Corporate Immigration 2023

A Global Overview of Immigration in 2023

Immigration remains a hot topic in 2023, on the back of recent key events such as Brexit, the global COVID-19 pandemic, humanitarian crises, war, climate change and rising economic uncertainty. This guide sets out an immigration overview per location, highlighting key business immigration routes and associated considerations such as cost, and timeframes. The guide also explores any upcoming changes in immigration policy and how this is being shaped by geopolitical events and economic factors.

Key themes which continue to shape policy and impact immigration are set out below. They are already impacting the business community and its ability to address skills shortages and meet workforce demands, all the while adhering to increasingly complex and diverse legislative frameworks. Undoubtedly, how organisations respond to these challenges will determine their ability to deliver and succeed in future.

Aging Populations v Greater Protectionism

Immigration systems can be complex to navigate where countries seek both additional skills to maintain GDP with economic and public opinion headwinds. This has led to a bias toward programmes enabling high-skilled migration in tech and specialist skill sectors.

Digitisation and Technology

Governments have invested in digital infrastructure, with this underpinning many immigration systems globally, with varying degrees of success. There is an overall shift toward electronic travel authorisations, eVisas, e-gates, and entirely digital application and sponsorship systems designed to streamline cumbersome immigration practices and ease the burden on employer responsibility.

Lifting of Travel Restrictions

COVID-19 travel restrictions continue to ease with many countries returning to pre-pandemic entry requirements. However, with new rules coming into play since many employees’ last business trip, there is a high degree of uncertainty amongst travellers.

Remote Working

There has been a significant global shift toward the creation of “Nomad visas” designed to allow visitors to remain in a country whilst working for their overseas based employer “remotely”. These visa categories predated COVID-19 and were aimed at freelancers and contingent workers but became more widely used during and post-pandemic. Keen for the economic benefit of longer-term visitors, governments have embraced the creation of nomad visas. Depending on the country, there may also be tax benefits associated with this way of working, but there are many examples of where tax and immigration are unaligned.

Humanitarian Response Routes

With a rise in political conflict, war and humanitarian crisis, there has been an increase in visa routes catering to a very specific vulnerable group, outside of the usual humanitarian routes.