A number of nations have significantly altered their visa regulations and criteria in recent months. These changes may have a big effect on Indian nationals who want to go outside for work, play, education, or other reasons. It is important for Indian tourists to remain up to date on the most recent changes to visa policies in major target nations in order to guarantee they have all the necessary documentation. Here is a list of the five nations that have made significant modifications to their visa policies.
Recent Changes in Visa Policies: 10 Key Points To Know
- Australia’s Student Visa Costs Increase: As of July 1, the cost of an international student visa in Australia has doubled from AUD 710 to AUD 1,600.
- Restrictions on Temporary Visa Holders in Australia: Temporary visa holders on Visitor, Temporary Graduate, and Maritime Crew visas can no longer apply for a student visa from within Australia.
- Increased Savings Requirement for Australian Student Visas: The minimum savings requirement for student visas in Australia has increased from AUD 24,505 to AUD 29,710.
- New Zealand’s Visa Policy for Families: Holders of Accredited Employer Work Visas at ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5 without a residence route can no longer sponsor spouses or dependent children for work, visiting, or student visas.
- Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa: Italy now offers a digital nomad visa, allowing non-EU remote workers to live and work in the country for a year without the 90-day stay restriction.
- Eligibility for Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa: Applicants must be highly skilled self-employed contractors or corporate remote workers, meet income requirements, have no recent criminal records, possess valid health insurance, and provide proof of housing.
- Extended Schengen Visa Validity for Indians: Indian citizens can now apply for long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years, and eventually five years under the EU’s ‘cascade’ system.
- Germany’s ‘Opportunity Card’: Introduced on June 1, 2024, this visa allows non-EU nationals to stay in Germany for a year to look for work, aimed at addressing labor shortages in IT, engineering, and healthcare.
- Requirements for Germany’s ‘Opportunity Card’: Applicants must have proficiency in German or English and have completed at least two years of vocational training or hold a relevant degree.
- Impact on Indian Students in Australia: Indian students, the second-largest group of overseas students in Australia, will be significantly affected by the increased costs and savings requirements for student visas.
Australia
According to the sources, Australia has declared that, as of July 1, the cost of an international student’s student visa would double from AUD 710 ($473) to AUD 1,600 ($1,068). Furthermore, temporary visa holders on Visitor, Temporary Graduate, and Maritime Crew visas will no longer be allowed to apply from inside Australia for a student visa. Additionally, AUD 29,710 ($19,576) has been added to the minimum savings requirement for student visas, which was formerly AUD 24,505 ($16,146). Indian students, the second-largest group of overseas students in Australia, would be impacted by this.
New Zealand
New Zealand changed its visa policies on June 26, 2024, which had an impact on certain overseas workers and their families. Aiming to match immigration and economic interests, the revisions will expedite the visa application process. The primary modification is the removal of the ability to sponsor spouses or dependent children for work, visiting, or student visas for holders of Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWV) at ANZSCO skill levels 4 and 5 without a residence route. If qualified, partners and dependents may still submit separate visa applications. Current visa petitions will be evaluated in accordance with the previous guidelines.
Italy
Applications for Italy’s digital nomad visa, which eliminates the 90-day stay restriction and allows non-EU remote workers to live and work there for a year, are now being accepted. Italy now offers comparable visas to more than 50 other nations. “Highly skilled” self-employed independent contractors and corporate remote workers may apply provided they satisfy certain requirements, such as having remote employment, making a respectable amount of money yearly, having no recent criminal records, having valid health insurance, and having proof of housing.
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Europe
Additionally, Indian people are now eligible to apply for longer-validity Schengen visas with multiple entries thanks to recent changes to EU visa regulations. Adopted by the European Commission, the ‘cascade’ system governs Indian citizens’ Schengen permits. Multi-year visas are now simpler to get under this arrangement. Indian people may now apply for a long-term, multi-entry visa that is good for two years, and then for five years if their passport is still valid, provided they have legitimately utilized two Schengen visas within the last three years.
Germany
Germany has modified its skilled worker visa regulations in an effort to draw in more talent for IT, engineering, and healthcare. Based on available data, the nation needs around 400,000 skilled workers each year to meet labor shortages. The ‘Opportunity Card’ permits non-EU nationals to go to Germany for a year in order to look for work as of June 1, 2024. Candidates must speak German or English fluently and have completed at least two years of vocational training or have a relevant degree.
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