Humanity has been on the move for millennia. Today, more people than live in a country other than the one in which they were born. According to the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), as of July 1, 2020, the global number of international migrants was estimated to be 281 million, accounting for nearly 3.5 percent of the global population. Hence, any change in immigration policy impacts a large section of the global population. In 2023, several countries overhauled their immigration policies. Here’s a quick look at some of the noteworthy changes announced/implemented in 2023.

1. Decision to digitise Schengen Visa process:  After a long wait, the European Council approved the digitisation of Schengen visa application procedures. Though no definite implementation date has been announced, the process of applying for visa for any of the 27 Schengen Member States will be done through one single platform. All the applicants will have to do is upload electronic copies of the travel documents along with other supporting documents, followed by payment of the visa fees. Nearly 25 million Schengen visa applications worldwide are expected to be processed through this platform, and there will be no requirement for consulate appointments and visa stickers.

2. UK’s no-dependent policy for international students: Starting January 2024, foreign postgraduate students enrolled in non-research courses will no longer be able to bring family members to the United Kingdom (UK). Previously, international students were allowed to bring their family members, including spouses and children, to the UK. These new restrictions only impact international students at the postgraduate level; undergraduate students in the UK were already prohibited from bringing dependants with them.

3. Germany’s new citizenship laws: Germany eased its immigration and citizenship rules, making it easier for foreign nationals to acquire German citizenship. One of the most important changes in the new legislation is the shortening of the period of mandatory residence (5 years from the previous 8 years) before obtaining citizenship. Foreigners with exceptional academic or professional achievements, or with high language skills can, in exceptional cases, obtain citizenship only after three years – a first in Europe

4. End of Golden Visa programs: Announcing the end of its Golden Visa program, Portugal joined a list of countries shelving their Citizenship by Investment programs. Ireland, Portugal, and the UK have terminated their Golden Visa programs, while others, such as Greece, have significantly increased the financial requirements for entry. On January 1, 2024, the Netherlands will become the latest European country to discontinue its Golden Visa program.

5. Canada’s Express Entry: Canada’s Express Entry system has undergone some significant adjustments in 2023. In May, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced six new categories for category-based selection draws. Category-based selection allows Canada to issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to prospective permanent residents with specific skills, training, or language ability.

6. More countries opening doors because of labour shortages:  Several countries, especially in Europe, are reeling from acute labour shortage. To fill that critical gap, governments have enacted long-term strategies to recruit immigrants.

Canada in November 2022 declared a goal of attracting 1.45 million immigrants between 2023 and 2025. Australia increased its cap on permanent migrants by 35,000, to 195,000. New Zealand unveiled a plan to streamline its immigration system and ease residence permits for foreign-born workers in certain high-skill, sought-after sectors. France’s government is planning to legalise irregular migrants who commit to working in sectors with labour shortages. And Germany, which requires 400,000 immigrants per year to keep its economy humming, brought a slew of legal changes to incentivise migration and plug labour shortages. The US announced it would issue nearly 65,000 extra H-2B temporary nonagricultural visas in fiscal year 2023.

7. AI taking over immigration decisions & airports: By 2037, the global air passenger number will cross the 8 billion mark and artificial intelligence (AI) will drive immigration processes and airports. In 2023, biometric technologies, such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, became more prevalent at airports. Smart infrastructure, automated processes, real-time data analytics, and predictive capabilities for improved decision-making are being embraced by more and more immigration bureaus and airports.

8. Digital passport: Finland unveiled the world’s first-ever digital passport in the form of a mobile app that lets travellers securely store and present their passport information on their smartphones, eliminating the need for carrying a physical document. Essentially a digital version of a conventional passport, the world’s first digital credential was included in Time magazine’s Best Invention of 2023 list.

9. Canada overhauls rules for international students’ admission: After 700-plus Indian students faced deportation from Canada because of fraudulent Letter of Admission (LoA), Canada announced plans to implement several measures aimed at strengthening Canada’s International Student Program and at better protecting genuine students from fraud. These measures include:

– Starting December 1, 2023, post-secondary designated learning institutions (DLI) are required to confirm every applicant’s letter of acceptance directly with Immigration Refugees Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

10. Indians can go visa-free to more countries: As per the Henley Passport Index 2023, India is ranked 83rd in passport ranking. Indian nationals can now travel to 27 countries visa-free, with Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan joining the list this year. The visa-free countries are Angola, Barbados, Bhutan, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon. Gambia, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Macao, Micronesia, Mauritius, Nepal, Palestinian Territories, St Kitts & Nevis, Senegal, St Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Vanuatu.