Global immigration updates effective October 2026, offering an early look at key changes to help you prepare in advance.
🇯🇵 Japan: New fees for residence applications will apply from 1 October 2026. Fees for Change of Status of Residence and Extension of Period of Stay applications will move from a flat JPY 6,000 to a tiered structure based on the period of stay granted, ranging from JPY 10,000 for up to three months to JPY 75,000 for five years or more when filed in person, with lower fees for most online applications. The fee for Permanent Residence applications will rise from JPY 10,000 to JPY 200,000. Applications filed on or before 30 September 2026 will remain subject to the current fees.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: From 1 October 2026, the illegal working regime will extend beyond traditional employment to cover individuals engaged under a worker’s contract, certain individual subcontractors and individuals engaged through online matching services. Liability for civil penalties of up to GBP 60,000 per illegal worker will also be able to extend to other businesses within a labour supply chain, making right to work checks relevant to a wider range of engagement models.
🇺🇸 United States: The Department of Homeland Security published a proposed rule on 11 September 2026 to remove the discretionary grace period of up to 60 days that follows the end of employment for E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1 and TN workers and their dependants. If finalised as proposed, affected workers would generally need to leave the United States once their employment ends, unless they have another basis to remain. The public comment period runs until 10 November 2026, and the current grace period remains in effect until a final rule takes effect. Employers may wish to review termination and offboarding procedures for affected employees in advance of any final rule.
At Santa Fe Relocation, we provide timely updates and strategic advice through our Immigration Outlook series. By sharing these changes in advance, we help your teams prepare early and stay informed.
For personalised assistance, please contact your local Santa Fe Immigration consultant.