International Relations Digest: December 2022
Europe • On 1 December 2022, the Netherlands begin requiring nationals of Turkey to obtain a Transit Schengen visa if they transit through Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to another country outside the Schengen Area. • On 8 December 2022, the EU decides to allow Croatia to join the EU’s Schengen visa-free travel zone, effective 1 January […]
International Relations Digest: November 2022
Europe • On 2 November 2022, Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, suggests that visa exemption be granted to leisure, business, and educational visitors from foreign countries, regardless of their visa policy towards Russia. • On 3 November 2022, Bosnia and Kosovo signed a mutual agreement enabling their citizens to travel in-between visa-free. • On 9 […]
International Relations Digest: September 2022
Europe • On 31 August 2022, the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs agreed to suspend visa facilitation agreement with Russia, with effect from 12 September 2022. Visa application fees for Russian citizens are also increased from €35 to €80, and visa processing time is also increased. • On 7 September 2022, Russia issued a statement […]
International Relations Digest: July
Europe • On 18 July 2022, Ireland announced that it is to temporarily suspend visa-free travel for refugees coming into the country from 20 “safe” European countries. The Cabinet made the move to tighten immigration rules amid the ongoing accommodation shortage for refugees. • On 22 July 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved […]
International Relations Digest: June
Europe On 9 June 2022, Serbia announced that it had completed preparations to lift visa requirements for travel with Turkey. An expected agreement between Belgrade and Ankara will enable citizens of the two countries to “cross state borders with a valid biometric ID card to improve and facilitate the movement of people and goods,” said […]
International Relations Digest: May
Europe On 5 May 2022, the European Union’s Commission published a set of guidelines for the embassies and consulates of the EU member states regarding the partial suspension of the Visa Facilitation Agreement with Russia in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military. Member States’ visa-issuing authorities in Russia and other […]
Single Citizenship vs Dual Citizenship: Japan Weighs In
This week a Japanese court upheld a ban on dual citizenship. The government argued that there was no national interest in permitting multiple citizenships. However, Hitoshi Nogawa, a plaintiff in the case, argued otherwise, stating that being forced to give up one’s nationality was a “painful experience.” Nogawa was forced to give up his nationality […]
St Kitts and Nevis Amends Escrow Requirements
Effective 1 March 2021: new developers, i.e. persons applying for their property to become an ‘Approved Project’ under the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme; and existing developers wishing to continue to sell property under the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme, must submit a proposed drawdown schedule (or a payment […]
St Lucia Extends its Covid-19 Relief Bond Option Another 12 Months
What is the Covid-19 Relief Bond? Investment in the Covid-19 Relief Bond qualifies the applicant for citizenship and guarantees the return of his investment after the prescribed time. According to Ryan Deveaux, Chairman of the Citizenship by Investment Unit of Saint Lucia, “with the Covid-19 Relief Bond, St Lucia aims to replace existing debt and ease the pressure on the government.” Fees The following […]
