Relocation news digest: key updates for movers

🇶🇦 Qatar launches a new residence programme for top talent

Qatar's government has announced a new residency scheme for skilled professionals and entrepreneurs, allowing them to live and work in the country for five years.

Applications are expected to open within the next few months.

🇷🇺 Russia to build a state platform for confiscating cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is already being seized as part of criminal cases. Once the platform is up and running, the state will be able to dispose of the confiscated funds.

🇩🇪 Germany: international students will be allowed to work

The new Skilled Workers Act permits international students who are in the country on a student visa to take up work.

It also introduces an applicant visa that lets prospective students enter the country up to nine months before their studies begin. During that period they may work part-time, up to 20 hours a week. This visa existed before, but holders were not previously allowed to work.

🇩🇪 Germany: the citizenship law is finally adopted

The main changes:

• Citizenship after 5 years (a 3-year fast track existed until October 2025)
• Dual citizenship is now permitted

The benefits of German citizenship:

• Full rights as a German citizen: voting, access to every profession, and social security
• Visa-free access to 189 countries, including the EU, the UK, the US, Japan and others
• Free secondary and higher education at German universities
• The ability to work and run an international business across the EU
• ❗️ A second citizenship is allowed

🇩🇪 Germany: parliament legalises cannabis use

Germany's parliament has partially legalised the use of cannabis. The law takes effect on 1 April. Adults will be able to legally possess up to 50 grams of cannabis for personal use and grow no more than three plants.

🇨🇭 Switzerland: banks begin closing accounts of clients holding a Russian passport

Swiss banks have started closing the accounts of Swiss citizens who also hold a Russian passport. Clients of UBS and Credit Suisse have been affected.

The move is likely tied to the risk of secondary sanctions from the United States.

🇷🇺 Russia: crypto exchange CommEX announces it is leaving the market

From 25 March, new users will be barred from registering and from making deposits. On 10 May the exchange will shut down entirely.

With a Russian passport you could lose your crypto savings at any moment. We recommend considering a second citizenship so you can feel secure.

🇷🇴 Romania: Schengen visas for Russians from 31 March

The visa is valid for 90 days. Applications can be submitted at the consulates in Moscow, St Petersburg and Rostov-on-Don.

🇷🇺 Russia: Samsung Pay will stop working with Mir cards

From 3 April, saved Mir cards will be removed from the app, and it will no longer be possible to add new ones.

🇧🇬 Bulgaria: Schengen visas from 1 April

Visa applications can be submitted at the Bulgarian embassies in Moscow and St Petersburg.

🇵🇹 Portugal: residency in exchange for cultural investment

Portugal has set up a fund to acquire works of art for its national museums and palaces.

How do you qualify for residency under this programme? A residence permit is granted for:

• A contribution to the fund of at least €500,000
• A capital transfer of at least €250,000, which can be invested in maintaining or restoring cultural heritage

What has changed since this digest

Since spring 2024 many items in this issue have seen important changes, especially in Germany. Below is where things stand in autumn 2026.

Germany: 3-year citizenship scrapped, dual citizenship kept

The 2024 reform did cut the naturalisation period to 5 years and allowed dual citizenship, and it introduced a 3-year fast track for especially well integrated applicants. On 8 October 2025 the Bundestag abolished that fast track. The minimum is now 5 years of legal residence, with German at B1, a test about the country and the ability to support your family. Dual citizenship was kept, so there is no need to give up your previous passport. More on the German citizenship by naturalisation page.

Germany: how much students may work

An international student in Germany may work 140 full or 280 half days a year, on average about 20 hours a week. A full day is one with more than 4 hours of work. Jobs as a university assistant do not count towards this limit. The prospective student visa lets you arrive before your studies begin and work part-time. After graduating, a student may stay in the country for up to 18 months to find a job in their field.

Qatar: the programme for specialists and entrepreneurs is running

The 5-year residence programme for talented specialists and entrepreneurs that Qatar announced in early 2024 has launched. It has two categories. An entrepreneur submits a business plan approved by a Qatari incubator with investment from $68,000. A specialist obtains approval from the relevant government body in one of 13 fields, from arts and sport to science and innovation, and shows either a job offer from a Qatari company or own funds of at least QAR 36,500, about $10,030. Holders may own property and sponsor visas for their family. The programme is run by a state workforce solutions company, and applications are submitted online.

A second passport: what Russian citizens should consider

The issue's advice on second citizenship still holds, but it comes with a mandatory part: a Russian citizen must notify the Interior Ministry within 60 days of obtaining another citizenship or a residence permit, or face a fine, and concealment carries criminal liability. Many citizenship by investment programmes, including all Caribbean ones, are closed to Russian citizens, so the country should be chosen by the routes that are genuinely open. Our second passport finder matches options to your passport and budget.

What we do

News about visas and entry rules goes out of date within months. Murblz specialists check the current rules for your passport and purpose of moving, choose a country and programme, prepare the documents and support the application through to a result. A consultant will calculate the cost in the chat.

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