This week, the Global Immigration team at Smith Stone Walters would like to highlight the following recent news updates from Australia, Poland, Singapore, Italy and New Zealand.
Australia: Changes to the Subclass 186 Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream
As part of the newly published Migration Amendment (Skilled Visa Reform Technical Measures) Regulations 2025, effective 29 November 2025, applicants for the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream of the ENS Subclass 186 visa must complete their required work experience with an approved sponsor.
Background
The TRT stream of the ENS visa allows permanent residence for those who have held a specified visa, including a Skills in Demand (SID) Subclass 482 visa, for at least two years in the three years prior to submitting the application, and who have undertaken full-time work experience in the nominated occupation for at least two years.
Since December 2024, a 482 (SID) visa holder who ceases work for their visa sponsor has been allowed to work for six months for any company as long as their visa remained valid, and this work could be counted toward the work experience requirement for the TRT stream of the 186 (ENS) visa.
From 29 November 2025, only employment under an approved sponsor counts towards the TRT-stream ENS work experience requirement. Employers planning to sponsor 482 (SID) visa holders for a TRT-stream ENS visa from this date are advised to review the applicant’s work experience.
Poland: Digitisation of procedures for legalisation of stay of foreigners
The government of Poland is planning to require residence permit applications to be submitted electronically in 2026.
The law allowing for these changes has been passed by the parliament and is awaiting the President’s signature. A date has not yet been set for the launch of the dedicated residence permit application portal, called Moduł Obsługi Case (MOS).
Applicants will not have to book a date to submit an application or stand in queues and they will be able to save and return to partially completed applications. Access to the MOS portal will be free. Users will be able to submit an application themselves, without having to use the services of paid intermediaries. The only costs incurred are the stamp duty when submitting the application (in the amount depending on the type of permit) and the fee for issuing a residence card (100 PLN).
After the application is verified and approved by an employee of the provincial office, applicants will be able to download and print from the system a certificate of application for a residence permit in Poland, which will replace the current stamp in the passport.
Applicants will be called to the provincial office to submit fingerprints and a signature template.
Those issued a positive decision granting a residence permit will receive information from the voivodeship office about collecting a residence card.
Singapore: Updated criteria for Employment permits
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has released updated versions of its lists of educational institutions awarded 20 points and professional qualifications awarded 10 points under criterion C2 of the COMPASS points-based system.
The new lists are applicable to new and renewal Employment Permit (EP) applications from 1 January 2026. An updated Shortage Occupation List (SOL) will also take effect on 1 January 2026. New qualifying salary benchmarks applicable from 1 January 2026 were released in August 2025.
Qualification requirements
To qualify for EP applications, candidates must earn at least the EP qualifying salary, and pass the points-based Complimentary Assessment Framework (COMPASS).
- To earn points under the C1. Salary criteria, the candidate’s fixed monthly salary needs to meet or exceed the 65th percentile of local PMET salaries in their sector. From 1 January 2026, the salary benchmarks for the C1 Salary criteria will be revised. This revised EP qualifying salary will also apply to the renewal of EPs that are expiring from 1 July 2026.
- The C2. Qualifications criteria of COMPASS awards points to candidates based on their qualifications, including up to 20 points for degree-equivalent qualifications from specified institutions, and 10 points for professional qualifications that are well-recognised by the industry and endorsed by a relevant sector agency. MOM has now published the updated 20-points institutions list and 10-points professional qualifications list, which will apply to new and renewal EP applications from 1 January 2026.
- Employment Pass (EP) candidates filling roles on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) can qualify for points under the C5. Skills bonus. A new SOL Employer Guide, with a revised list of shortage occupations, has now been published and will apply to new and renewal EP applications from 1 January 2026.
Other points may be awarded for nationality diversity (C3), support for local employment (C4), and contribution to strategic economic priorities (C6).
Candidates are exempted from COMPASS by fulfilling any of these conditions:
- Earning at least SGD 22,500 fixed monthly salary;
- Applying as an overseas intra-corporate transferee under the World Trade Organisation’s General Agreement on Trade in Services or an applicable Free Trade Agreement that Singapore is party to;
- Filling a role on a short-term basis (i.e., one month or less).
Italy: Decree permits work permits for certain descendants of Italian citizens
On 24 November 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a decree identifying the nationalities of descendants of Italian citizens who qualify for a quota-free work permit.
Descendants of Italian citizens who are nationals of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela are eligible to apply if they have received a job offer from an employer in Italy.
New Zealand: Police certificate requirement changes for Accredited Employer Work Visa applications
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that, effective 8 December 2025, Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) applicants must provide a valid police certificate with their application. INZ will stop accepting receipts that show the applicant has applied for a certificate.
Previously, INZ held applications open and followed up on missing police certificates. From December 2025, INZ will no longer do this. It will assess applications based on the documents provided and will not delay processing. This means people who submit complete applications will benefit from faster decisions.
Applicants should only apply when they have their police certificate ready to upload. Processing times for police certificates vary by country, so applicants should check with the local authority and plan ahead.
Exceptions
Fiji, Hong Kong and Israel send certificates directly to INZ. In these cases, applicants can upload proof that they have applied for a police certificate.
Applying without a certificate
- Those who have spent less than 24 months in New Zealand will have five working days to provide a police certificate.
- Those who are in New Zealand and have been there for more than 24 months will receive a Potentially Prejudicial Information (PPI) letter and have a chance to respond.
- Those who are outside of New Zealand and spent more than 24 months in New Zealand may have their application declined.
New Business Investor Work Visa is now open
From 24 November 2025, applications open for the Business Investor Work Visa to support investment in established New Zealand businesses. The visa is valid for up to four years and allows applicants to include their partner and dependent children.
There are two investment options:
- NZD 1 million: offers a three-year work-to-residence pathway.
- NZD 2 million: offers a fast-track pathway to residence after 12 months.
Eligibility for Business Investor Work Visa
To qualify for a Business Investor Work Visa, applicants must:
- invest in a business that has been operating for at least five years;
- meet the minimum investment amount of either NZD $1 million or NZD $2 million;
- show they have at least NZD $500,000 in reserve funds to support themselves and their family;
- demonstrate business experience, such as owning a business with at least five full-time employees or generating NZD $1 million in annual revenue;
- be 55 years or younger;
- meet English language requirements; and
- pass health and character checks.
Eligibility for Business Investor Resident Visa
Once the business has successfully operated for the required period, applicants can apply for the Business Investor Resident Visa. To qualify, they must:
- be actively involved in running their business in New Zealand;
- continue to meet the same level of ownership;
- maintain at least five full-time equivalent jobs;
- create and maintain at least one new full-time job for a NZ citizen or resident that lasts at least 12 months;
- show the business is solvent;
- meet time-in-New Zealand requirements (184 days in each of the previous three years); and
- meet health and character requirements.
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