Visa and moving rule changes in 2026

The golden visa ended on 3 April 2025, so buying property no longer gives residence on its own.

Source: Spain: elimination of the golden visa (GMS Flash Alert 2025-008) (non-official)

Spain's 2026 minimum wage is €1,221 a month in 14 payments (€17,094 a year) under Real Decreto 126/2026 — so the visa's income threshold rose this year.

Source: Real Decreto 126/2026: salario mínimo interprofesional 2026 (non-official)

From 1 January 2026, the Los Angeles consulate charges US citizens $140 for a national visa, more than other nationalities ($106).

Source: Non-working (non-lucrative) residence visa (updated 11 Feb 2026)

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) went live on 12 October 2025 and has been fully operational since 10 April 2026: your passport is registered with fingerprints and a photo when you cross the Schengen border. Once you have a TIE card you're exempt from EES registration; the old green residence certificate doesn't give that exemption.

Sources: The new Entry/Exit System went live on 12 October 2025 · EES fully operational since 10 April 2026 · Living in Spain (last updated 3 July 2026)

ETIAS (the travel authorisation for visa-free visitors) is still not operating, and the EU has not announced a new start date.

Source: Europe scraps 2026 ETIAS launch timeline (11 Aug 2026) (non-official)

From 2025 the top rate on savings income (dividends, interest and gains) under the Beckham regime rose from 28% to 30% for amounts above €300,000.

Sources: Form 151: instructions for fiscal year 2023 and following · Manual práctico IRPF 2025: régimen fiscal especial aplicable a trabajadores desplazados

Lei Orgânica 1/2026, in force from 19 May 2026, lengthened the residence needed for Portuguese nationality: 10 years for most nationalities and 7 for EU and CPLP citizens.

Sources: Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 (nationality law amendment) · Portugal's new nationality law: 7 or 10 years (non-official)

Family reunification changed in October 2025 (Lei 61/2025). The general rule is now two years of residence before you can bring family over, but minor children and a spouse who is the other parent of your minor child are exempt from that wait.

Sources: Alterações à Lei de Estrangeiros (Lei 61/2025) (non-official) · Family reunification in Portugal (non-official)

The old NHR tax regime is closed to newcomers. Its successor, IFICI, gives a 20% flat rate only to people in qualifying research, innovation and highly skilled roles — most retirees and remote workers won't qualify.

Source: Portugal NHR 2.0 (IFICI): complete guide (non-official)

The income bar went up because the minimum wage rose to €920 a month for 2026 (from €870), so the four-times rule now means €3,680.

Sources: Minimum wage rises to €920 in 2026 (Decreto-Lei 139/2025) (non-official) · Residency visa for remote work – "Digital Nomads" (USA checklist, 06.11.2025)

Skilled visa income thresholds rose 3.8% on 1 July 2026: the Core Skills Income Threshold went from AUD 76,515 to AUD 79,423 and the Specialist Skills threshold from AUD 141,210 to AUD 146,576 for new nominations.

Source: Annual indexation of skilled visa income thresholds from 1 July 2026

Home Affairs updated its health insurance guidance in October 2026, reminding temporary visa holders that most aren't eligible for Medicare and may be responsible for all healthcare costs.

Source: Health insurance requirements for Australian visa holders (6 Oct 2026)

The English tests accepted for Australian visas changed on 7 August 2025. This doesn't affect UK passport holders, who meet competent English through their passport.

Source: Competent English

The three-year 'fast-track' naturalisation introduced in 2024 was abolished by the Bundestag on 8 October 2025. The general requirement is now at least five years of prior residence.

Source: Bundestag abolishes naturalisation after three years (8 Oct 2025)

Blue Card salary thresholds were updated for 2026: €50,700 for the standard card and €45,934.20 for the reduced threshold.

Source: EU Blue Card (Issue 03/2026)

Make it in Germany now lists €1,091 net per month as the minimum for the blocked account in 2026.

Source: Job search opportunity card

New migration guidelines published in Mexico's official gazette on 25 July 2025 switched the financial requirements from minimum-wage days to UMA days and set new multipliers (680 and 11,460 days for temporary residency).

Source: Lineamientos para trámites y procedimientos migratorios (DOF, 25 July 2025)

The 2026 UMA of MXN 117.31 per day took effect on 1 February 2026, so peso thresholds rose again this year.

Source: UMA 2026 values (in force from 1 February 2026)

For applications submitted from 31 August 2026, Thai missions require a criminal record clearance certificate and proof of permanent residence (for example, the Washington embassy asks for an FBI certificate issued within three months, and a green card or valid US visa for non-citizens).

Sources: Destination Thailand Visa: new rules from 31 August 2026 (non-official) · Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) (updated 10 Sep 2026) · Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) (updated 1 Oct 2026)

What counts as proof of residence differs between embassies, so read the checklist of the mission you apply to, not a generic one.

Source: Destination Thailand Visa: new rules from 31 August 2026 (non-official)

The 30% ruling for incoming employees drops to a maximum tax-free share of 27% from 1 January 2027, and the income standard rises to €50,436. Rulings that started before 2024 keep 30% for up to five years.

Source: 30 percent ruling compensation down to 27 percent

A draft bill to extend naturalisation from five to ten years went to consultation in September 2025, but as of October 2026 it had not become law; five years of lawful residence still applies.

Source: Naturalisation in the Netherlands: the five-year rule and the ten-year proposal (non-official)