Immigration rules and global mobility policies continue to change across major destinations, affecting employers, international workers, investors, families and individuals planning cross-border moves.
This September 2026 update covers important developments in the United Kingdom, Singapore, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Portugal. We have also retained recent immigration updates from the UAE, New Zealand, Canada and China where the changes remain relevant.
Hudson McKenzie monitors immigration developments across more than 180 countries. This page is updated regularly to highlight significant changes that may affect businesses and individuals managing international immigration and mobility.
United Kingdom: Sponsor Management System changes begin in September
The UK Home Office has started introducing important changes to the Sponsor Management System (SMS) used by organisations holding a UK sponsor licence.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is being introduced on a phased basis from 3 September 2026, with the Home Office expecting the new authentication requirements to be in place across all sponsors by November 2026.
Existing sponsors will be contacted before MFA is activated for their licence. Organisations granted a new sponsor licence on or after 9 September 2026 will have MFA enabled automatically.
Further changes also affect how sponsors manage their SMS users. From 9 September, sponsors will no longer be able to appoint new Level 2 Users. Existing Level 2 Users must either be converted to eligible Level 1 Users or have their accounts deactivated by 8 March 2027.
Sponsors should also ensure that they maintain at least one active and eligible Level 1 User, review inactive accounts and check that contact information held in the SMS is accurate.
For employers sponsoring overseas workers, these changes make sponsor account governance and internal immigration compliance increasingly important.
Read Hudson McKenzie’s detailed guidance on the UK Sponsor Licence SMS changes, or learn more about our UK Sponsor Licence and Immigration Compliance services.
Other recent UK immigration changes still relevant
Several other UK immigration changes introduced earlier in 2026 remain important for employers and applicants.
The English language requirement for new applicants under routes including Skilled Worker and Scale-up increased from B1 to B2 from 8 January 2026, subject to transitional provisions for certain existing visa holders.
A visa brake introduced from 26 March 2026 continues to affect out-of-country Student applications by nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, as well as Skilled Worker applications by Afghan nationals.
Changes introduced in August also allow certain children born in the UK during a parent’s Graduate route permission to apply as dependants, while eligible Indian diplomatic passport holders can now use the UK’s Diplomatic Visa Arrangement.
Employers and applicants affected by these changes should review the requirements applicable to their individual circumstances before making an application.
Singapore: Work Permit occupation list expands from 1 September
Singapore expanded its Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List from 1 September 2026, allowing eligible businesses to recruit Work Permit holders from approved countries for additional occupations.
The newly available occupations include roles in food services, air transportation and childcare and social services.
They include:
- butchers, fishmongers and related food preparers
- food and drink stall assistants
- kitchen assistants
- waiters
- cabin attendants
- babysitters and infant caregivers
- childcare and after-school care centre workers
- teacher aides
Employers using the Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List are subject to specific eligibility conditions.
Businesses must generally remain within an 8% sub-Dependency Ratio Ceiling for workers employed under the list and pay qualifying Work Permit holders a fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,000. Additional licensing requirements apply depending on the occupation and sector.
For example, eligible food-service businesses must hold the applicable Singapore Food Agency licence, while businesses employing cabin attendants must meet Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore requirements.
The expansion may provide employers in affected industries with access to a wider international recruitment pool, but businesses should ensure that both the occupation and their organisation meet the applicable Work Permit requirements.
Explore Hudson McKenzie’s Singapore immigration, visa and residency guidance.
United States: Immigrant visa pause affecting 75 countries ends
The U.S. Department of State has confirmed that the immigrant visa issuance pause affecting nationals of 75 countries is no longer in effect.
The change took effect on 21 August 2026 following a court order, reopening immigrant visa processing for applicants who had been affected by the policy introduced in January 2026.
Affected applicants can once again proceed with immigrant visa applications and interviews, although normal eligibility, admissibility, screening and processing requirements continue to apply.
This development is particularly important for applicants whose cases were delayed or affected by the earlier pause.
Read Hudson McKenzie’s detailed update on the end of the U.S. immigrant visa issuance pause affecting 75 countries, or explore our United States immigration guidance.
U.S. Diversity Visa issuance is currently paused
The U.S. Department of State also issued updated Diversity Visa guidance at the end of August.
Although an earlier December 2025 pause was no longer in effect following a court order, the Department subsequently announced an immediate pause on all Diversity Visa issuances while screening and vetting procedures are reviewed.
Diversity Visa applicants may continue to submit applications and attend scheduled interviews, but Diversity Visas are currently not being issued under the latest guidance.
The Department has stated that there are no exceptions to the current issuance pause. Existing valid visas have not been revoked as part of the measure.
Applicants under the Diversity Visa programme should monitor further guidance closely.
DHS proposes a US$103,265 H-1B cap fee
U.S. employers relying on H-1B sponsorship could also face substantially higher costs under a proposal from the Department of Homeland Security.
DHS has proposed an additional US$103,265 government fee for H-1B petitions subject to the annual numerical cap.
The proposed fee would be additional to other applicable filing costs and would target cap-subject H-1B petitions rather than every H-1B application.
Importantly, this remains a proposal and has not yet taken effect.
Employers considering future H-1B recruitment should therefore monitor the proposal but distinguish it from fees and requirements that are currently in force.
Read Hudson McKenzie’s detailed analysis of the proposed US$103,265 H-1B cap fee.
Saudi Arabia: Project management Saudization requirement to increase to 70%
Saudi Arabia has announced that the Saudization rate for specified project management professions in the private sector will increase to 70%.
The new requirement will take effect from 14 February 2027 and will apply to private-sector establishments employing three or more workers within the targeted project management professions.
The covered occupations include:
- Project Management Manager
- Project Management Engineer
- Project Management Specialist
Although implementation is scheduled for February 2027, organisations operating in Saudi Arabia should begin assessing their workforce structures and future recruitment requirements well in advance.
The change forms part of Saudi Arabia’s wider localisation strategy and the Kingdom’s ongoing economic transformation under Vision 2030.
Read Hudson McKenzie’s full update on the 70% Saudization requirement for project management professions.
Businesses entering or expanding within the Kingdom can also explore our guidance on Saudi Arabia visas, residency and business setup.
Portugal: Residence permit renewals continue moving online
Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, AIMA, continues to expand the use of its online Renewals Portal for residence documentation.
The portal currently supports renewal applications for residence permits within specified expiry periods, as well as certain permanent residence documentation for EU nationals and their family members.
Golden Visa holders are also increasingly using the digital renewal process. Renewal of Portugal’s Autorização de Residência para Investimento, or ARI, has been handled electronically through the AIMA Renewals Portal since February 2026, except where an applicant is subsequently required to attend an appointment for biometric collection.
AIMA issued further guidance in August for EU nationals and qualifying family members who still hold paper residence cards, explaining how card numbers should be entered when submitting an online renewal.
The continued digitalisation of residence permit renewals is intended to simplify processing, although individual applicants may still need to attend AIMA where additional documents or biometric information are required.
Explore Hudson McKenzie’s Portugal immigration and residency guidance or learn more about the Portugal Golden Visa Programme.
Recent Important Immigration Updates Still Relevant
The following developments were announced or introduced during previous months but remain important for individuals and businesses in September 2026.
United Arab Emirates: Expanded entry visa eligibility remains in effect
The UAE expanded eligibility for its Entry Visa for Nationals of Certain Countries in June 2026.
Nationals of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa were added alongside Indian nationals to the eligible nationality list.
Applicants must also hold a valid residence permit from an approved jurisdiction. The qualifying residence jurisdictions now include the United States, EU Member States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Depending on the applicable category, eligible applicants may receive a 14-day or 60-day entry visa.
Separately, current official UAE guidance states that expatriate residents may generally sponsor eligible family members where the sponsor earns at least AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. This is an existing sponsorship requirement and should not be treated as a newly introduced September change.
Individuals and businesses considering relocation can explore Hudson McKenzie’s UAE immigration and residency guidance.
New Zealand: Skilled Migrant Category reforms are now in effect
Significant changes to New Zealand’s Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa took effect on 24 August 2026.
The reforms include new Skilled Work Experience and Trades and Technician pathways, together with changes to qualification evidence, wage threshold rules and the assessment of skilled work experience.
The changes may create new residence opportunities for workers in qualifying occupations while altering the evidence and eligibility requirements applicants need to satisfy.
Employers and individuals considering skilled residence in New Zealand should assess which pathway applies to their occupation, employment history and qualifications.
Read Hudson McKenzie’s detailed guidance on the New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category changes.
Canada: Start-Up Visa and Parents and Grandparents Programme remain paused
Canada continues to operate restrictions affecting two immigration programmes that remain relevant in September.
The Canadian Start-Up Visa Programme is currently not accepting new applications. Applications received before the programme closed to new submissions on 30 June 2026 continue to be processed, and certain eligible applicants may still qualify for an open work permit while their permanent residence application is pending.
Canada has also paused new intake under the Parents and Grandparents Programme.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada confirmed in July that it would not accept new interest-to-sponsor forms or issue new invitations until further notice, while continuing to process existing applications.
Parents and grandparents may still be able to use Canada’s Super Visa where the applicable requirements are met.
For broader options, explore Hudson McKenzie’s Canada immigration guidance.
China: Visa-free entry continues through the end of 2026 for many nationalities
China’s expanded unilateral visa-free policy remains relevant for international business travellers and visitors.
Official Chinese guidance currently lists 50 nationalities whose ordinary passport holders may enter China without a visa for qualifying purposes including business, tourism, family and friends visits, exchange and transit, with permitted stays of up to 30 days.
Importantly, the United Kingdom and Canada are now included in the scheme. Visa-free entry for UK and Canadian ordinary passport holders began on 17 February 2026.
For most countries covered by the temporary scheme, visa-free entry is currently scheduled to remain available until 31 December 2026.
The visa exemption does not generally cover activities such as employment or long-term study, for which the appropriate visa and immigration permissions remain necessary.
Explore Hudson McKenzie’s China immigration and visa guidance.
What do these immigration changes mean for employers and individuals?
Recent developments demonstrate several wider trends affecting international immigration and global mobility.
Governments are continuing to digitalise immigration systems, strengthen employer compliance requirements, adjust international recruitment rules and use immigration and workforce policy more closely together.
For employers, this means immigration planning increasingly needs to sit alongside workforce strategy, HR compliance, international expansion and recruitment planning.
For individuals and families, frequent changes to visa, residency and immigration requirements mean that eligibility, timing and documentation should be reviewed against the latest rules before an application or relocation takes place.
Hudson McKenzie advises businesses and individuals on immigration and global mobility matters across more than 180 countries, with teams in London, Dubai and Riyadh.
If any of these developments affect your workforce, immigration status, international recruitment, relocation plans or business expansion, contact Hudson McKenzie to discuss your circumstances.
Related Immigration Services and Guidance
- UK Sponsor Licence
- Immigration Compliance
- Singapore Immigration and Residency
- Saudi Arabia Visas, Residency and Business Setup
- UAE Immigration and Residency
- Portugal Immigration and Residency
- Portugal Golden Visa Programme
- United States Immigration
- Canada Immigration
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