World Visa Academy – Daily Global Visa and Immigration Update Date: 29/05/2026

GLOBAL ALERT – Ebola Entry Bans Now Active Across Multiple Countries

The United States, Bahrain, Jordan, and Rwanda have announced formal Ebola-related entry bans affecting travelers who were recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan. Thailand has announced tightened screening and a 21-day observation requirement for travelers from risk areas. Kenya and Tanzania have introduced health-screening and traveler-form requirements for arrivals from or via the DRC and Uganda

What it means: If your client has visited any of those three African countries in the last 21 days, they are blocked from entering multiple countries right now, regardless of their nationality or visa status.

Impact: This is not just a US issue. It is now a worldwide restriction affecting several major destinations. Advise all clients with any travel history through East or Central Africa to hold their travel plans and get legal advice before booking flights.

CANADA – Express Entry CEC Draw Resumes After 29-Day Gap

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 3,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence in a Canadian Experience Class Express Entry draw on May 27, 2026. The CRS cutoff was 518 points. This is the first CEC draw since April 28, ending a 29-day gap that was the longest CEC pause of 2026.

What it means: Canada is back drawing CEC candidates after a long pause, and the score went up by 4 points due to the backlog that built up during the gap.

Impact: Candidates eligible for healthcare, education, transport, or agriculture categories should keep their Express Entry profiles active and supporting documents current in case category-based selection resumes in the summer. If your client scored between 510 and 520, this draw is a strong signal to stay ready. 

CANADA – Indonesia and Malaysia Travelers Now Get eTA Instead of Visa

Effective May 26, 2026, travelers from Indonesia and Malaysia no longer need to obtain a temporary resident visa and may instead apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization, provided they have held a Canadian temporary resident visa within the past 10 years or currently hold a valid US nonimmigrant visa. The eTA costs CAD 7 and is generally approved within minutes.

What it means: A major upgrade for Indonesian and Malaysian passport holders with prior Canada or US visa history. No more full visa applications for eligible travelers.

Impact: Great news to share with clients from these two countries immediately. Help them check eligibility and switch to the simpler eTA route.

UNITED STATES – Three Big Rules Take Effect Today

1. Asylum Annual Fee Enforcement Begins

Beginning May 29, 2026, DHS and USCIS implement new fees and enforcement rules for people with pending asylum applications. Applicants with pending asylum cases face a recurring annual fee of $102. If the fee is not paid within 30 days of notice, USCIS may reject the pending asylum application, deny or revoke related work authorization, and in some cases initiate removal proceedings. 

2. TPS Work Permits Now Capped at One Year

Under the interim final rule effective May 29, 2026, TPS-based Employment Authorization Documents are now capped at one year, or the remaining TPS designation period, whichever is shorter. Multi-year TPS EADs are over. Going forward, expect a one-year EAD cycle, with a new Form I-765 each year, a new filing fee each year, and a new processing window to wait through each year. 

3. Form I-102 Rejected Without Fee From Today

USCIS will reject Form I-102 filings without the proper fee if postmarked on or after May 29, 2026.

What it means together: Today is a deadline day in the US. Multiple rules activated simultaneously, affecting asylum seekers, TPS holders, and anyone filing Form I-102.

Impact: If you have US-based clients in any of these categories, they must be informed today. Missing a payment or filing deadline now has immediate and serious consequences.

UNITED KINGDOM – Right to Work Rules Reversed Again

New guidance published on May 20 reverses a previous April 2026 change, essentially reinstating the previous requirement that Right to Work obligations apply solely to employees, sponsored or not. Whilst best practice for all employers is to check that any service provider has the correct immigration status, employers will have no exposure to criminal or civil law consequences for failing to do so.

What it means: The UK government reversed its own April guidance in less than a month. The rules around Right to Work for contractors and freelancers are back to where they were before.

Impact: UK employers who changed their compliance processes in April based on the earlier guidance need to reverse course again. Confusion here can lead to unnecessary refusals and legal risk.

SWEDEN – New Citizenship Law Activates in 8 Days

Sweden will implement stricter citizenship rules on June 6, 2026, raising the residence requirement to eight years. The reform introduces income thresholds, mandatory language tests, and civic knowledge exams. The decision date, not the filing date, will determine whether pending cases are judged under the old or new rules.

What it means: Anyone with a pending Swedish citizenship application needs to check whether their case can be decided before June 6. After that, the old five-year rule no longer applies.

Impact: If you have clients in this situation, act in the next 8 days. After June 6, even long-pending applications will be assessed under the new, stricter rules.

MALAYSIA – Employment Pass Salary Hike Kicks In on June 1

Malaysia's Ministry of Home Affairs has announced revisions to minimum salary requirements for Employment Pass Categories I, II and III, which will take effect on June 1, 2026. The minimum salary for EP Category I will increase from MYR 10,000 to MYR 20,000 and above, while EP Category II will rise from MYR 5,000 to MYR 10,000 minimum.

What it means: Companies hiring or renewing work passes for foreign employees in Malaysia need to offer significantly higher salaries in three days time.

Impact: File any pending renewals before June 1 if possible. Any new or renewal application submitted from June 1 must meet the new thresholds or it will be rejected.

JAPAN – eVisa System Expanded

As of May 15, 2026, Japan's eVISA system is available for nationals residing in Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

What it means: Eligible nationals from these countries can now apply for a Japan tourist visa entirely online without visiting an embassy or visa centre.

Impact: Faster, simpler Japan visa access for clients from these countries. Encourage early applications as processing volumes are expected to increase.

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

Pro Tip for Immigration Consultants

Today, May 29, 2026, is one of the most significant single days in global immigration this year. The US activated three separate rules at once, the Ebola entry ban is now a multi-country issue affecting Africa-linked travelers globally, Canada suspended immigration documents for three countries, Malaysia's salary threshold changes in two days, and Sweden's citizenship law changes in eight days. D