Global Immigration Policy Shifts: 7 Critical Updates Reshaping 2025 Mobility

The world’s immigration landscape is transforming at breakneck speed, with governments from Stockholm to Sydney implementing pivotal policy changes. These shifts—ranging from tightened work permits to digital border systems—carry profound implications for global talent mobility, international education, and cross-border travel.

How Are Immigration Policies Evolving in 2025?

Nations worldwide are recalibrating immigration frameworks to balance economic needs with security and social priorities. Sweden exemplifies this trend, proposing 152 professions exempt from its new salary threshold for work permits. The Swedish Migration Board’s list targets sectors facing critical labor shortages, though it excludes berry pickers and personal assistants. This follows Sweden’s move to raise salary requirements to 100% of the median wage (up from 80%), a change poised to reshape skilled migration pathways.

Meanwhile, the European Union’s long-awaited Entry/Exit System (EES) will launch on October 12, 2025, marking a seismic shift in border management. This biometric-driven system will digitally track non-EU nationals entering 29 European countries, collecting fingerprints and facial images. The European Commission confirms a six-month rollout period to ease transitions at airports and land borders, with EU-LISA overseeing implementation. Expect heightened entry procedures but streamlined data verification for frequent travelers once fully operational.

Hong Kong’s revised tuition policy now categorizes foreign students based on residency duration. Dependent children require two years of continuous residence for subsidized (“Category I”) fees—up from no prior requirement. Those with less residency or holding specific visas (like the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme) face non-subsidized “Category II” fees. The policy, effective from the 2027 academic year, signals Hong Kong’s push to prioritize locally integrated students.

Additional Key Immigration Updates

The U.S. State Department tightened interview waiver eligibility effective September 2, 2025. Most applicants—including children and seniors—now require in-person interviews. Exceptions apply only to diplomatic/official visa holders or B1/B2 renewals within 12 months of expiration. Consular officers retain discretion to mandate interviews case-by-case, urging applicants to monitor embassy websites closely.

Malaysia’s Expatriate Services Division enhanced its ESD Online platform on August 6, centralizing interview notifications and enabling flexible scheduling. Companies can now reschedule slots and receive real-time documentation guidance for Employment Pass applications, boosting transparency.

Quebec is fast-tracking permanent residency for temporary foreign workers and students. Applications submitted by July 30, 2025, under the defunct Regular Skilled Worker Programme (replaced by PSTQ in 2024) will receive decisions by December 2025. This prioritizes applicants already contributing to Quebec’s economy.

Australia now grants visa-free entry to Chinese and Dominican nationals holding valid U.S. tourist visas, eliminating Electronic Travel Authorisation (AVE) requirements. This reciprocity follows China’s recent visa exemptions for Argentinians and other Latin American nationals.

> The accelerating pace of global immigration policy changes demands vigilant monitoring by multinational employers, educational institutions, and travelers. Consult accredited immigration experts to navigate these complex shifts effectively.

Must Know

Q: What is Sweden’s new salary threshold for work permits?
A: Sweden now requires work permit salaries to meet 100% of the median wage (previously 80%). The Swedish Migration Board proposed 152 exempt professions facing labor shortages, excluding roles like berry pickers and personal assistants.

Q: How will the EU’s Entry/Exit System affect travelers?
A: Launching October 12, 2025, the EES will register biometrics (fingerprints, facial images) of non-EU nationals at Schengen borders. Expect longer initial entry procedures but faster repeat entries post-enrollment.

Q: Who qualifies for Hong Kong’s subsidized tuition fees?
A: Dependent children must reside in Hong Kong for two consecutive years pre-enrollment. Holders of employment or investment visas face non-subsidized fees regardless of residency duration.

Q: Can I renew a U.S. visa without an interview in 2025?
A: Only B1/B2 renewals within 12 months of expiration—with no prior refusals—may qualify. All others require interviews per U.S. State Department guidelines effective September 2025.

Q: Which nationalities can enter Australia visa-free with a U.S. visa?
A: Chinese and Dominican passport holders with valid U.S. tourist visas may now enter Australia without additional electronic travel authorization.