Immigration Café

General Updates - April 15th, 2022

Canada

The Canadian government has announced the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program Workforce Solutions Road Map.

Effective immediately:

• To address seasonal peaks, there will no longer be a limit to the number of low-wage positions that employers in seasonal industries, such as fish and seafood processing, can fill through the TFW Program. This makes permanent the Seasonal Cap Exemption that has been in place since 2015.  In addition, the maximum duration of these positions will be increased from 180 days to 270 days per year.
• Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) will be valid for 18 months, an increase from 9 months. (Prior to COVID-19, LMIA’s were valid for 6 months).
• The maximum duration of employment for High-Wage and Global Talent Streams workers will be extended from two years to three years. This extension will help workers access pathways to qualify for permanent residency, enabling them to contribute to our workforce for the long-term.

Effective 30 April 2022:

• For seven sectors with demonstrated labour shortages, such as Accommodation and Food Services, employers will be allowed to hire up to 30% of their workforce through the TFW Program for low-wage positions for one year.  All other employers will be allowed to hire up to 20% of their workforce through the TFW Program for low-wage positions until further notice, an increase from the former 10% cap for many employers.
• The Government will end the current policy that automatically refuses LMIA applications for low-wage occupations in the Accommodation and Food Services and Retail Trade sectors in regions with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher

Italy

The Italian authorities have announced that immigration offices will operate at reduced capacity from 22 April to 10 May 2022, as a new website is launched.

During this period, employers will not be able to submit work permit applications and individuals will not be able to submit applications for family clearance. Immigration offices may not be fully operational, and in-country formalities, such as contracts of stay, may be delayed.

Malaysia

Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has issued new rules applicable to all companies registered with MDEC for immigration purposes.

For returned applications:

• Companies must respond within 6 months from the return date.
• Failure to do so will render the application void and the company will need to submit a new application.
• Processing fees paid during submission will not be refunded.

For cancellation of pass:

• Companies must carry out physical cancellation (via submission of the original passports) of the Employment Pass (EP), Dependant Pass (DP) and/or Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) of expatriates and their dependants who are permanently leaving Malaysia.

For eVisa:

• For any queries on eVisa, companies can contact VLN-helpdesk@tridimas.com.myor refer to the Live Chat Support at https://malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my/evisa/evisa.jsp.

Meanwhile, the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) has updated the Letter of Undertaking (LoU) in the employer registration section of its website.

It is now possible to add up to two Endorsers to the LoU. The previous maximum was one Endorser.

Companies can now also include up to four Submission Officers (employees or third-party agents). The previous maximum was two Submission Officers.

As part of the registration process, employers must complete and print an LoU onto the company’s official letterhead once registration approval has been granted. They then need to schedule an appointment for an appointed Director to appear in person and sign the LoU in front of an immigration officer.

Note that this is not the same document as the Letter of Undertaking (or “Travel Notice”) that was had to be presented by travellers to Malaysia during the COVID-19 pandemic, until 1 May 2021.

Covid Updates - April 15th, 2022

Argentina

• Effective 7 April 2022:
  • All inbound travellers are required to complete the online Affidavit (DDJJ), within 48 hours prior to boarding.
  • Non-resident foreign nationals are also required to present COVID-19 health insurance.
  • Those who enter the country for a period of less than 24 hours and do so by land are exempted.
    

Azerbaijan

• Citizens and residents of the following countries are now permitted to travel to Azerbaijan by air without a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test result, on submission of an official document issued by the relevant country (COVID passport) on complete vaccination or recovery from COVID-19:
  • Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.

Bulgaria

• Effective 13 April 2022, persons arriving from Czechia, Egypt, Hungary, Israel, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Turkey are no longer required to present proof of COVID-19 status.
• All persons arriving from abroad are required to present one of the following proofs of COVID-19 status:
  • a valid EU digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate,
  • a valid EU digital COVID-19 recovery certificate,
  • a valid EU digital COVID certificate for conducted testing (a document showing a negative result from a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test conducted up to 72 hours before entry into the country or a negative result from a rapid antigen test conducted up to 48 hours before entry into the country from the date of sampling entered in the document),
  • a similar or an equivalentdocument containing the same data as the EU digital COVID certificate (for vaccination/recovery/testing)
• NOTE: Persons who do not present any of the documents mentioned above are permitted entry and placed under quarantine for 10 days at home or other accommodation. Quarantine may be ended early with a negative result of a PCR test, or a rapid antigen test of those listed in Annex № 1, carried out at least 72 hours after arrival.
• Children up to the age of 12 years and people in transit are exempt from the requirement to present proof of COVID-19 status.

Chile

• Effective 1 May 2022, the remaining land borders with Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Are reopened.
• Effective 14 April 2022:
  • Travellers entering Chile no longer need to present proof of their COVID-19 vaccination status, nor do they need to present a negative COVID-19 test certificate.
  • Some travellers will be selected at random on entry for COVID-19 testi9ng.
  • Travellers must complete an “Traveller’s Affidavit” electronic form, up to 48 hours before boarding, where you will provide contact information, health status and travel history. This form will issue a QR code as a means of verification (available at c19.cl)  
  • Proof of a health insurance policy that provides coverage for COVID-19 and related health issues, which must cover charges associated with COVID-19 during the traveller’s stay, with a coverage of at least USD 30,000.

Czechia

• Effective 9 April 2022, all COVID-19 entry restrictions have been lifted.

Greece

• Effective 2 May 2022, COVID entry restrictions will be temporarily suspended:
• No proof of vaccination will be required to enter Greece by land, sea, or air;
• No testing requirements for travellers, regardless of vaccination status;
• All internal vaccine passport requirements will be scrapped for fully vaccinated as well as unvaccinated travellers. This means that travellers and locals alike will not have to show any negative test result, recovery certificate, or proof of vaccination in order to enter public indoor and outdoor spaces.

New Zealand

• Effective 13 April 2022, the following fully vaccinated people can now enter New Zealand and do not need to self-isolate or enter managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ), with self-testing on arrival:
  • Australian citizens and permanent residents.
  • Current temporary work and student visa holders from anywhere in the world, with a valid visa who can still meet their visa requirements — this includes both visa holders currently offshore, and those in New Zealand who choose to travel overseas and wish to return
  • Up to 5,000 international students from anywhere in the world for semester 2.
• Effective 1 May 2022 at 11:59pm, the following fully vaccinated people can enter New Zealand and do not need to self-isolate or enter managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ), with self-testing on arrival:
  • Visitors from countries who do not need a visa (visa waiver visitors).
  • Visitors from other countries who already hold a valid visitor visa.
• Vaccinated and eligible travellers entering New Zealand will be given a pack of rapid antigen tests (RATs), with instructions, at the airport. They must take 2 tests, on Day 0/1, when they arrive in New Zealand, and on Day 5/6. They must report both their test results, whether negative or positive, using the link in the email sent by the Ministry of Health after they complete their traveller declaration.
• The following fully vaccinatedpeople can enter New Zealand now from anywhere in the world and do not need to self-isolate or enter managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ).
  • New Zealand citizens and residents.
  • Skilled workers earning at least 1.5x the median wage may be eligible to be granted an ‘other critical worker’ border exception.
  • Travellers on a working holiday scheme.
  • Other eligible travellers under current border settings.
• All travellers entering New Zealand:
  • Must be fully vaccinated.
  • Must have a negative result from:
    • a PCR carried out up to 48 hours before the scheduled departure of their first international flight to New Zealand; OR
    • a supervised RAT or LAMP test carried out up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure of their first international flight to New Zealand.
  • Everyone travelling to New Zealand is required to complete and submit a New Zealand Traveller Declaration, before they arrive at their departure airport.

Panama

• Effective 6 April 2022:
  • Travellers will not have to present a negative COVID-19 test for entry as long as they can provide physical or digital proof of at least 2 (two) doses or complete vaccination scheme endorsed by the WHO, EMA and FDA, equal to or greater than 14 days after the last dose.
  • Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travellers will be required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken no more than 72 hours prior to their arrival time in Panama.
    • If a test is not possible within that time frame, a COVID-19 rapid test will be mandated at the airport and the traveller will have to cover the costs of said test (USD $50). If the results are positive, the traveller will be placed under a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a hotel. The cost of the stay must be fully covered by the traveller.
  • Any child or person under 17 years will not have to present a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination record if they are accompanied by an adult when entering Panama.

Peru

• Effective 1 April 2022:
• Peruvians, resident foreigners, and non-resident foreigners aged twelve years or over whose final destination is Peru, as passengers and regardless of their country of origin, must prove that they have received the first and second dose of vaccination against COVID-19, and the third dose for those over 18 years of age who reside in the country and are qualified to receive it, according to the current protocol.
• If that is not possible, they can present a negative molecular test with a result date of no more than 48 hours before boarding at their point of origin.
• Children under twelve only need to be asymptomatic to board.
• Those who show symptoms when arriving in Peru enter mandatory isolation.
• Additionally, it is mandatory to fill out the Affidavit of Health and Geolocation Authorization within 72 hours before the trip.

Taiwan

• Effective 12 April 2022, foreign relatives of Taiwan nationals and valid Alien Resident Certificate holders residing in Taiwan may submit an application for a special entry permit (visitor visa) for the purpose of visiting relatives at Taiwan overseas missions by presenting proof of relationship to Taiwan nationals or Alien Resident Certificate holders residing in Taiwan.
• This is in addition to the other purposes for entry currently allowed - i.e., joining family (foreign spouses and minors only), study (formal degree programs), studying Mandarin, business visits, investment, fulfilling contractual obligations, employment, emergencies, and on humanitarian grounds, and other cases given special approval.
• Foreign nationals who entered Taiwan on or before 21 March 2020 on a visitor visa, landing visa or visa waiver, whose stay has exceeded 180 days and who have not overstayed their allowed period of stay (including their initial visa and all previous extensions) were granted a 22nd automatic 30-day extension on 8 April 2022.