Immigration authorities across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Eurasia have enacted critical procedural overhauls and fee adjustments in the final days of July 2026. Global Mobility desks and cross-border HR leaders must adapt to streamlined health filing waivers, increased European administrative fees, and expanded visa exemptions.
1. South Africa: Medical Report Waiver & Trusted Employer Scheme Phase II
The South African Department of Home Affairs has introduced major filing relief for corporate assignees and individual applicants:
- Medical Report Requirement Waived: Applicants for temporary residence visas and permanent residence permits are no longer required to submit standard medical reports, significantly reducing pre-filing administrative bottlenecks.
- Trusted Employer Scheme (TES) Phase II: Phase II of the Trusted Employer Scheme has officially opened for corporate Expressions of Interest (EOI), allowing vetted high-volume employers expedited visa processing pathways for critical skills talent.
2. Belgium: Increased Visa D Fees & Flanders Regional Retribution Charge
Belgian federal and regional authorities have updated immigration cost structures for long-stay foreign workers:
- Federal Visa D Fee Adjustment: The federal administration fee for Type D long-stay visas has increased across all standard work and family category filings.
- Flanders Regional Retribution Fee: The Flemish Region has formally introduced a regional administrative retribution charge for work authorization processing, creating an additional cost layer for employers deploying talent to Flanders.
3. Middle East & Eurasia: Saudi Arabia Umrah Visa & Armenia Visa Exemption
Regional governments across Eurasia and the GCC have updated travel and residency mechanisms:
- Saudi Arabia Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched a new one-year, multiple-entry Umrah visa specifically designed for expatriate residents, facilitating flexible spiritual and leisure travel.
- Armenia Broadens Visa Exemption: The Republic of Armenia enacted a temporary visa waiver policy extending visa-free entry to citizens of 111 countries for short-term stays.
- UK Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) Report: The MAC published Stage 2 of its Temporary Shortage List review, recommending 28 key occupations for restricted 18-month inclusion starting in 2027.
Regulatory Comparison: Global Mobility Overhauls
| Jurisdiction | Regulatory Vector | Affected Target Group | Core Operational Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Filing Waiver & TES Phase II | Work & PR Visa Applicants | Medical reports eliminated from initial filings; TES Phase II corporate access opened. |
| Belgium | Administrative Fee Increase | Long-Stay Assignees (Flanders) | Higher Federal Visa D fees combined with new Flanders regional retribution charge. |
| Saudi Arabia | Residence & Travel Access | GCC & Global Expatriates | 1-year multiple-entry Umrah visa active for resident foreign workers. |
| Armenia | Border Access Exemption | Travelers from 111 Nations | Temporary visa-free entry enacted to streamline business and tourism travel. |
Corporate Advisory Note: Mobility managers deploying personnel to Belgium must adjust global mobility cost projections immediately to account for combined federal and regional Flanders fee increases, while those targeting South Africa can accelerate filing timelines due to the medical report waiver.
Action Items for Mobility Teams
- Recalculate Belgium Budget Approvals: Update global assignment budgeting tools to reflect the new Flanders retribution charge alongside federal Visa D increases.
- Accelerate South Africa Applications: Fast-track pending South Africa work permit filings by removing medical examination scheduling steps.
- Submit South Africa TES Expressions of Interest: Eligible multinational firms should review Phase II criteria for the Trusted Employer Scheme before the current expression window closes.
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