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Visas, Immigration & Nationality

Australia Doubles International Student Visa Costs

Australia has significantly increased visa application fees for international students, aiming to enhance the “integrity” of its education sector and manage overall migration.  The fee has jumped by 125%, from AU$710 to AU$1,600, effective July 1, 2024. Australia boasts one of the world’s largest international education sectors, valued at around A$48 billion annually, accounting for…
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Japan to Introduce Electronic Travel Authorisation for Visa-Free Visitors

The Japanese government has announced plans to implement an online system for travel authorization for visa-exempt travellers. This new system was adopted during a meeting of Cabinet ministers at the Prime Minister’s Office. Under the new system, foreign visitors who do not require short-stay visas will need to provide their information online, including the purpose…
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US Passport Online Renewal Is Available Again

The US State Department has reopened its online passport renewal portal, reintroducing a convenient service that has been on hold for over a year.  There are a limited number of slots for US passport holders to renew online each day. The window for US passport renewal applications opens each day at 1 p.m. ET and…
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Hungary Relaunches Golden Visa Program

Hungary is back with its Golden Visa Program, now called the Guest Investor Program (GIP), starting July 1, 2024.  This program, which stopped in March 2017, allows wealthy people from outside the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) to get residency in Hungary. This residence permit is granted for 10 years and may…
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Australia Work and Holiday Visa for Filipinos To Start July 1

Starting July 1, Philippine passport holders can apply for Australia’s Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462).  Australia has updated its Migration Amendment, now including the Philippines as an eligible country for the Work and Holiday Visa. This visa allows young Filipinos aged 18-30 to work short-term jobs to support their travels and explore Australia while…
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