[April 2024] Worldwide Immigration Updates

In this second article of our three-part Global Mobility Insights series, we provide the latest immigration news that may affect your global mobility program in the ensuing weeks and months.

For guidance on how best to approach these challenges/mitigate their impact, visit our website and get in touch with your local office here.

Immigration Updates

Singapore:

Revision of minimum qualifying salary for EPs

In a press release from Ministry of Manpower (MOM), it is announced that the minimum qualifying salaries for Employment Passes (EPs) will increase from SGD 5,000 to 5,600 per month. The qualifying salary will increase with age, up to 10,700 for a candidate in their mid-40s.

For the Financial Services sector, the minimum qualifying salary will increase from SGD 5,500 to SGD 6,200 per month. The qualifying salary will also increase with age, up to SGD 11,800 for a candidate in their mid-40s.

We understand that the revised qualifying salaries will apply to new EPs from 1 January 2025 and to renewal applications from 1 January 2026. It is also mentioned that further updates relating to this increase will be released later in March 2024.

Updates to Marine Shipyard sector workforce policies

MOM also announced changes to the work permit framework in the marine shipyard sector, which will take effect from 1 January 2026. The key updates are summarised below:

·?????? Reduction in the Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) from 77.8% to 75, which impacts the number of foreign nationals which can be hired in a company.

·?????? Increase the levy from SGD 400 to SGD 500 for “Basic Skilled” R2 Work Permit Holders (WPHs), and SGD 300 to SGD 350 for “Higher Skilled” R1 WPHs.

Africa:

A notice has gone out from the Department of Home Affairs to all international visitors who were hoping to extend their stay by another 90 days: they will now need to leave the country two months earlier than they had hoped to.

The Border Management Authority is under strict instructions from the DHA to enforce the directive, which also gives applicants whose waiver and visa applications (including long-term visa applications) were still pending as of 30 November 2023, another extension – they are permitted to remain until 30 June 2024 on their current visa status.

United Kingdom:

4th April 2024?

From this date, those applying for a Skilled Worker Visa will need to meet a minimum salary threshold of ￡38,700; currently, the threshold is ￡26,200. The threshold has been raised to attract skilled, highly paid talent from around the world. This change will not affect the Health & Care Visa route.

6th April 2024?

From this date, the requirement to renew Sponsor Licenses will be discontinued. Existing Licenses will automatically be extended for a 10-year period.?

11th April 2024?

From this date, the minimum income requirement for a Family Visa will increase to ￡29,000. Between 11th April and early next year, it will increase twice more - first to ￡34,500 and then to ￡38,700. The ￡38,700 threshold is in line with that of the Skilled Worker route.

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