Immigration Update: Italy,Netherlands,Singapore, Germany,Kuwait,Oman

Italy – New Brexit requirements for UK nationals working in Italy

The Italian government provided an update regarding Brexit and the UK citizens/residents who need to travel, live and work in Italy.

The Italian Ministry of Interior has provided post-Brexit immigration guidelines, confirming that U.K. nationals who are not registered as residents and who arrive after Dec. 31, 2020, will be treated the same as other third-country nationals.

There will be no “ad hoc” immigration procedures for U.K. nationals.

• U.K. nationals who are not registered as residents and who relocate to Italy after Dec. 31 for work or long-term residence (i.e., more than 90 days in a 180-day period) will be required to obtain the applicable work visa and residence permit.
• Applications for work permits, work visas and residence permits for U.K. nationals will not be accepted until Jan. 1, 2021, at the earliest.
• U.K. nationals will be considered visa-free nationals, meaning they will be able to travel to Italy without obtaining a visa for tourism or business for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• Visa-free status for U.K. nationals is subject to reciprocity by the U.K

The U.K. left the European Union in January, but a transition period was established so that freedom of movement would remain in place through the end of 2020. U.K. nationals who live in Italy must register as an Italian resident by Dec. 31 and request the so-called “attestazione di iscrizione anagrafica” from the local town hall if they plan to continue residing in Italy in 2021 and beyond.

Officials have now confirmed U.K. nationals who have not registered and who arrive in Italy after Dec. 31 will be treated the same as other third-country nationals for immigration purposes.

The Netherlands – New lockdown as of 15 December 2020

The Netherlands went into a lockdown which will last until at least January 19th, 2021. The government’s aim with this lockdown is to limit contact between people as much as possible.

If you have an upcoming move or have recently relocated to the Netherlands, it is of importance to be aware that locations such as the Dutch Immigration Authorities, local town halls, banks and Expat Centres will remain open for scheduled appointments. These offices will follow the measurements provided by the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM). Registration formalities therefore can take place, however a delay can be expected due to the recommended self-quarantine of 10 days.

During the lockdown, essential shops such as supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, and any stores where food and other essential products are sold will remain open. This is also applicable to pharmacies and petrol stations.

All non-essential shops are closed, this includes hairdressers and beauty salons. Further, locations such as museums, zoos, theatres, amusement parks, casinos, saunas, indoor sporting venues including swimming pools are also closed.

Restaurants serving food and drinks (including those located in hotels) will also be closed throughout this period. Note that there do exist quite some locations that are offering take away meals and beverages.

In addition, as per December 16th, all schools and childcare centres will be closed, however certain exemptions may apply. During this period the schools will be providing online education. Primary schools and childcare centres will remain open for children of which at least one parent is working in one of the critical sectors.

Singapore: Covid-19 test requirements for foreign national children

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has recently reviewed its border measures for incoming travelers. Dependents who meet all these conditions are exempt from the pre-departure Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken 72 hours before departure:

• Are six years old and below (all ages stated are based on the calendar year)
• Entering Singapore from December 14, 2020
• Serving a 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN), as stated in their entry approval emails.
• This refers to dependents who did not spend the last 14 consecutive days in any of the lower-risk countries/regions before entering Singapore: Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong (for entries before Dec. 18, 2020) Macao, Mainland China, New Zealand, Taiwan, or Vietnam

For Covid-19 swab tests taken during the SHN, please take note of the updated requirements:

• Dependents who are six years old and below will continue to be exempt from the swab test
• Dependents who are seven to 12 years old and entering Singapore from December 14, 2020, must take the swab test.
• Employees will be charged for their tests (up to SGD 200 per person including GST) after they arrive
• If foreign national employees and dependents are unable to meet the requirements above or unable to enter Singapore, they should cancel their entry approvals before the approved period begins. Otherwise, they will still be required to pay for their stay at the dedicated SHN facility and Covid-19 tests.

Germany: Starting work is allowed while waiting for permits linked to change of status or employer

Applicants changing employers or their status category can now continue working while the new permit is being printed by the authorities. They should be given interim permits while waiting for the actual permit to be issued.

Kuwait: Work and residency permit renewals cease for expats aged 60 and above

From January 1, 2021, Kuwait will stop the renewal of work and residency permits for expatriates who reach the age of 60 and do not have a university degree.

The Public Authority of Manpower is working on a mechanism that those included in the decision will be required to leave through the cancellation procedure or based on the expiry dates of their residency permits.

Expatriates who are employed must either leave the country or find a new qualifying reason to remain in Kuwait when their permits expire. The Manpower Authority will not renew the work permit and as a result, the work contract will end automatically. The changes only apply to primary work permit holders. Dependents are exempt.

The General Department of Residency Affairs has set a deadline of one to three months for expatriates covered by the ban to leave Kuwait or change visa status.

The new restriction comes as authorities in Kuwait continue to implement various rules aimed at reducing the number of expats in the country. Employers whose employees will be ineligible for work permit renewal should start making alternative plans to meet their staffing needs by soliciting qualified workers through the local labor market.

This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Times Kuwait.

Oman: 103 nationalities offered visa-free entry to boost tourism

In line with efforts to promote and ease services for tourists visiting Oman, nationals of 103 countries will be exempt from entry visas for a period of ten days. The exemption will be subject to conditions that include the presence of a prior and confirmed hotel booking, health insurance and a return ticket.

Click here to see the list of visa-free countries, according to the Royal Oman Police.

Nationals of 71 other countries and territories can apply for visas on the Royal Oman Police website provided they have six months’ validity on their passport.

This summary was prepared using information obtained from the Omanobserver News.

Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Visa Lounge Global Immigration.