VisaConnect Logo
Logo VisaConnect

EU Visa and Immigration News - IN 2026

→ Australian Visas → EU IMMIGRATION NEWS - IN 2026

Table of Contents

24 September 2026

EU Plans Overhaul of Schengen Visa Rules & Fees!

The European Commission is preparing a major reform of the Schengen Visa Code, with proposals expected in early 2027. The planned changes aim to modernize and improve the visa system for short stays in the Schengen Area. Key Points of the Proposed Reforms: Possible New Fees: The EU is exploring the introduction of an additional fee on top of the current €90 adult visa fee. The revenue could support a unified EU visa policy. No final decision has been made yet. Simplified Procedures for Business Travelers: Trusted companies could be added to a common verified list, allowing their employees to benefit from faster processing, priority appointments, and fewer documents. This aims to facilitate legitimate business travel across the Schengen zone. Enhanced Flexibility to Restrict Visas: The EU may gain new tools to respond more swiftly to security threats or political issues in non-EU countries, including suspending or restricting visas when necessary, while safeguarding human rights and humanitarian cases. Digital Transformation: The reform will support the shift to digital visa applications and issuance, improving interoperability between European IT systems and enabling longer, multiple-entry visas for reliable travelers. Current Situation: Over 12 million short-stay visa applications were made in 2025, with around 10.3 million visas issued. The largest applicant countries were China, Turkey, India, Russia, and Morocco. The reform process involves consultation with stakeholders and is expected to be finalized by early 2027. Until then, existing visa rules and fees remain in place, and no new charges are required from travelers.

01 September 2026

EU Gains Edge in International Student Market!

**EU Gains Edge in International Student Market Amid US, UK, Australia Visa Restrictions** European universities are attracting more international students as stricter visa rules in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia make these countries less appealing. Students are increasingly choosing universities in mainland Europe, attracted by lower costs, welcoming policies, and high-quality, English-taught programs. Key trends include: - Declining enrollments in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, with Europe seeing growth. - A 20% rise in student interest in Portugal, 18% in Italy, and 11% in Spain over the past year, though the UK still leads overall. - Students like Max Morley prefer universities such as IE Madrid for its diversity and international environment. - European universities often charge significantly lower tuition fees than UK institutions, making them an attractive, affordable option. - Many European universities now offer courses taught entirely in English, increasing their global appeal. - Brexit has limited EU student flows to UK universities and made UK study more costly for EU students, while Ireland remains an exception with rising UK student demand. Overall, Europe is positioning itself as a strong alternative for international students seeking quality education in a welcoming, cost-effective environment.

12 August 2026

Portugal Golden Visa - New Citizenship Laws!

Portugal’s nationality law was updated in May 2026, extending the time required to qualify for citizenship by naturalisation. This mainly affects the long-term citizenship timeline for Golden Visa holders. Under Organic Law No. 1/2026 (in force 19 May 2026): Citizenship now generally requires 10 years of legal residence (or 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals). The residence period is counted from the date the residence permit is issued. Additional requirements now apply, including knowledge of Portuguese language, culture, history, and civic principles. The new rules apply to applications submitted after 19 May 2026, while pending cases follow the previous law. The Golden Visa programme itself is unchanged. It continues to grant residence rights, including the ability to live and work in Portugal, with low minimum stay requirements. The main change is that the path to citizenship now takes longer under the updated nationality law. Applicants can still apply for citizenship once they meet the requirements in force at the time of application. The Golden Visa remains a flexible residence-by-investment programme, but the citizenship timeline is now longer and more structured under the 2026 law.