February 3, 2012
INDIA | Visa Norms Relaxed for Expats Working in Senior/Skilled Positions
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recently published its change of visa rules so that expatriates in India, who take intergroup transfers within India, are no longer required to return their home country to apply for a new Employment Visa (EV).

January 31, 2012
BRAZIL | Continued Delays in Renewing Employment Agreement Visas
As an update to our prior alert clients are advised that the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has not yet issued final guidance on permitting traditional renewal of employment agreement (Normative Resolution #80 or “NR#80”) visas.

January 26, 2012
RUSSIAN FEDERATION | 2013 Foreign Labor Forecasts Due by May 1, 2012
Russian employers are reminded to submit their 2013 foreign labor forecasts to their territorial labor and employment services no later than May, 1 2012

January 25, 2012
CZECH REPUBLIC | New Labor Office Registration and Academic Credentialing Requirements
Effective January 1, 2012, a new amendment to the Czech labor code now requires that all European Union (EU) and non-EU foreign nationals obtaining or possessing a work permit must be registered with the local Labor Office. In addition, all non-EU national workers applying as localized assignees will be required to have their academic degrees credentialed for equivalency by the Czech authorities.

January 23, 2012
EUROPEAN UNION | More Schengen Countries Relax Work Permit Restrictions for Bulgarians and Romanians
As of January 1, 2012, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and Malta have announced a conditional relaxation of work permit restrictions for Bulgarians and Romanians for certain occupations. Conditions for easing restrictions will be based on each country’s domestic labor market situation, with each country reserving the right to impose restrictions through December 31, 2013.

January 23, 2012
RUSSIAN FEDERATION | 2012 Annual Work Permit Quota and Quota-Exempt Positions Announced
On December 28, 2011 Russian authorities confirmed the number of work permits which may be issued to companies intending to hire foreign employees in 2012. As in previous years, a number of job positions are to be exempt from the quota requirement in 2012.

January 20, 2012
BRAZIL | Ministry of Justice To Resume Renewal of Employment Agreement Visas
Effective January 4, 2012, the Brazilian National Immigration Council (NIC) has announced its intention to renew employment agreement visas ("Normative Resolution #80" or "NR#80") visas. Begininng January 2012, NR#80 visas are now eligible for a single, two-year extension for a maximum period stay of up to four years.

January 20, 2012
KAZAKHSTAN | Foreign Labor Quota for the Year 2012 Announced
On December 28th, 2011 the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Kazakhstan announced the foreign labor quota for the year 2012. Per the decision, foreigners cannot make up more than one percent of the working population of Kazakhstan, therefore a maximum of 48,135 work permits are to be available for foreigners in 2012.

January 13, 2012
GLOBAL | Lunar (Chinese) New Year Celebrations May Delay Work & Residence Permit Applications
Many Asian countries observe government holiday schedules between January 22nd and January 28th. Holiday schedules may affect processing of work and residence permit applications due to closure of a host country’s immigration/ labor ministries and consular posts or possible delays due to reduced government staff.

January 13, 2012
FINLAND | Issuance of New Biometric Permit Cards
As of January 1st, 2012, Finland is issuing new, biometric cards (eAT) in lieu of the traditional Finnish residence permits (affixed as a sticker in a foreign national's passport)

January 5, 2012
ROMANIA | 2012 Work Permit Quotas Announced / EU "Blue Card" Option Introduced
On December 29, 2011, the Romanian Government announced the national work permit quotas for 2012. In addition, the Romanian immigration authority established a new category of work permit (EU "Blue Card") for highly-skilled workers