This week, Smith Stonewalters' global immigration team hopes to highlight recent updates from Canada, Finland, Iceland, Malaysia and Namibia.
Canada: New Express Entry Category Announced
On February 27, 2025, Immigrants, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the 2025 Express Entry Category, including the new Education Category.
The focus of the 2025 Federal Economic Class Draw is to invite candidates with experience working in Canada (Canadian Experience Class) to apply for permanent residency.
Additionally, to achieve the goals of French-speaking immigration and meet the keen health, trade and education needs, the IRCC will conduct category-based invitation rounds in the following categories:
Strong French skills, or working experience in the following areas: Healthcare and social services such as family doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, chiropractors, and other education for carpenters, plumbers, contractors, and teachers, childcare educators, and disabled instructors.
Express Entry is Canada's flagship application management system for those seeking permanent relocation through the Federal Skilled Workers Program, Federal Skilled Trade Program, Canadian Experience Class, and some of the provincial Candidate Programs.
From 2018 to 2024, admissions based on the Federal Skilled Workers Program and Canadian Experience Class accounted for around 48% of the overall hospitalizations of immigrants in the French outskirts of Quebec, and about 64% of non-Québec French-speaking economic immigrant hospitalisations. (Note: Data is a preliminary estimate and is subject to change.)
In June 2022, the Canadian government made changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow immigration choices based on key attributes that support economic priorities, such as specific work experience and knowledge of the French language.
Canada: Some temporary measures for Ukrainians have been extended
On February 27, 2025, Immigrants, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that Ukrainians and their families who have arrived in Canada under the Canadian Ukrain approval (CUAET) prior to March 31, 2024 under the Canadian Ukrain approval (CUAET) will apply for new open work by March 31, 2026, to apply for new open work and apply for standard salary for existing work.
Those who wish to renew their status as visitors or students can continue to apply to renew their status as they have.
These temporary measures will allow Ukrainians and their families to continue working and studying in Canada during this difficult time, and ultimately return home when they are safe.
Access to a free settlement service for all Ukrainian temporary residents and Canadian families is available until March 31, 2025.
background:
The Ukrainian Canadian Emergency Travel Authorization (CUAET) was launched in March 2022 as a temporary special measure to provide immediate support to Ukrainians fleeing the war in Ukraine. All CUAET clients in Canada must apply to extend their status prior to the expiration date of their current visitor record, work, or learning permission. If you apply before the expiration date, you can continue working or studying in a maintenance state until you have decided on your application. Ukrainians can still apply to expand their temporary status in Canada, even if their passport is not up to date. Each case is evaluated individually.
Finland: Planned changes to temporary protection laws will come into effect in March 2025
As announced in December 2024, the Ministry of Home Affairs has drafted several changes to the current employed Residence Permit Act on Temporary Protection.
Residence permits are valid for the entire period of temporary protection.
Residence and Residence Permit cards for those granted temporary protection in the future will remain in effect as long as the government's decision regarding the granting of temporary protection is in effect. Previous laws set the maximum period of temporary protection over three years.
Residence permits for temporary protection will always be temporary in the future. Anyone planning to settle in Finland forever can apply for a residence permit.
Temporary protections for certain third-country citizens will end on March 31, 2025.
Third citizens who fled Ukraine and did not have a permanent residence permit in Ukraine or were not granted international protection in that country will no longer receive temporary protection. This has to do with about 200 people. The Finland immigration agency has sent a letter about this to clients whose temporary protections are ending.
Temporary protections apply to Ukrainian citizens and their families, as well as third citizens who have acquired permanent residency in Ukraine or are given international protection in that country.
Iceland: Long processing time for quick processing of job-based residence permit applications
The Immigration Bureau notes that the service fee for the expedited processing of residence permit applications based on work covers only a portion of the application process associated with the processing of residence permits. It does not cover the issuance of work permits by the Labor Bureau. However, a work permit is a condition for issuing a residence permit based on the work.
The current processing time for work permit applications using the rapid procedures of the Labor Bureau is seven weeks. Information regarding processing times can be found on the Labor Bureau's website.
As a result, the Immigration Bureau cannot process applications in a prompt procedure within 8-10 weeks.
It takes quite a long time to process your residence permit application based on the work. Applications currently being handled in a general procedure were received last October.
Malaysia: MDEC adopts the EPASS system
Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) announced that on March 1, 2025, an electronic pass (EPASS) for the pass approval process for foreign knowledge workers (FKWs), including dependents, will be effectively issued.
The implementation of EPASS allows companies to download and print EPASS from their systems.
Beware of MDEC.
FKW and dependents must present EPASS along with their passport for identification. EPASS is issued only if FKW and dependents are physically present in Malaysia.
Namibia: New visas for arrival requirements for specific nationalities
Namibia's Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Immigration, Security and Security have announced that from April 1, 2025, citizens of 33 countries will need a visa to enter Namibia.
Citizens of the following additional countries will obtain a visa upon arrival in Namibia.
Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Sweden, Swedan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, USA, Uzbekistan.
Visitors from the following countries already need a visa upon arrival in Namibia:
Argentina, Belarus, Cambodia, Chile, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Cape Verde, Croatia, Eritrea, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Comoros, Cote D'ivoire, Gabon, Burkina Faso, Brundi, Central African Republic, Chadguinea, Guinea Bissau, Mexico, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Rwanda, Korea, Liberia, Sao Meh, Principe, Thailand, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Nigela, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tuca, Mauritania, Paragua, Paragua, Paragua, Uganda, Ukraine, Uraguay, Venezuela, Vatican, Vietnam, Western Sahara.
Visitors from the following countries will continue to qualify for visa-free entry:
Angola, Botswana, Brazil, Cuba, Eswatini, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Macau, Malaysia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zambabui.
Visa requirements apply upon arrival in Namibia, with the following fees being applied from April 1, 2025:
Visa fees will increase from 1200 NAD to 1600 NAD 1600 per person as of April 1, 2024 for travelers from non-African Union countries. Travelers from African Union countries who qualify for a visa upon arrival will pay 1,200 nads per person.
Visas on arrival are only issued at Hosea Kutako International Airport, Walvis Bay International Airport, Walvis Bay Harbor, Trans-Kalahari Border Post, Impalila Island Border Post, Katima Mulilo Border Post, Oshikango Border Post, Mohembo Border Post, Ariamsvlei Border Post, Noardoewereedomaunmaund Post, Noardoewereedomund Border Post, Ariamsvlei Border Post, Ariamsvlei Border Post, Ariamsvlei Border Post, Mohembo Border Post, and Nodoewereedomund.
The visa upon arrival is for tourist purposes only. Travelers with a different entry purpose must submit an application form containing all relevant documents to the appropriate office.
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