Global Visa & Immigration Updates – 23/06/2026

World Visa Academy – Daily Global Visa and Immigration Update
Date: 23/06/2026

United States
Breaking – DHS Proposes 75 Percent Hike in Citizenship Application Fee (Naturalization / Citizenship)

The US Department of Homeland Security has proposed raising fees for citizenship applications by about 75 percent. The rule was published in the Federal Register on June 22, 2026 and includes a 60-day public comment period. The N-400 fee would go from $760 to $1,330 on paper and from $710 to $1,280 online. The proposal also eliminates all income-based fee waivers for most applicants. The rule is not yet in effect.

Impact: Nothing is final yet, but the direction is very clear. Anyone sitting on the fence about applying for US citizenship should seriously consider filing now at current rates before this becomes law. Consultants handling green card holders in the naturalization pipeline need to send alerts today. Low-income clients who currently benefit from fee waivers should be top priority.

United States
Big Alert – July 2026 Visa Bulletin Drops: India EB-2 Exhausted for Rest of Year (Employment-Based / Green Card)

The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for July 2026 confirms unavailability of EB-2 numbers for India. India's pro-rated EB-2 limit was reached and the category is unavailable for the remainder of FY 2026. In October, when the new fiscal year starts, the final action date is likely to advance but will depend on demand. EB-1 for India also retrogresses. High demand has made it necessary to retrogress the final action date to hold number use within the fiscal year 2026 annual limit. 

Impact: Indian nationals waiting on EB-2 approvals are now in a hard stop until October 2026. No immigrant visas in this category will be issued at US consulates and USCIS cannot approve adjustment of status applications for EB-2 India cases through September 30. Anyone with a pending EB-2 India case should work with their attorney to explore EB-3 downgrade options immediately.

Canada
Big Alert – Citizenship Certificates Suspended and Recalled Under "Lost Canadians" Law (Citizenship by Descent)

The federal government has suspended a number of Canadian citizenship certificates issued to people around the world who became eligible for citizenship under Bill C-3, the "Lost Canadians" legislation passed in late 2025. Recipients received notices ordering them to return their certificates pending a review. IRCC received over 12,000 applications in the first six weeks and processed 4,075 certificates before the review was triggered. As of June 10, 2026, IRCC shows 82,000 people are now waiting for their citizenship certificate applications to be processed.

Impact: Thousands of people who thought their Canadian citizenship was confirmed are in limbo. Many have already relocated, started jobs, or enrolled children in schools. Consultants with Canadian citizenship by descent clients must check whether they received a suspension notice and help them gather original vital records from provincial archives immediately, as IRCC will require documentary proof of the full lineage.

Indonesia
Breaking – Visa Processing Severely Delayed After Major Corruption Arrest (Work Visa / ITAS / Exit Permits)

Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission arrested eight high-ranking immigration officials, including the former deputy immigration minister, for allegedly running a systemic extortion scheme from 2022 to 2026 that collected over 145 billion rupiah from foreigners seeking residency and work permits. The investigations are continuing in multiple locations, including Bali and West Java, leading to extended processing times and temporary service limitations. Work visa processing has increased from approximately five business days to at least seven and in some cases up to ten or eleven business days.

Impact: Do not promise clients any specific timeline for Indonesian immigration work right now. Add at least two extra weeks to every planned timeline. Anyone with expiring ITAS permits in Jakarta, Bali, or West Java needs to apply well before expiry. Exit permits are also delayed, so flag this to clients planning to leave Indonesia.

South Korea
Breaking – Top-Tier Visa Now Open to Professors and Researchers (Skilled / Talent Visa)

The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Science and ICT announced the expansion of the scope of the Top-Tier Visa from June to cover professors and researchers in science and technology to attract world-class human resources from abroad. The visa had previously been limited to staff at companies in cutting-edge sectors. The expanded scope is effective June 1, 2026. The quota for foreign skilled workers in agriculture, livestock and fisheries has also increased to 50%, effective June 1, 2026, to alleviate labor shortages in these three sectors.

Impact: South Korea has quietly opened one of the most generous elite visa tracks to academic talent. Researchers, STEM professors, and those with publications in top journals can now qualify for a route that fast-tracks permanent residence after three years and gives spouses full, unrestricted work rights from day one. A very strong option for high-profile academic clients eyeing Asia.

Sweden
Active Alert – Work Permit Salary Threshold Raised to 90 Percent of Median from June 1 (Work Permit)

As of June 1, 2026, Sweden has adjusted the minimum salary requirement for work permits. The threshold increased from 80 percent to 90 percent of the national median salary. With the latest median salary confirmed at SEK 38,300 per month, the new minimum salary requirement is approximately SEK 34,470 per month. A transitional period is in place until December 1, 2026, during which certain extension applications may still be assessed under the previous 80 percent threshold.

Impact: Any new work permit application or renewal filed in Sweden today must meet the higher salary floor of approximately SEK 34,470 per month. Employers sponsoring foreign workers in Sweden need to verify that salary offers clear this threshold before submitting applications. Extension applicants before December 1 may still use the old threshold, but confirm this case by case.

Germany
Active Alert – EU Blue Card Salary Thresholds Updated for 2026, Citizenship Wait Extended to 8 Years (Work Visa / PR)

The EU Blue Card salary thresholds rose 5 percent on January 1, 2026. Standard salary is now EUR 50,700 per year. Shortage occupations including IT, STEM, healthcare, construction, and education now require EUR 45,934 per year. Separately, the new CDU/CSU-SPD government has reversed the previous fast-track citizenship reform, reverting the citizenship wait time from 5 years back to 8 years of residence.

Impact: Germany remains a very strong destination for skilled workers, but the citizenship timeline has significantly lengthened under the new government. Clients who started their Germany journey expecting a 5 year path to citizenship need to be updated. The Blue Card salary thresholds also mean that job offer letters signed in 2025 need to be re-checked if they did not account for the 2026 increase.

Australia
Active Alert – 2026/27 Permanent Migration Program Confirmed at 185,000 Places (Skilled / PR)

On May 12, 2026, the Australian Government announced that the 2026/27 permanent migration program will be set at 185,000 places. The Department has confirmed that the overall planning level and the split between the Skill and Family streams is unchanged from 2025/26. The current settings also continue the focus on onshore applicants. Student visa planning levels have also been increased to 295,000 places for 2026, up from 270,000 in 2025.

Impact: The total cap is unchanged, meaning competition for skilled migration places remains as strong as ever. More student visa slots open up an opportunity for education agents and student visa clients. Employer-sponsored nominations must continue meeting the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 76,515 for applications lodged through June 30, 2026.

GCC Region (Gulf Cooperation Council)
Active Alert – Unified Gulf Tourist Visa Trial Expected Before End of 2026 (Tourist Visa)

The GCC Grand Tours visa, also called the GCC unified visa, is a new visa that allows a non-GCC national to visit one or all Gulf nations using just one visa. Travelers will be able to move freely for up to 30 days across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman without additional border formalities. A trial phase is expected within 2026, with full implementation to follow.

Impact: Not live yet, but the GCC tourist visa trial is now closer than it has ever been. When it launches, a single application will replace separate applications for six countries. Tour operators, hospitality consultants, and anyone with Gulf tourism clients should track the official launch date closely. Pre-register awareness with clients now so they are ready to apply when the portal opens.

Multiple Countries (DRC, Uganda, South Sudan Origin Travelers)
Active Alert – Ebola Entry Restrictions in Force Across US, UAE, Canada, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Mauritius, Lebanon (All Visa Categories / Public Health)

As of June 11, 2026, the United States, Canada, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Jordan, and Rwanda have announced formal Ebola-related entry bans or immigration document suspensions affecting travelers with residence in, arrival from, or recent presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan. The UAE has suspended the issuance of new visas, including visit visas, for nationals of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. Canada has suspended the validity of approved temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations and permanent resident visas for affected individuals for 90 days.

Impact: This is now a global-scale disruption affecting travel in and out of three East African countries. Anyone with clients who hold nationality from DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan, or who have recently transited through these countries, faces visa suspensions across a growing number of destinations. Track the WHO outbreak situation. If the outbreak is contained, restrictions may lift quickly. If it spreads further, more countries will follow.

No major new policy changes or big announcements reported from other countries worldwide today.

Pro Tip for Immigration Consultants

Today is a day to be proactive, not reactive. The US naturalization fee proposal published in the Federal Register this morning has a 60-day comment window before it can become law, meaning clients who act now can file at the current rate of $760.