Updates
Route and Process Updates
Immigration routes open, close and change. Business regulations are replaced. When that happens, information published before the change becomes wrong, yet people may still be acting on it.
This page records the changes that affect the routes and processes we cover, with the date and the source. It is the page we check before we advise anyone.
Saudi Arabia
The Investment Law came into force, replacing the Foreign Investment Law of 2000. The former foreign investment licence, commonly called the MISA or SAGIA licence, was replaced by an investor registration process with the Ministry of Investment.
What this means: The term “MISA licence” is still widely used commercially but no longer describes the current process.
Source: Ministry of InvestmentRelated page
Australia
The subclass 482 visa was renamed the Skills in Demand visa, replacing the former Temporary Skill Shortage name. The restructure introduced Core Skills, Specialist Skills and Labour Agreement streams, consolidated most nominations under a single Core Skills Occupation List, and reduced the required work experience from two years to one.
What this means: Material still referring to the “TSS visa” and a two-year requirement predates this change.
Source: Department of Home AffairsRelated page
Australia
The National Innovation visa (subclass 858) took effect, replacing the former Global Talent visa and providing the successor pathway after the closure of the business and investment programme. It assesses exceptional and outstanding achievement rather than an investment threshold.
Source: Department of Home AffairsRelated page
Australia
The Business Innovation and Investment visa (subclass 188) and the Business Talent visa (subclass 132) closed to new applications. Applications lodged before this date continue to be processed under the rules that applied at the time.
What this means: The subclass 188 is no longer available to new applicants, despite still being advertised in this market.
Source: Department of Home AffairsRelated page
United Kingdom
Saudi nationals became able to use the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation for short visits. The ETA is not a visa; it is a pre-travel permission linked to the passport. Holders of many other passports remain visa nationals and still require a Standard Visitor visa.
What this means: Two people living in the same city in Saudi Arabia can face entirely different processes for the same trip.
Source: GOV.UKRelated page
Canada
A national cap has applied to study permit applications since January 2024, with most applicants required to obtain a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter before their application can be processed. From 1 January 2026, master's and doctoral applicants at public designated learning institutions are exempt from that requirement.
What this means: The province and institution you choose, and when you apply within the allocation period, can determine whether an application can be submitted at all.
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship CanadaRelated page
Saudi Arabia
The Hague Apostille Convention came into force for Saudi Arabia. For documents moving between Saudi Arabia and other member states, a single apostille certificate generally replaces consular legalisation. Documents to or from non-member states follow the traditional attestation chain.
What this means: Attestation guidance published before December 2022 may describe a process that no longer applies to your documents.
Source: Saudi Ministry of Foreign AffairsRelated page
United Kingdom
The Tier 1 (Investor) visa closed to new applicants on 17 February 2022. The Sole Representative of an Overseas Business route was replaced by the UK Expansion Worker route on 11 April 2022.
What this means: Both routes are still being advertised by consultancies. Neither is available.
Source: GOV.UKRelated page
Canada
The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants replaced the ICCRC as the regulator of Canadian immigration consultants. Paid advice and representation are restricted to College-licensed consultants, provincial law society members and Quebec notaries.
What this means: A firm advertising an “ICCRC registration” is citing a body that has not been the regulator since 2021. Current registrations can be checked on the College's public register.
Source: College of Immigration and Citizenship ConsultantsRelated page
This page is reviewed weekly. Each entry names the authority that made the change, so you can confirm it at source before you act on it.
How this page works
Each entry gives the date of the change, what changed, and the authority that made it. Entries stay on the page permanently, because people searching for a closed route need to find out that it has closed.