Relocation news digest - July 20, 2024

🇦🇪 UAE: scientists and specialists now need equivalency certificates for Dubai's Golden Visa

Golden Visa applications in Dubai submitted by scientists and specialists must now include an equivalency certificate. These certificates confirm that an academic degree was obtained from an accredited international university and meets the relevant academic standards.

🇲🇷 Mauritania: authorities introduce criminal penalties for immigration violations

According to a document released by Mauritania's Ministry of Labour, the government has introduced criminal penalties - on top of the existing fines - for employers who hire foreign nationals without a valid work permit.

The specific criminal penalties have not yet been announced by the government.

🇱🇻 Latvia: country bars entry to vehicles with Belarusian plates

Latvia has announced a ban on entry for vehicles carrying Belarusian licence plates. The restriction applies to cars arriving from both Belarus and Russia and takes effect on 16 July.

Anyone who refuses to turn around and return to the country they were attempting to enter from may face confiscation of their vehicle.

🇸🇬 Singapore: authorities upgrade the online immigration application portal

The online portal of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has been upgraded to streamline applications for citizenship, long-term residence, permanent residence, visas and other permits.

Key changes include:

• All adults must use Singpass - the digital identity system that Singapore residents and businesses rely on to securely access government e-services.
• Applications are pre-populated from the user's profile data.
• Applicants must submit their online application within 14 days of starting the form (up from just seven days previously).
• Qualified professionals can now file simultaneous applications for several visa programmes within a single submission for a fee of 130 SGD.

🇨🇳 China: payments via VTB Shanghai stop reaching Chinese counterparties

Payments routed through VTB's Chinese branch have stopped reaching local counterparties.

VTB is the only Russian bank with a financial licence to conduct banking operations in China.

🇲🇲 Myanmar: Mir cards start working on a limited basis

The cards are now accepted at some restaurants and shopping centres across the country, and the payment system is expected to expand its coverage soon.

Mir also operates in Abkhazia, Belarus, South Ossetia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Cuba, Venezuela and Vietnam.

🇨🇦 Canada: permanent residence programme for construction workers extended

The permanent residence programme for construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) whose immigration status has expired has been extended until 31 December 2024.

🇷🇺 Russia: Rosselkhozbank to suspend UnionPay card transactions abroad

As of 19 July, transactions abroad on UnionPay cards issued by Rosselkhozbank (RSHB) will be suspended. Within Russia, the cards continue to work without restrictions.

🇦🇲 Armenia: Armenian Airlines announces Kazan-Yerevan route

The first flight departs for Armenia on 9 August, with services scheduled every Friday. The flight time between the two cities is 2 hours and 55 minutes.

🇨🇴 Colombia: delays in issuing ID cards

Issuing identity cards through Colombia's migration service currently takes around 35 calendar days, up from the previous 10 business days.

The delay stems from a change of contractor in April 2024 - the vendor through which Migración Colombia issues identity cards.

ID cards are required to register with the national social security system and to open bank accounts in Colombia.

🇵🇹 Portugal: tighter requirements for social security number applications

Portugal has introduced stricter requirements for applying for a social security number (NISS). Applicants must now first apply for a residence permit before they can apply for a NISS.

Previously, foreign nationals could apply for a NISS before applying for a residence permit.

In addition, applicants must now provide proof of employment status, such as an employment contract.

🇦🇪 UAE: Wio Bank stops accepting dirham transfers from Russian individuals

Wio Bank has stopped accepting dirhams from Russia, as well as dollars and euros from Kazakhstan.

🇦🇺 Australia: authorities wind down some investment-based residency programmes

Under the Australian government's plan to close the Business Innovation and Investment visa programme - designed to attract people with experience owning or managing a business - it has been announced that interested applicants under the Business Innovation, Investor, Significant Investor and Entrepreneur streams must submit their applications by 31 July 2024. Applications will not be considered after that date.

What has changed by autumn 2026

Since this issue was published, several items have had important follow-ups. Below is where things stand in autumn 2026.

Australia: investor visas are closed

The closure mentioned in the issue went ahead: since 31 July 2024 Australia has not accepted new applications under the Business Innovation and Investment Program, including the investor, significant investor and entrepreneur streams. Applications lodged before that date continue to be processed. There is now no route to Australian permanent residence through capital, so people move through work or study; more on the skills in demand visa page.

Portugal: rules for foreigners tightened

After closing simplified regularisation in 2024, Portugal went further. A law of 22 October 2025 restricted the job seeker visa to highly qualified specialists and generally allows family reunification only after two years of legal residence, with exceptions for families with minor children and holders of EU Blue Cards and golden visas. Residence applications are now filed from abroad, through a consulate. Simplified regularisation for those who entered without a residence visa was closed back in June 2024, and nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries now also need a residence visa before arrival.

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