New and tighter work visa rules in 2026: New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Spain and Japan opened doors, while Singapore, Sweden and Portugal got stricter.
Written by the Global Sponsor Hub editorial team · Checked against official sources
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See country guidesSeveral countries opened new doors for international workers in 2026. New Zealand added two new routes to residence through its Skilled Migrant Category, Finland now has to decide work permits within 2 months, and Denmark updated its Positive Lists. Others got tighter: Singapore has announced higher minimum salaries from 1st January 2027, Sweden raised its salary floor, and Portugal closed its old job search visa. Here's what changed, country by country, with the official source for each.
Rules differ by job and by country, so check your own case with a specialist in the Global Sponsor Hub specialist directory before you plan a move.
| Country | What changed | When | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Two new Skilled Migrant Category pathways | In force from 24th August 2026 | New route |
| New Zealand | Short-Term Graduate Work Visa | Announced, opens 16th November 2026 | New route |
| Finland | 2-month decision deadline for work permits | In force from 27th October 2026 | Faster |
| Denmark | Positive Lists updated | 1st July 2026, and 1st October 2026 | Updated |
| Spain | 12-month job search visa | In force since 20th May 2025 | New route |
| Japan | Specified Skilled Worker route covers 19 job fields | Current rules | Wider |
| Singapore | Higher Employment Pass and S Pass salaries | Announced, from 1st January 2027 | Tighter |
| Sweden | Salary floor raised to 90% of the median | 1st June 2026 | Tighter |
| Portugal | Old job search visa closed, new one not yet open | 23rd October 2025 | Tighter |
From 24th August 2026, New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category, its main skilled residence route, has two new pathways. (Immigration New Zealand)
Both build on time already worked in New Zealand, so they suit people who move on a work visa first. See the New Zealand country guide.
This new visa opens for applications on 16th November 2026. It's for graduates of New Zealand qualifications who can't get a Post-Study Work Visa. (Immigration New Zealand: Short-Term Graduate Work Visa)
An amendment to Finland's Aliens Act (912/2026) came into force on 27th October 2026. The Finnish Immigration Service now has to decide work-based residence permits within 2 months of a complete application, or up to 3 months if a case is exceptionally complex. Employers also have to tell the Finnish Immigration Service within 7 days when they hire someone from outside the EU or EEA. (Act 912/2026) See the Finland country guide.
Denmark's Positive Lists let you apply for a work permit if your job is on them. They were updated on 1st July 2026, with 164 job titles for people with a higher education and 63 skilled work titles. The higher education list was updated again on 1st October 2026, when midwife was added for Eastern Denmark only. Positive List cases are normally processed in 1 month, and the fee is DKK 6,810. (SIRI: Positive Lists updated 1st July 2026; SIRI: 1st October update; SIRI: Positive List for People with a Higher Education)
If your job isn't on a list, Denmark's Pay Limit Scheme is open to any job paying at least DKK 552,000 a year (DKK 46,000 a month) for applications from 1st January 2026. (SIRI: Pay Limit Scheme) See the Denmark country guide.
Spain's new immigration regulation, Royal Decree 1155/2024, has been in force since 20th May 2025. It added a 12-month job search visa. Spain also publishes a quarterly catalogue of hard-to-fill jobs by province, and a job on the latest catalogue for a province lets the employer apply for the first residence and work permit. (BOE: Royal Decree 1155/2024; SEPE: hard-to-fill occupations) See the Spain country guide.
Japan's Specified Skilled Worker (i) route covers 19 job fields, including nursing care, construction, food service, accommodation and logistics. It allows up to 5 years in total, without family. Type (ii) has no upper limit on stay and allows family, in 11 fields. The government's planning figure is up to 805,700 Specified Skilled Worker (i) workers to the end of March 2029, set by Cabinet decision on 23rd January 2026. (Specified Skilled Worker portal; Immigration Services Agency (PDF); Immigration Services Agency: Specified Skilled Worker outline (PDF))
Singapore's Ministry of Manpower announced on 3rd March 2026 higher minimum salaries for new applications from 1st January 2027 (for renewals, from passes expiring from 1st January 2028). (MOM: press release, 3rd March 2026; MOM: Employment Pass; MOM: S Pass)
| Pass | Minimum now | From 1st January 2027 (announced) |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass | S$5,600 a month (S$6,200 in financial services), rising with age to S$10,700 (S$11,800) at 45 and over | S$6,000 (S$6,600), up to S$11,500 (S$12,700) |
| S Pass | S$3,300 (S$3,800 in financial services), up to S$4,800 (S$5,650) | S$3,600 (S$4,000), up to S$5,100 (S$5,650) |
Employment Pass applicants also need 40 points under the COMPASS framework. Jobs on Singapore's Shortage Occupation List get bonus points. See the Singapore country guide.
Since 1st June 2026, a Swedish work permit needs a salary of at least 90% of the Swedish median salary. Since 16th June 2026 that has been at least SEK 34,470 a month. About twenty occupations and four groups need only 75% of the median. (Migrationsverket: new rules from 1st June 2026; Migrationsverket: new median salary) See the Sweden country guide.
Until 1st December 2026, people who got their current permit before 1st June 2026 and apply to extend it can still use the old rule of 80% of the median, which has been SEK 30,640 a month since 16th June 2026. From 2nd December 2026, extensions need the new 90% level too. (Migrationsverket: salary requirement for work permits)
Law 61/2025 of 22nd October 2025 changed Portugal's Foreigners Act. Consulates stopped taking applications for the old job search visa from 23rd October 2025. It's being replaced by a job search visa for highly skilled people, which can't be applied for until the regulations that define it are published. The law also changed family reunification. (Diário da República: Law 61/2025; Portuguese diplomatic portal) See the Portugal country guide.
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Related reading: the best countries for visa sponsorship jobs and how settling for good works in 2026.
Which countries made work visas easier in 2026? New Zealand added two Skilled Migrant Category pathways from 24th August 2026, Finland brought in a 2-month deadline for work permit decisions from 27th October 2026, and Denmark updated its Positive Lists on 1st July and 1st October 2026. Spain's 12-month job search visa has been available since May 2025.
Which countries made work visas harder? Sweden raised its salary floor to 90% of the median from 1st June 2026. Singapore has announced higher Employment Pass and S Pass salaries from 1st January 2027. Portugal stopped taking applications for its old job search visa from 23rd October 2025, and the new one isn't open yet.
Can I go to Portugal on a job search visa? Not on the old one. Consulates stopped taking applications from 23rd October 2025. The new job search visa for highly skilled people can't be applied for until its regulations are published.
What is New Zealand's Short-Term Graduate Work Visa? It's a new visa that opens on 16th November 2026, for graduates of New Zealand qualifications at level 5 to 7 who can't get a Post-Study Work Visa. It gives up to 6 months of open work rights, and you apply no more than 3 months after your student visa ends.
Last checked: 29 Oct 2026
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