Our December global immigration recap includes the latest on Australia’s Subclass 186 TRT Visa requirements, Ireland’s Employment Permit salary thresholds, India’s new e-Production Investment Visa, and Saudi Arabia’s business visa approval trends.

Australia – New Work Experience Requirement for 186 TRT Visa Applicants

Any Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) visa applications lodged on or after November 29, 2025, are subject to new requirements.

Most notably, only time spent working for an approved sponsor will count toward the work experience required to qualify for the TRT. As a result, it is essential that employers who sponsor workers under this stream hold an approved sponsorship or labor agreement.

Additionally, while subclass 482 visa holders are still permitted to work for six months for any company after ceasing employment with the sponsoring employer, this work experience will only count if the company held valid sponsorship during that time.

Ireland – Employment Permit Salary Thresholds Set to Increase in 2026

The Minimum Annual Remuneration (MAR) threshold is set to increase across all Employment Permit types in Ireland beginning on March 1, 2026, with further phased adjustments expected through 2030.

As of March 1, 2026, the MAR threshold for General and Critical Skills Employment Permits will be as follows:

• General Employment Permit (GEP) – €36,605

• Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) with relevant degree – €40,904

• Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) without relevant degree – €68,911

An exception to the above thresholds has also been announced for recent graduates who have completed their studies within the last 12 months:

• GEP for graduates of Irish institutions – €34,009

• CSEP for graduates of any recognized institution – €36,848

Note: Employers who pay GEP and CSEP permit holders hourly are also required to meet the corresponding MAR threshold.

Subsequent increases in salary thresholds will be tied to average earnings as reported by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Further information regarding this upcoming change can be found on the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment website 

India – New e-Production Investment Visa Launched

India has announced a new e-Production Investment Visa to support its rapidly expanding manufacturing and production sectors. This multiple-entry visa, which is valid for a period of six months, allows qualified foreign experts to undertake a range of specialized, short-term assignments for an Indian sponsor that would typically require an Employment Visa.

Permissible activities under this new visa category include equipment installation and commissioning, operational and IT/ERP support, workforce training, supply chain and vendor development, plant design, and senior management support in India.

Please note that applications must be submitted online, and only nationals of countries eligible for India’s e-Visa program may apply.

Saudi Arabia – Increase in Business Visa Rejections Among Frequent Travelers

In recent weeks, we have observed a pattern of increased business visa rejections for travelers who fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Nationals of Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.

• A history of frequent travel to Saudi Arabia, particularly for individuals previously issued business visas – even with compliant prior travel. (Prior approvals are no longer considered a positive factor.)

• Repeated invitations from the same Saudi sponsor.

• A pattern of extended stays (renewals) in the Kingdom.

• Applications filed with the consulates in Dubai or Mumbai, where a significant increase in rejections has been observed.

It is important to note that this is a trend and that official guidance has not been issued regarding this matter. Applications continue to be evaluated on the basis of the applicant’s profile, purpose of travel and the timing of submission, regardless of the above factors.