Changes to work visas in the countries our jobs are in: what changed, who it affects and when it starts. Every item quotes the official government source, so you can check it yourself.
Sources checked 28 Oct 2026A summary, not legal advice. RSS
Confirmed changes that have not started yet, soonest first.
United KingdomGraduate
Graduate visas applied for on or after 1 January 2027 will last 18 months instead of 2 years. Graduates with a PhD or other doctoral qualification still get 3 years.
Netherlands30% ruling (expat scheme)
From 1 January 2027 employers can pay recruits from abroad at most 27% of salary tax free under the expat scheme, down from 30%. The income norm rises to €50,436, indexed each year.
SingaporeEmployment Pass
The EP minimum qualifying salary rises from $5,600 to $6,000 a month ($6,200 to $6,600 in financial services) for new applications from January 2027 and for renewals of passes expiring from January 2028. It rises with age up to $11,500.
SingaporeONE Pass (AI and Tech), Tech.Pass
A new ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track will replace the Tech.Pass in January 2027. Applicants must earn at least $30k a month for 12 consecutive months, which can combine a fixed salary of at least $22.5k with vested non-cash components such as ESOPs.
United KingdomSettlement (Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Scale-up)
Settlement applications on routes including Skilled Worker, Global Talent and Scale-up will need English at B2 instead of B1 from 26 March 2027. The change also applies to people already on a pathway to settlement.
EAD (incl. dependent spouses)
DHS finalized its October 30, 2025 interim rule that ended automatic extensions of employment authorization documents for people who filed on time to renew in certain categories. The final rule took effect October 14, 2026.
H-1B
Proclamation 11069 continues the $100,000 payment requirement for certain new H-1B petitions for 12 months from September 21, 2026. USCIS says a June 8, 2026 court order vacated its guidance on the payment and DHS will comply while it considers next steps.
H-1B
Executive Order 14431 of September 18, 2026 tells the State, Labor and Homeland Security departments to take into account whether an H-1B sponsor engaged in layoffs in the previous year or plans layoffs affecting similarly situated US workers.
H-1B, L-1, O-1, I-140
From March 1, 2026, premium processing for most Form I-129 classifications, including H-1B, L-1, O-1 and TN, rose from $2,805 to $2,965. The fee for Form I-140 petitions rose by the same amount.
H-1B
DHS replaced the random H-1B cap selection with a weighted process from the FY 2027 registration season. Registrations at wage level IV enter the selection pool four times, level III three times, level II twice and level I once.
H-1B
A proposed rule would add a $103,265 fee to every H-1B cap-subject petition, including advanced degree exemption cases, on top of all other fees. The comment period closed on September 24, 2026 and the rule is not final.
F-1 OPT
A proposed rule would charge $70,000 for an F-1 student's initial Optional Practical Training and $30,000 for any subsequent OPT. Comments are due November 9, 2026 and the rule is not final.
H-1B, L-1, O-1 extensions
DHS proposed removing the rule under which USCIS generally gives deference to a prior approval involving the same facts when it decides a request to extend a worker's petition or stay. Comments are due November 13, 2026.
H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, E-3
DHS proposed removing the discretionary grace period of up to 60 days that lets E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1 and TN workers and their dependents keep status after their employment ends. Comments are due November 10, 2026.
H-1B, E-3, PERM
The Labor Department proposed raising the four prevailing wage levels used for H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and PERM: Level I from the 17th to the 34th percentile, Level II to the 52nd, Level III to the 70th and Level IV to the 88th. It is not final.
Graduate
Graduate visas applied for on or after 1 January 2027 will last 18 months instead of 2 years. Graduates with a PhD or other doctoral qualification still get 3 years.
Settlement (Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Scale-up)
Settlement applications on routes including Skilled Worker, Global Talent and Scale-up will need English at B2 instead of B1 from 26 March 2027. The change also applies to people already on a pathway to settlement.
Skilled Worker, Graduate, ILR (fees)
Home Office fees rose from 8 April 2026. A Skilled Worker visa from outside the UK for up to 3 years went from £769 to £819, for over 3 years from £1,519 to £1,618, and indefinite leave to remain from £3,029 to £3,226.
Skilled Worker
New Skilled Worker applicants, and people switching from another visa, must prove English at level B2. People who had this visa before 8 January 2026 and are extending or updating it need level B1.
Skilled Worker (sponsor costs)
The charge sponsors pay when assigning a Skilled Worker certificate of sponsorship rose by 32% from 16 December 2025. For the first 12 months it is now £1,320 for medium or large sponsors and £480 for small or charitable sponsors.
Settlement (ILR)
The government consulted on raising the usual qualifying period for settlement from 5 to 10 years, with shorter periods proposed for high earners and Global Talent holders. It closed on 12 February 2026 and in March 2026 the Home Secretary said responses were under review.
Express Entry
From November 3, 2026, IRCC will award additional points for eligible Canadian work experience or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation, including technology jobs. An LMIA will no longer be required for a qualifying job offer.
H-1B holders (new pathway)
Budget 2025 said the government will launch an accelerated pathway for H-1B visa holders. IRCC briefing notes from December 2025 said it would be launched in the coming months; no launch details were found on the IRCC pages checked.
30% ruling (expat scheme)
From 1 January 2027 employers can pay recruits from abroad at most 27% of salary tax free under the expat scheme, down from 30%. The income norm rises to €50,436, indexed each year.
Highly Skilled Migrant, EU Blue Card
For 2026 the IND requires a gross monthly salary of €5,942 for highly skilled migrants aged 30 or older, €4,357 for those under 30 and €3,122 under the reduced criterion. The EU Blue Card amount is €5,942.
Employment Pass
The EP minimum qualifying salary rises from $5,600 to $6,000 a month ($6,200 to $6,600 in financial services) for new applications from January 2027 and for renewals of passes expiring from January 2028. It rises with age up to $11,500.
ONE Pass (AI and Tech), Tech.Pass
A new ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track will replace the Tech.Pass in January 2027. Applicants must earn at least $30k a month for 12 consecutive months, which can combine a fixed salary of at least $22.5k with vested non-cash components such as ESOPs.
Skills in Demand (subclass 482), ENS (subclass 186)
For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 the Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD79,423, up from AUD76,515, and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD146,576, up from AUD141,210.
Top Talent Pass Scheme, Talent List
The 2026 Policy Address proposes adding AI-related categories to the Talent List and exempting proprietors of technology start-ups supported by designated public sector organisations from some Top Talent Pass extension requirements.
Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit
From 1 March 2026 the minimum salary for a Critical Skills Employment Permit rose from €38,000 to €40,904 and for a General Employment Permit from €34,000 to €36,605. Further increases are phased in through 2030.
All work statuses (change and extension), permanent residence
From 1 October 2026 fees for changing or extending status of residence depend on the period granted: at a counter, 33,000 yen for 1 year and 75,000 yen for 5 years or more, up from 6,000 yen. Permanent residence rises from 10,000 to 200,000 yen.
Work permit
First-time work permits decided on or after 1 June 2026 need a salary of at least 90% of the median, SEK 34,470 a month from 16 June 2026. Exempt groups, including staff of some start-up tech companies, need 75%. Extensions follow the new rule from 2 December 2026.