New p February 2017

PEREGRINE NEWS
Welcome to the Peregrine News digest for February 2017!

In February, we released a new downloadable case log feature for Immigo, our online global
immigration case management software, allowing users to download a chronologically ordered PDF
file of a case; pulling together case notes, process steps, uploaded documents and Outlook linked
emails into a chronological timeline.

Table of Contents
QATAR NEW SPONSORSHIP LAW TAKES EFFECT 2
BELGIUM INTEGRATION LAW PUBLISHED 3
UNITED STATES FEDERAL JUDGE IN SEATTLE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS EXECUTIVE ORDER 4
IRAQ NO CHANGE TO IRAQI IMMIGRATION RULES; IMMEDIATE CHANGES TO KURDISTAN IMMIGRATION RULES 5
BULGARIA NEW NOTIFICATION AND DOCUMENT STORAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR POSTED WORKERS 5
ROMANIA 2017 QUOTAS ANNOUNCED 6
NICARAGUA NEW YELLOW FEVER VACCINATION REQUIREMENT 7
PANAMA AND COSTA RICA ENTRY RESTRICTED FOR SCHENGEN VISA HOLDERS 7
ECUADOR NEW IMMIGRATION LAW 8
PERU NEW LAW TO REORGANISE IMMIGRATION CATEGORIES 9
GEORGIA EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES SCHENGEN VISA WAIVER FOR GEORGIAN NATIONALS 10
LUXEMBOURG 2017 MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE 10
UNITED KINGDOM NEW GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON THE IMMIGRATION SKILLS CHARGE 11
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES VISA ON ARRIVAL EXTENDED TO RUSSIAN NATIONALS 12
IRELAND DELAYS IN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT PROCESSING, GNIB REGISTRATION APPOINTMENT BOOKING AND
SECURITY CHECKS ON ENTRY 12
VIETNAM OPERATING OFFICES NOW ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR WORK PERMIT EXEMPTION FOR INTRA-COMPANY
TRANSFEREES 13
SPAIN HIGHER RISK OF DENIAL OF RESIDENCE AUTHORISATION APPLICATION 14
ROMANIA NEW MINIMUM SALARY FOR WORK PERMITS 15
MOROCCO STRICTER APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENCE PERMITS 15
QATAR ALL VISITORS MUST PRESENT A RETURN TICKET ON ARRIVAL 16
UKRAINE WORK PERMIT ISSUANCE RULES AMENDED 16
BELGIUM RESIDENCE ADMINISTRATION FEE INCREASED, EXTENDED TO RENEWALS 17
SOUTH KOREA REVISED RULES FOR FREQUENT VISITOR VISAS 17
MORE FROM PEREGRINE 18

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QATAR New Sponsorship
Law takes Effect
A new sponsorship law which came into effect
at the end of last year (Law No.21 of 2015)
changes the rules for the processing of
residence permits, changing jobs, and
obtaining exit permission. Law No.1 of 2017,
which amends some of the provisions of Law
No.21 of 2015, was issued at the beginning of
January.
However, as of 2 February 2017, Executive
Regulations clarifying the new law have not
been published.
Residency Permit Processing Times
Under the new law, foreign nationals moving
to Qatar will now have 30 days to process
their residency permits, rather than the
previous deadline of seven days. However,
foreign nationals who do not begin the
process within this time will be subject to a
fine of up to QAR10,000.
Transferring Jobs
Previously, foreign nationals had to request a
No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their
sponsor before they could change
employment. Should their sponsor refuse to
issue an NOC, the employee would have to
wait for a period of two years before they
could join a new company. Under the new
law, any foreign national on an open-ended
contract will no longer need an NOC from
their sponsor once they have completed five
years of service. Foreign nationals on a fixed-
term contract will no longer need an NOC
from their sponsor once their agreement has
finished.
Instead, all foreign nationals will have to seek
the permission of the Ministry of
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Administrative Development, Labour and
Social Affairs (MADLSA) to change
employment. Those on a fixed-term contract
are required to give notice 30 days notice
before their contract ends. Those on an open-
ended contract are required to give 30 days
notice if they have been employed for five
years, and 60 days notice if they have been
employed for more than five years. Foreign
nationals over the age of 60 years are not
permitted to seek a job change. The above
terms and conditions are meant for the
private sector only.
Leaving the Country
The process to obtain an exit visa has
remained unchanged. Law 21 from December
stated that an automated system was to be
set up for granting exit permits directly to
foreign nationals. However, Law No.1 of
January 2017 amends Law 21 and requires
foreign national employees to seek
permission from their employer in Qatar to
exit the country for holiday purposes,
emergencies, or permanently.
Employers can approve exit permits
electronically instantly through
the Metrash2 app, MOIs website or Hukoomi.
The exit permit duration can now be chosen
(i.e. issued for 1 day up to 1 year) and all exit
visas are now for multiple exit and re-
entry. Exit permits are now granted for free
and no paper receipt is issued.
The employer is compelled to approve any
leave owing to the employee which is stated
in the contract between them. The employer
is also liable to grant leave to his employee in
the event of emergencies. Should an
employer refuse a request to exit the country
the employee is entitled to lodge a complaint
with the new Exit Permit Grievances
Committee, which was set up in accordance
with Law No.21 of 2015.
 Action Items
Note the changes to the rules for the
processing of residence permits,
changing jobs, and obtaining exit
permission;
Note that further amendments to the
new sponsorship law may be
implemented by the Executive
Regulation due to be published soon.
BELGIUM Integration Law
Published
Effective 18 February 2017, a new law
requires certain residence permit applicants
to submit a signed newcomers statement in
support of their application and to provide
evidence of their integration efforts in order
to maintain or renew their residency status.
The Integration Act was originally published
on 16 January 2017, and was due to take
effect ten days later, on 26 January 2017.
However, it was republished on 8 February
2017, and will therefore take effect on 18
February 2017. The newcomers statement
is not likely to come into effect on that date,
however, as the text has not yet been
finalised.
It remains unclear whether the new
obligations will apply to first residence
applications (newcomers) only, or also to
renewals (foreign nationals already residing in
Belgium). Guidelines from the authorities will
have to clarify how the new rules will be
applied in practice.
Who is Affected?
The new rules apply to third country (non-
EU/EEA) foreign national workers, as well as
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their family members who apply for residence
on the basis of family reunification.
Several categories of foreign national
residence applicant are exempt, including:
Recognised refugees or beneficiaries of
subsidiary protection and their family
members;
EU (European Union)/EEA (European
Economic Area) citizens and their family
members;
Students;
Victims of human trafficking;
Long-term residents (Council Directive
2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003);
Minors;
The seriously ill.
The integration obligation affects residence
applications pending as of 18 February 2017,
and new applications from that date onwards.
Newcomers Statement
The newcomers statement has not yet
taken effect: the Belgian federal authorities
must first agree on the text of the statement
with the French-speaking, Flemish and
German-speaking communities (communities
are regional authorities, competent for
integration);
Integration Criteria
The authorities will assess integration efforts
by taking into account the following criteria,
listed in the new Act:
Attend an integration course, organised
by the authority competent for the
foreigners main residence;
Work in Belgium as employee, civil
servant, or self-employed;
Degree, study certificate or evidence
of enrolment in a recognised or
subsidised educational establishment;
 Attend a vocational training, recognised
by a competent authority;
Knowledge of the official language of
the place, where the foreigner is
registered;
No criminal record;
Active participation in community life.
This list does not seem to be limitative: the
authorities have discretionary decision power.
If the authorities consider a decision to
terminate the right to reside, they must take
into account:
The nature and the strength of the
family ties of the foreigner;
The duration of residence in Belgium;
The existence of family ties or
cultural/social connections with the
country of origin.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
The obligations and its consequences in the
event of non-compliance can be summarised
as follows:
A refusal to sign the
newcomers statement will result in an
inadmissible residence application;
A foreigner who holds a residence
permit for a limited term must prove his
or her willingness to integrate. This
proof must be submitted within the first
limited residence term; failure could be
a ground for refusal to renew the
residence permit;
Furthermore, the Minister for Asylum
and Migration, or the Foreigners' Office
(federal department in charge of
immigration) can terminate the right to
reside if the authorities find that the
foreigner has not made a "reasonable
effort" to integrate. The authorities can
ask the foreigner to submit
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information/evidence. The right to
reside can be terminated during the
four years following the end of the first
year after the issuance of the limited or
unlimited authorisation to reside, or
following the end of the first year after
the authorisation to reside in Belgium.
Guidelines from the authorities will have to
clarify how the new rules will be applied in
practice.
Action Items
Foreign nationals resident in Belgium, or
planning to apply for residency, should
maintain evidence of their integration
efforts as required by the new law.
UNITED STATES Federal
Judge in Seattle
Temporarily Blocks
Executive Order
On Friday 3 February 2017, a federal judge in
Seattle, Washington issued a Temporary
Restraining Order (TRO) with nationwide
effect, blocking the Trump Administration's
Executive Order on travel and visa
issuance. This TRO means that visas which
were provisionally cancelled should now be
valid for use. Refugees granted approval
should now be allowed admission and visa
applications being held up solely by the
Trump orders should now be issued. An initial
request by the Justice Department to
overturn the TRO was denied by the US 9th
Circuit Court of Appeals, which will decide
later this week on whether the TRO should be
upheld.
 Action Items
As these legal challenges work their way
through various federal courts, affected
individuals should consult with an
immigration attorney for the latest
information and guidance on how these
court actions might apply in a particular
case.
IRAQ No Change to Iraqi
Immigration Rules;
Immediate Changes to
Kurdistan Immigration
Rules
Non-Implementation of Iraqi
Parliament Resolution on Reciprocal
Travel Ban
On 31 January 2017, the Iraqi Parliament
approved a resolution to impose reciprocal
measures on US nationals, following the US
Presidents Executive Order banning
practically all Iraqis from entering the US for
90 days.
However, Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Abadi has
stated that his government continues to
review alternative measures which would not
harm Iraqs national security interests. So far
there has been no change to immigration
procedures in federal Iraq.
Kurdistan Immigration Changes
On 5 February 2017, the Immigration Office of
the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)
announced new instructions, valid until 15
May 2017, effectively preventing anyone from
exiting Iraq via Kurdistan.
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Specifically, anyone who requires an exit card
to leave the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)
must pay a penalty at the MOI Immigration
Office and will receive a red stamp on his/her
passport permanently banning them from
entering Iraq.
An exit card may be required by those whose
visa or iqama (residence permit) has expired,
or who are transiting out of Iraq via Erbil (the
capital of the KRG) with a valid Iraqi multiple
entry exit visa (MEEV) or an expired Common
Access Card (CAC US military ID card).
Additionally, the following nationalities have
been added to the list of those banned from
entering the KRI without a valid KRG visa or
iqama, even if they have a valid Iraqi MEEV:
Philippines, China, Sri Lanka, India, Syria and
Nepal.
Action Items
Foreign national personnel based in
southern Iraq and requiring exit stamps
are advised to transit out of Iraq via
Baghdad, Najaf or Basra, rather than via
Erbil.
BULGARIA New
Notification and Document
Storage Requirements for
Posted Workers
Effective 30 December 2016, Bulgaria has
implemented EU Directive 2014/67
(concerning the posting of workers in the
framework of the provision of services). All
employers currently seconding employees to
Bulgaria must comply with new notification
and document retention requirements by 10
February 2017.
 Notification Requirement
Any foreign employer currently seconding
employees to Bulgaria must submit a
notification form to the General Labour
Inspectorate by 10 February 2017. For new
secondments, a notification form must be
submitted before the work assignment in
Bulgaria begins.
A new notification must be submitted within
seven days of any change to the details of the
posting. The notification must also include the
details of a contact person for receiving and
sending documents from and to the Bulgarian
authorities.
Document Storage
The Bulgarian host company must also keep
certain documents related to the posting
available during the assignment and for at
least one year after the end of the assignment
(in Bulgarian). Documents which must be
maintained include the letter of assignment,
the notification of posting, payslips and
timesheets.
Background
The requirement to notify the labour
authorities of seconded workers fulfils EU
Directive 2014/67, which enforces the 1996
Posted Workers Directive (96/71/EC) and was
due to be implemented by EU Member States
by 18 June 2016.
Action Items
Companies currently posting foreign
national employees to Bulgaria should
ensure that they comply with the new
notification and document retention
requirements by 10 February 2017. For
new secondments, employers must fulfil
the requirements before the first day of
work in Bulgaria.
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ROMANIA 2017 Quotas
Announced
Romanias work permit quotas for
2017 have been published in the
Official Gazette (Part I, no. 85 of 30
January 2017) according to
Government Decision no.35/2017.
Work Permit Quotas for 2017
The Government Decision has set a total of
5,500 work authorisations that can be issued
in 2017 to foreign nationals on the Romanian
labour market. This is the same total as in
2016, but the numbers have been allocated
slightly differently. In particular, a new
category (intra-company transferees) has
been introduced.
1. local hires: 3000 (down from 3500 in
2016);
2. assignees: 700 (no change);
3. intra-company transferees (new
category): 700
4. highly skilled workers (Blue Cards):
500 (down from 800 in 2016);
5. seasonal workers: 400 (up from 200 in
2016);
6. trainees: 100 (down from 200 in
2016);
7. cross-border workers: 100 (no
change).
More About Romanias Work
Permit Quotas
Romanias work permit quotas run from 1
January every year and are decided annually
by the government, based on the proposals
from the Ministry of Labour. The quotas are
set at national level and then subdivided into
categories for local hires, assignees, highly
skilled workers (Blue Cards) as well as
seasonal workers, athletes, cross border
 workers, internships and volunteers. Once the
quotas have been exhausted for a particular
category, no more work permit approvals in
that category can be given till the following
year - unless the Romanian government
exceptionally adjusts the quotas.
Action Items
Note the new work permit quotas for
2017.
NICARAGUA New Yellow
Fever Vaccination
Requirement
Effective 17 January 2017, the Nicaraguan
government has introduced a new
requirement for travellers entering Nicaragua
from certain countries to submit a yellow
fever vaccination at the port of entry. This
requirement is in response to a recent yellow
fever outbreak in Brazil.
UPDATE: Since 6 February 2017, visitors to
Panama from Brazil are also required to
present proof of vaccination.
Who is Affected?
This regulation applies to anyone entering
Nicaragua from countries designated by the
World Health Organization (WHO) as places
with the potential for active transmission of
yellow fever will be required to present an
International Certificate of Vaccination for
yellow fever, showing a vaccine given at least
ten days prior. This includes those who have
transited through one of the countries for
more than 12 hours.
Those countries currently include Argentina,
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French
Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela,
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and all countries located on the African
continent except the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Tanzania, Sao Tome and Principe, and
Somalia.
Travelers with prior travel to countries with
the potential for active transmission of yellow
fever will not be required to show proof of a
yellow fever vaccine if the prior travel to the
affected country occurred more than six days
prior and the traveller does not show
symptoms of yellow fever. Symptoms of
yellow fever include sudden onset of fever,
chills, severe headache, back pain, general
body aches, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and
weakness.
Action Items
Those intending to travel to Nicaragua
from the designated countries who have
not already been vaccinated against
yellow fever should ensure they are
vaccinated at least ten days before
travelling.
PANAMA and COSTA RICA
Entry Restricted for
Schengen Visa Holders
Effective 13 January 2017, Schengen Area
visas are no longer accepted for entry into
Panama.
The policy change came after a similar step
was taken by Costa Rica, where visitor visas
for Schengen Area countries or Japan were
also made ineligible for entry from 14
December 2017.
The moves do not affect most nationals of EU
countries, the United States or Japan, who can
enter both Central American countries
without visas for short stays.
 Panama
Panama continues to accept certain visitor or
residence visas for United States, Australia,
Canada and the United Kingdom, which is
outside the Schengen Area.
Those entering Panama on one of the visas
listed above must also be sure that the visa is
valid for multiple entries, is valid for at least
one year from the day of entering Panama,
and has been used at least once to enter the
issuing country before travel to Panama.
Travelers who have met these requirements
will be permitted to stay in Panama for 30
days, renewable for an additional 60 days.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica continues to accept holders of
multiple-entry visitor visas for the United
States or Canada, or legal residence in the US,
Canada or a European Union member state
(e.g. temporary or permanent residence,
student visa, work permit), valid for at least
six months from entry into Costa Rica.
Nationals of Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia,
Peru, Qatar, Taiwan, Ukraine and the United
Arab Emirates have been added to the list of
countries whose nationals may enter Costa
Rica without a visa.
Background
The Schengen Area consists of 22 European
Union Member States and four non-members:
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and
Switzerland. Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and
Romania are not yet part of the Schengen
Area, but nonetheless have a visa policy that
is based on the Schengen area.
Action Items
Foreign nationals travelling to Panama
or Costa Rica and their employers
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should contact an immigration advisor
to check the latest visa requirements.
ECUADOR New
Immigration Law
Effective 6 February 2017, a new immigration
law in Ecuador called Ley de movilidad
humana has superseded the previous
legislation, and reorganised several visa
categories. Regulations to implement the new
law are expected.
Key Changes
The 12-6 visa has been replaced by a
subcategory of temporary residence. It
is now obligatory to register with
Ecuadorian social security or travel to
Ecuador with a private health insurance
once a work visa has been approved.
With the previous law, social security
registration was not a requirement.
The applicant will be allowed to leave
the country 90 days per year, for each of
the first two years. The foreign national
must maintain his or her temporary
residence visa for 21 months to qualify
to apply for a permanent resident visa.
The law includes some general
documentary requirements but it is
expected that the new regulations will
clarify the complete list of documents,
and the procedure and timing.
There is a new visa category for
dependents called personas amparadas
por el titular de la categoria migratoria.
The 12-9 visa has been eliminated. The
most similar category now is the special
visa for tourism, however this category
can no longer be renewed and can only
be applied for once every five
years. Short-term work is still possible
 under this category, and dependents
can apply for the same visa with the
same rules.
Visas for Venezuelans and nationals of
Mercosur countries remain in force.
Action Items
Foreign nationals who are resident in or
intending to travel to Ecuador should
contact an immigration provider to
check the implementation of the new
immigration rules.
PERU New Law to
Reorganise Immigration
Categories
A new immigration law (legislative decree
No.1350), effective 1 March 2017, will
reorganise Perus immigration categories
into temporary and resident categories, and
allow family members of foreign national
residents to work with dependent status,
among other changes.
This follows changes to certain documentary
requirements for resident worker and
designated worker visas effective 23
December 2016.
Temporary Status
This new category includes:
Business Visa for business, legal,
contractual or specialized technical
activities, with multiple entry for up to
183 days in a year;
Temporary Designated Worker Visa
with multiple entry for stays of up to
183 days in a year;
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Visas for tourism, journalism, temporary
training/research, art or sports and visits
under international agreements.
Resident Status
This new category includes:
Designated Worker Visa for
assignments that require specialised
professional, commercial or technical
knowledge with multiple entry for up to
one year;
Worker Visa for work under an
employment contract, a contract for
services or an intra-company transfer,
with multiple entry for up to one year.
Under this visa category, foreign
nationals will for the first time be
allowed to work in the public sector as
well as the private sector.
Family Member of Resident Visa for
accompanying spouses or common-law
partners, unmarried children up to 28
years of age and parents who will be
allowed to work as a dependent of a
foreign national resident without
obtaining resident worker status, for up
to two years;
Training Visa for basic and higher
education and exchange programs, with
multiple entries for up to one year;
Permanent Residence Visa The
residency period required to qualify for
indefinite residence has increased from
two to three years;
Visas for investment, research and
residence under international
agreements.
Immigration Registry
The new law also creates an electronic
Migration Information Registry (RIM), which
 will store identification data of foreign
national visitors and residents.
Sanctions
The law establishes a new system of sanctions
including compulsory departure, deportation,
and fines for foreign nationals who overstay
their visa, fail to update their Identification
card information, fail to extend their visa
within its validity period or to pay state visa
fees, perform activities outside their
immigration status or, in the case or those
with more than one nationality, use the
wrong passport for entry or exit.
Action Items
Note that, until the official government
regulations and procedures are issued,
certain details of the implementation of
the new immigration law will remain
unclear.
GEORGIA European
Parliament Approves
Schengen Visa Waiver for
Georgian Nationals
On 2 February 2017, the European Parliament
voted to approve visa liberalisation for
Georgia, allowing Georgians to travel to
the European Unions Schengen Area without
obtaining visas.
Under the visa exemption, Georgians who
hold a biometric passport will have the right
to enter the EU visa-free for 90 days in any
180-day period, for business, tourist or family
purposes, but not to work.
Next Steps
The legislation still needs to be formally
approved by the Council of Ministers, and will
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only enter into force once a suspension
mechanism, allowing the temporary
reintroduction of visas in the event of
migration surges or risks to public security, is
in place.
Background
The Schengen Area consists of 22 European
Union Member States and four non-members:
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and
Switzerland. Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and
Romania are not yet part of the Schengen
Area, but nonetheless have a visa policy that
is based on the Schengen area.
The visa waiver does not apply to the United
Kingdom and Ireland, which have opted out of
the Schengen area.
Action Items
Note that nationals of Georgia will be
allowed to travel to the Schengen Area
for tourism, business or family purposes,
for up to 90 days in any 180-day period
without a visa, later this year.
LUXEMBOURG 2017
Minimum Wage Increase
The Luxembourg government has increased
the social minimum wage to 1998.59 from 1
January 2017 (up from 1922.96 in 2015 and
2016).
Skilled Workers
The minimum wage for skilled workers is 20%
higher than that for unskilled workers, or
2398.30 from 1 January 2017 (up from
2307.56 in 2015 and 2016).
 Background
This years minimum wage rise is the result of
two separate adjustments:
The law of 15 December 2016 raised the
minimum wage by 1.4% from 1 January
2017.
Also effective 1 January 2017, the
consumer price (cost of living) index in
Luxembourg has been adjusted, obliging
employers to increase salaries by 2.5%.
Action Items
Employers in Luxembourg should review
the salaries of any current and future
employees.
UNITED KINGDOM New
Government Guidance on
the Immigration Skills
Charge
The Home Office have released an update to
the Tier 2 guidance, which states that
additional fees will be charged to employers
who recruit skilled migrant labour from
outside of the European Economic Area
(EEA). This is expected to come into force on 6
April 2017.
What is the Immigration Skills
Charge?
The introduction of the Immigration Skills
Charge for employers who preferentially
employ skilled migrants is designed to
incentivise employers to invest in training and
upskilling the resident workforce.
Employers will pay 1000 per Tier 2 migrant
sponsored per year, with a reduced rate of
364 per migrant per year for small and
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charitable sponsors. The skills charge is not
applicable for the workers dependants.
Sponsors will need to pay the skills charge
upfront, and for the total period of time
covered by the CoS, at the same time that
they pay to assign a CoS.
According to the latest guidance, the
fees collected by the Home Office will be used
by the Department for Education to address
skills gaps in the UK workforce.
Who is Affected?
The skills charge will apply to a sponsor of a
Tier 2 worker assigned a Certificate of
Sponsorship (CoS) in the General or Intra-
company Transfer route and who will be
applying from:
Outside the UK for a visa;
Inside the UK to switch to this visa from
another;
Inside the UK to extend their existing
visa.
The skills charge does not apply if you are
sponsoring:
A non-EEA national who was sponsored
in Tier 2 before 6 April 2017 and is
applying from inside the UK to extend
their Tier 2 stay with either the same
sponsor or a different sponsor;
A Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer)
Graduate Trainee;
A worker to do a specified PhD level
occupation;
A Tier 4 student visa holder in the UK
switching to a Tier 2 (General) visa.
Dependents are exempt from the skills
charge.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Visa on Arrival Extended to
Russian Nationals
Russian nationals have been granted visas on
arrival to United Arab Emirates (UAE),
following the Prime Ministers approval of a
cabinet decree at the end of January.
Visa on Arrival
The visa on arrival allows Russian nationals to
stay in the UAE for up to 30 days (with one 30-
day extension available for a fee).
The visa on arrival program was extended to
Chinese nationals in September 2016. The
complete list of countries whose nationals can
obtain a 30-day visa on arrival for UAE is as
follows:
Andorra, Australia, Brunei,
Canada, China, Hong Kong, Ireland,
Japan, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand,
Russia, San Marino, Singapore, South
Korea, United Kingdom, United States of
America, Vatican City.
Nationalities of the Schengen Area member
states plus Bulgaria, Croatia, Cypress,
Romania and the Seychelles can obtain a 90-
day visa on arrival, valid for six months from
the date of issue, and for a stay of 90 days in
total.
Action Items
Note that Russian nationals can now
obtain a visa on arrival to stay in the
UAE for up to 30 days (with one 30-day
extension available for a fee).
Be aware that all foreign nationals
wishing to work in the UAE still require
an employment entry permit in order to
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obtain a residence visa and an Emirates
ID Card.
IRELAND Delays in
Employment Permit
Processing, GNIB
Registration Appointment
Booking and Security
Checks on Entry
There are currently severe delays in the
processing of Employment Permits and in
obtaining appointments for GNIB Registration
in County Dublin.
There has also been a tightening up of border
controls causing longer security clearance
times at ports of entry into Ireland.
Employment Permit Processing
Times
There have been significant delays in the
processing times for standard Employment
Permit applications at the Department of Jobs
Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI).
Currently standard applications are taking
approximately ten weeks to be processed.
This is due to a large volume of applications
submitted in November 2016, mostly from
the medical professions/hospitals across the
country. It is also due to changes within the
government department itself.
here is good news for companies who have
obtained Trusted Partner Status as
Employment Permits being sought under the
scheme are currently being processed within
two to three weeks an improvement from
the end of 2016.
 Appeal applications are taking approximately
16 weeks from the date of receipt by the DJEI.
Applications for GNIB Stamp 4 Support Letters
are taking approximately four weeks at
present.
These timelines should be taken into account
when proposing start dates to new employees
or assignees coming to work in Ireland. For all
new applicants, we would advise that you
make clients aware of these timelines from
the outset so as to manage expectations of
the process.
GNIB Appointments at GNIB office,
Burgh Quay, Dublin
Currently there are long delays in obtaining
appointments for GNIB Residence Cards. CCR
recommends that you schedule your
appointment well in advance (approximately
six ten weeks) so as to ensure that you
obtain an appointment within the required
timeframe allocated by the DJEI.
For GNIB renewals, GNIB card holders should
make an appointment ten weeks in advance
of the expiry date of their current GNIB Card.
GNIB Cards should be renewed within two
weeks of their expiry so as to avoid issues at
renewal.
For first-time registrations, once employees
have been granted their permit and are aware
of their approximate entry dates to Ireland, an
appointment for their GNIB registration if
they will be residing in Dublin.
Stricter Security at Points of Entry
Recent news reports have revealed that Irish
airline staff members have been involved in
human trafficking at Dublin Airport. This has
had a knock-on effect on all persons traveling
to Ireland, with more in-depth checks and
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scrutiny being enforced by immigration
officers at all borders and ports of entry.
As a result, all assignees should have their
documents at hand when arriving at their port
of entry so as to make clear their reason for
travelling to or from Ireland. It is equally
important that assignees carry with them the
full and correct documents required to
complete the GNIB Registration process at
their local Immigration Office.
Please note that the main office in Cork, at
Anglesea Street Garda Station will not accept
temporary proof of residence which shows
residence less than three months.
Action Items
Employers should factor into their
planning the long processing times for
standard Employment Permits.
Assignees should book appointments for
new or renewal GNIB registration at the
Burgh Quay, Dublin office six to ten
weeks in advance.
VIETNAM Operating
Offices Now Eligible to
Apply for Work Permit
Exemption for Intra-
Company Transferees
Effective 1 February 2017, Circular 35
provides guidance on the implementation of
Decree 11 of 2016, and details rules for intra-
company transfers to Vietnam that operate in
one of the 11 Service Sectors specified in
Vietnams World Trade Organisation (WTO)
commitments.
The only rule change is that Operating Offices
(Vn phng iu hnh) operating in one of
 the 11 specified sectors are now eligible to
apply for a work permit exemption (WPE)
instead of a work permit for intra-company
transferees.
Work Permit Exemption
Requirements
All other aspects of the law pertaining to work
permit exemption for intracompany transfers
remain unchanged. The foreign enterprise
must meet the following requirements to
apply for the WPE for their foreign national
workers:
The company must be operating in
one of the 11 sectors specified in
Vietnams WTO commitment and
has in the companys Vietnam
business license one of the
designated appropriate central
Product Classification CPC code
for their business sector. If a
company does not have the
appropriate CPC code in their
business license, they do not qualify
for WPE and can apply for work
permits only.
The foreign transferee must hold a
managerial position, or be an
expert (specialist) or technician.
The foreign transferee must have
been working for the foreign
company which owns shares in the
Vietnamese registered entity for at
least 12 months prior to being
seconded to the Vietnam based
entity.
Background
Several categories of foreign national
employees are exempt from the need for
work permits, including:
Heads of Project Offices;
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Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)
assignees;
ODA (Official Development Assistance)
project assignees
Intra-company transferees working in
the 11 service sectors covered by the
Vietnam commitments on services with
the World Trade Organisation (WTO);
Foreign national journalists licensed by
the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
However, in practice, obtaining approval for a
work permit exemption is very difficult, and
requires many of the same supporting
documents as a work permit application in
any case (e.g. police clearances, medical
checks) and so is very rarely used.
Action Items
Operating Offices (Vn phng iu
hnh) operating in one of the 11
specified sectors can now consider
applying for work permit exemption
rather than a work permit for their intra-
company transferees.
SPAIN Higher Risk of
Denial of Residence
Authorisation Application
The Spanish authorities are currently adopting
much more restrictive criteria to decide
applications for residence permits for Highly
Qualified Employees under the
Entrepreneurs Act (Ley 14/2013).
Strict Qualifying Criteria
There is at present a higher risk of denial of
such applications if the following qualifying
criteria are not fully met:
 The job position offered must require
high qualifications the position listed
in the employment contract must
correspond with a position listed in
Spain's "Catalogo Nacional de
Ocupaciones" (CNO) group 1 or 2;
The gross annual salary must be at least
30,000;
The employee must be highly qualified
in an occupation relevant to the job
position a graduate or postgraduate
or, exceptionally, someone with a
similar background acquired through
experience.
Action Items
Employers hiring highly skilled foreign
nationals in Spain under the
Entrepreneurs Act should ensure the
employee and the job position fully
meet the criteria for highly qualified
residence authorisation.
ROMANIA New Minimum
Salary for Work Permits
Effective 20 February 2017, the Romanian
government has implemented new minimum
salary requirements for foreign nationals.
New Minimum Salary
The new minimum salary required for
foreign nationals with a standard work
permit is 3131 RON/month (up from
2681 RON/month) which is equal to the
national medium gross salary as set out
in Law no.7 of 2017.
Highly skilled workers with a Blue Card
are required to be paid four times this
amount (approximately 12524
RON/month currently).
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The employee must be paid at least
another 1450 RON/month (up from
1050 RON/month) per accompanying
dependent (equal to the national
minimum gross salary).
Action Items
Ensure that foreign nationals
employment contracts state that they
are paid at least the minimum required
salary according to their work permit
type.
MOROCCO Stricter
Application Requirements
for Residence Permits
In the last few weeks, the immigration
authorities in Morocco have introduced
stricter rules for residence permit
applications.
Changes
There has been no official announcement, but
the following changes have nevertheless been
introduced:
Reduced tolerance for late renewals of
Resident Permits: The border authorities
can prevent foreign nationals from
exiting Morocco if their resident permit
has expired. A specific authorisation
then has to be requested before
travelling;
Restricted access to some of the police
stations: Only residence permit
applicants are allowed to enter;
Additional documents may be
requested by authorities, such as
water/electricity bills, CV or bank
account statement;
 An interview with a General Directorate
of National Security (DGSN) official is
now often requested for initial
application or renewals. Applicants are
informed on the day of application;
The number of daily applications is now
limited (from 20 to 30 for initial
applications in Casablanca or Tangier).
This requires applicants to show up early
before police station opening hours to
be sure that they can submit their
application the same day.
Action Points
Employers in Morocco should advise
their foreign national employees of the
new requirements.
QATAR All Visitors Must
Present a Return Ticket on
Arrival
Qatars Civil Aviation Authority has
announced that all travellers arriving in Doha
on tourist, family or business visas must
present a round-trip ticket, or risk being
denied entry to Qatar.
Action Items
All employees travelling to Qatar for
business, family or tourism should
ensure they can present a round-trip
ticket on entry, to avoid being denied
entry.
UKRAINE Work Permit
Issuance Rules Amended
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Changes to the rules of issuance of work
permits became effective 3 February 2017.
Decree No. 28 of 18 January 2017 introduced
the changes.
What are the changes?
The decree formalizes several rules which
earlier existed in practice, and introduces the
following changes:
Work permits can be issued for the
purpose of concurrent employment;
The employer is obliged to conclude an
employment agreement within 90 days
after the decision to issue the work
permit is made. If the employer fails to
do so the work permit is to be cancelled.
The time limit for submitting a copy of
the employment agreement is ten days
after the date it is concluded;
If the documents supporting the
application are insufficient or
inadequate, such application will be left
without consideration. The applicant will
be notified of this within three business
days after the application was
submitted;
The application for extension of a work
permit can be submitted not earlier
than 40 days before the expiry date;
If the state body decides to reject an
application, the employer can appeal to
the state labour service within ten days.
The terms of appeal are defined by the
Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine.
Action Items
Employers in Ukraine should ensure that
all required documents are submitted in
support of work permit applications on
behalf of their employees, and that
employment agreements are signed and
submitted within the time limit.

BELGIUM Residence
Administration Fee
Increased, Extended to
Renewals
Effective 1 March 2017, the Belgian federal
government has increased the mandatory
administrative fee for first-time residence
permit and long-term D visa applications.
In addition, a new law allows municipalities to
charge an administrative fee also for renewal,
extension or replacement residence permit
applications.
Fee Increases
The fee for work permit holders has increased
to 350 EUR (215 EUR previously) and for
dependent family members to 200 EUR (160
EUR previously)
A reduced amount (60 EUR - unchanged) is to
be paid by long-term residents.
Exemptions include nationals of the European
Union (EU) and Switzerland, children under 18
years of age and refugees.
New Renewal Fee
An Act, dated 18 December 2016, allows
municipalities to receive a similar contribution
for the renewal, extension or replacement of
some residence permits.
This Act takes effect on 12 February 2017. Its
application will depend on an implementing
Royal Decree, which will confirm the maximal
amount of the contribution (probably 50
EUR), and which will determine for what
residence permits the contribution can be
received (the contribution would in any event
be due for the renewal, extension or
replacement of a residence permit type A: this
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type of residence permit, valid for definite
term, is held by work permit B holders and
most of their family members).
In practice, the request to renew, extend or
replace a Belgian residence permit must be
submitted to the municipal authorities of the
town where the foreign national resides. The
new contribution, which will have to be paid
on top of the administrative fee for the
processing of new residence permits, is
considered an equitable compensation for the
administrative services provided by the
municipalities.
Action Items
Ensure that the correct administrative
fee is paid before submitting any
relevant first-time or renewal residence
application in Belgium.
SOUTH KOREA Revised
Rules for Frequent Visitor
Visas
Effective 1 March 2017, foreign nationals
qualifying for a five-year multiple-entry visa as
frequent visitors to South Korea will have to
apply for this visa at a Korean consulate
before travelling, rather than receiving it at
the port of entry on arrival, as currently.
Eligibility
To qualify, applicants must be nationals
requiring a visa to visit Korea. However, visa-
required nationals of China, Cuba, Kosovo,
Macedonia and Syria are excluded from the
frequent traveller policy.
Applicants must have visited Korea at least
four times in the past two years, or at least
 ten times overall with at least one entry
within the last two years.
Visa Validity
The C-3-1 visa for frequent visitors is valid for
stays of up to 30 days at a time, for multiple
entries during a period of five years.
Action Items
From 1 March 2017, business travellers
to Korea who qualify for the five-year
multiple-entry frequent visitor visa must
be sure to apply for this at a Korean
consulate before travelling, as it will no
longer be issued on arrival.
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DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this immigration newsletter has been
abridged from laws, court decisions, and administrative rulings and should not be
construed or relied upon as legal advice. If you have specific questions regarding the
applicability of this information, please contact Peregrine 2015 Peregrine
Immigration Management Ltd.