular migrants enter Spain annually. Migrants will benefit from the newly announced policy by gaining more opportunities without the required documentation.

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Spain Plans to offer more work opportunities for Migrant workers

Spain is currently looking for 250,000 workers to promote its economy. Around 54,000 migrants have entered the country in the first eleven months of 2024. The total number of migrants in Spain is up by 15.8% compared to 2023. To deal with the labor shortage situation and the entry of undocumented migrants, Spain has announced a new policy.

The Spanish government will provide more opportunities for migrants by streamlining the residence and work permit procedures. Under the new policy, migrants can either become residents or gain legal work permits to be self-employed or work as paid workers. The Spain visa offered to job seekers will now be extended to 12 months from the current 3 months.

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Highlights: Sweden issues 23,000+ work permits in 2024

• The Swedish Migration Services issued around 23,000 work permits in the first ten months of 2024.
• This is the highest number of work permits to be issued by Sweden so far this year.
• Sweden issued 8,095 permits in October 2024, out of which 2,529 permits were for family reunification.
• The Swedish authorities plan on introducing stricter rules for Family Reunification permits. 

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Total Sweden permits issued in 2024 so far

Sweden issued more than 23,000 work permits, which are 23,870 work permits from January to October 2024. This is recorded as the highest number of work permits this year. Swedish work permits are nearly 30% of the overall permits issued by the country. Around 80,336 work permits were granted for all the visa categories from January to August 2024. Following the work permit category, family reunification permit was the second most issued visa category, with nearly 25%, 20,595 permits.

You can refer to the table below to know more about the total Swedish permits issued in 2024 so far:  

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Sweden issued 8,000+ Permits in October 2024

The total number of permits issued by the Swedish Migration Services was 8,095 in October 2024. Around 2,529, that is, 31.2% of the overall permits, were Family Reunification permits.

You can refer to the table below to know more about the total Swedish permits issued in October 2024:  

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Sweden to implement stricter rules for Family Reunification Permits

The Swedish Government plans to implement strict visa conditions for Family Reunification visas. One of the most common changes that could be implemented to acquire a family reunification visa in Sweden is to increase the age limit to 21 years from the current 18-year limit to apply for the permit.

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Highlights: IRCC holds the 6th Express Entry Draw for November 2024

• IRCC held the most recent Express Entry Draw on November 20, 2024.
• The Express Entry targeted healthcare professionals and invited 3000 eligible candidates.
• The lowest ranking score required for Express Entry Draw #327 was 526.
• This is the sixth Express Entry Draw in November 2024.

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Latest Express Entry Draw invites 3,000 Candidates from Healthcare Occupations

Canada conducted the latest Express Entry on November 20, 2024, inviting 3,000 healthcare professionals. This is the first Healthcare-targeted draw to be held since July 2024. The previous healthcare-targeted draw invited 3,750 candidates to apply for Canada PR.

Express Entry Draw #327 is the sixth draw in November. The previous draw Invited 400 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates with a CRS score of 539.

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List of eligible Occupations for the Healthcare-specific Express Entry Draws

The below table has the list of occupations that are eligible for the Healthcare targeted Express Entry Draws:

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Healthcare-targeted Express Entry Draws in 2024

Three Healthcare-targeted Express Entry draws have been conducted in 2024, issuing a total of 10,250 ITAs.

You can refer to the table below for completed details of the draws:

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Highlights: IRCC to increase Visa Application Fees for several Canadian visas

• IRCC announced a hike in the visa application fees for several visit, work, and study visas.
• The updated application and processing fees will be effective starting December 01, 2024.
• Temporary residents seeking entry into Canada and those seeking to extend their current status will be required to follow the latest fee structure.
• The Canadian government has yet to announce the updated visa application fees.

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Canadian Visa Application Fees to increase from December 01, 2024

IRCC announced to increase the application and processing time for several Canadian visas. The visa fee will increase for different visa categories of Canada visit visa, Canada work visa, and Canada study visa. The application costs will also increase for temporary resident applicants looking to extend the validity of their current status and those seeking entry into the country.

Here is the list of temporary resident categories that will have increased visa fees:

• Individuals like visitors, workers, and students looking to restore their temporary resident status applications
• Those looking for approved authorization to return to the country
• Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) applications
• Criminal rehabilitation applications

Note: The latest Canada application fees are yet to be announced.

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List of Canada Application Fees (Current)

You can refer to the table below for the current Canadian application fees:

*To know more about the latest Canada Immigration Levels Plan, also, read…

Canada is inviting 1.1 million migrants by 2027

What happens if you pay the old application fees?

Applications being applied online are usually received immediately, ensuring the submission is valid with a prompt confirmation. Applications sent via email are usually delayed compared to online applications. Individuals submitting a completed application with the previous application fees need not worry about the new fee changes.

There are chances of your application not being rejected if you have:

• Paid the entire fee (the old one)
• Submitted a filled application
• Emailed the application before the implementation of the new application fees

Note: IRCC will issue instructions to applicants who need not pay the entire fee again and can simply pay the balance or the adjusted application fees.

How to pay the difference in the visa application fees after fee changes?

In cases where the applicant has applied offline via paper and paid the fee according to the old fees, they can simply calculate the difference with the new fees and submit a receipt.

You can refer to the below steps to learn how to tally the difference and submit the application fee receipt:

Step 1: Calculate the fee difference

You must first calculate the difference between the previous and updated visa fees. Then, you will be required to pay the difference for any change fees that apply to family members.

Step 2: Complete the fee payment

• As the first step, you must select the “pay other fees category or additional payment” category in the IRCC online payment tool.
• The total difference in fees will be entered into the “Quantity” section
• A single receipt will be given for each payment made. Payments can be done in single transactions or repeated.
• To complete the fee payment procedure, you must either sign in to your existing IRCC account or create a new one.

Step 3: Receipt submission

You can follow the instructions during the initial fee request and submit the receipt.  

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Highlights: Germany plans to invite 22000+ migrant workers in 2024

• Germany will issue 22000+ more visas for foreign professionals in 2024.
• The country plans to issue 10% more visas for skilled workers under the German New Skill Immigration Act
• A total number of 200,000 visas are expected to be granted to skilled workers in 2024.
• Germany currently has around 400,000 vacant job positions for highly skilled foreign workers.

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Foreign professionals to have better opportunities to obtain work visas in Germany

The German Skill Immigration Act has attracted thousands of skilled workers to the country. More than 200,000 visas are expected to be granted in 2024, 10 percent more than in 2023.

It is noticed that foreign nationals are also showing interest in German education, complete vocal training there and having their foreign qualification recognized. The New Skill Immigration Act includes changes that are aimed to facilitate the migration of skilled foreign workers to Germany. 

The German Opportunity Card has also been an advantage for skilled workers who are not required to know the German Language to work in the country.

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Germany streamlines the application process

The German government also plans to streamline the visa process through digitalization. The reason for improving the application process is to address the country's labor shortage. According to the government, there are around 400,000 job opportunities for skilled foreign workers.

From 2018-2023, the employment subjected to Social insurance contribution increased by 1.6 million, with an 89 percent contribution from foreigners.

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