Several countries have announced important immigration and visa policy changes affecting workers, employers, students, and citizenship applicants. Here are the latest immigration updates from Canada, the United States, Belgium, Romania, and Sweden.
Canada Extends Work Authorization Validity
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated its guidance for foreign workers waiting for work permit renewal decisions.
The temporary WP-EXT letter issued after submitting an online work permit renewal application will now remain valid for 365 days instead of the previous 180 days.
This means eligible applicants can continue working in Canada while waiting for a decision on their work permit extension.
Canada also introduced updated instructions for people who submit multiple work permit applications while another application is still being processed.
United States Reaches FY 2026 H-2B Visa Cap
USCIS has announced that the second allocation of FY 2026 H-2B returning worker visas has officially been filled.
The allocation included 27,736 additional H-2B visas for temporary workers with employment start dates between April 1 and April 30, 2026.
According to USCIS, April 21, 2026, was the final date for receiving petitions under this visa allocation.
The H-2B visa program helps U.S. employers facing seasonal labour shortages, especially in industries requiring temporary workers.
Belgium Introduces Mandatory Online Work Permit Applications
Belgium has now made online submission mandatory for all work authorization applications.
Starting May 4, 2026:
- PDF application forms are no longer accepted
- Applications sent by email will be rejected
- Employers must submit applications through the official online portal
For companies in the Brussels Region, applications for non-European workers must be submitted through the federal “One-Stop Counter” platform.
Romania Launches Major Immigration Reform for Non-EU Workers
Romania has introduced significant immigration reforms for non-EU workers after publishing a new Emergency Ordinance on April 27, 2026.
Under the new system, Romania will replace its current work permit and visa process with two new long-stay visa categories:
- D/AM1: For highly qualified workers and special categories
- D/AM2: For general labour workers subject to quotas
Romania is also preparing to launch a new digital immigration platform called:
The platform is expected to become operational on August 8, 2026.
The reforms also introduce:
- Stricter employer requirements
- New reporting obligations
- Bilingual employment contracts
- Language training requirements
- Additional security and traceability features on permits
Sweden Approves Stricter Citizenship Rules
The Swedish Parliament has approved tougher requirements for obtaining Swedish citizenship.
The new rules include:
- Increasing the residency requirement from 5 years to 8 years
- Financial self-support requirements
- Stricter lifestyle conditions
- Mandatory knowledge of Swedish language and society
The new citizenship rules will officially take effect on June 6, 2026.
Language testing requirements are expected to begin from October 1, 2027.
Final Thoughts
Countries across Europe and North America continue updating immigration systems, visa policies, and citizenship requirements in 2026. Many governments are introducing stricter rules, digital application systems, and new labour market policies aimed at managing migration and improving immigration processing.
Applicants planning to move abroad for work, study, or permanent residency are advised to regularly check official government immigration websites for the latest updates and policy changes.
