Global Mobility Statistics 2026: Talent Flows, Work Visas and the Rules for Sponsoring a Hire
How many skilled people moved in 2025, which countries issued more work visas and which issued fewer, and what it takes to sponsor a foreign hire in 37 countries. The country rules come from our own check of 200 immigration authority, labour ministry and legal pages. The flows come from the OECD, Eurostat, national immigration statistics and BCG.
3.3M
cross-border moves by highly skilled workers in 2025, down 11.6%
BCG Top Talent Tracker, Jun 2026
1.30M
first EU residence permits issued for work in 2025, up 16.1%
Eurostat, 2025
−62%
UK work visas against the December 2023 peak
UK Home Office, year to Jun 2026
19 of 37
countries restrict placing a sponsored worker with another business
EmployerRecords visa rules check, Oct 2026
Key findings
Fewer skilled people moved in 2025, and the rules for sponsoring them got tighter
Three findings come from our check of the main skilled work route in 37 countries. The other three come from official statistics on who actually moved.
19 of 37
countries restrict placing a sponsored worker with another business. 13 have an explicit rule on agency or client-site work; 6 tie the permit to one named employer.
EmployerRecords visa rules check, Oct 2026
26 of 29
countries with a stated rule require a locally registered sponsor for the main skilled route. Australia accepts sponsorship from an overseas business.
EmployerRecords visa rules check, Oct 2026
27 of 37
countries changed how their main skilled route works since January 2025. 7 more only updated thresholds or fees.
EmployerRecords visa rules check, Oct 2026
934,000
new permanent labour migrants reached OECD countries in 2024, 21% fewer than in 2023. Total permanent immigration fell 4% to 6.2 million.
OECD International Migration Outlook, 2025 edition
1.30M
first residence permits for work went to non-EU citizens in 2025, up 16.1% and a third of all first permits issued.
Eurostat, 2025
234,841
UK work visas in the year to June 2026, including dependants. That is 18% down on the year and 62% below the December 2023 peak.
UK Home Office, year to Jun 2026
At a glance
Global mobility statistics at a glance: the 24 numbers that matter
Every figure carries its period and source. Flows come from statistics offices and the OECD, surveys are labelled with their publisher, and the rules figures come from our own country check.
Talent flows
- 01
3.3 million cross-border moves by highly skilled workers in 2025, down 11.6% from 3.7 million.
BCG Top Talent Tracker, Jun 2026 (research firm)
- 02
854,000 STEM specialists moved country in 2025, 13.2% fewer than in 2024.
BCG Top Talent Tracker, Jun 2026
- 03
164,000 PhD researchers moved, the steepest fall of any group at 19.0%.
BCG Top Talent Tracker, Jun 2026
- 04
+4.0 points gain in the US share of highly skilled movers, the largest of any destination.
BCG Top Talent Tracker, Jun 2026
- 05
~194,000 highly skilled workers moved to the United Arab Emirates.
BCG Top Talent Tracker, Jun 2026
OECD countries
- 06
6.2 million new permanent immigrants arrived in OECD countries in 2024, 4% fewer than in 2023.
OECD International Migration Outlook 2025
- 07
934,000 of them came for work, a fall of 21%.
OECD International Migration Outlook 2025
- 08
~2.3 million temporary work permits and authorisations were granted in 2024, unchanged on 2023.
OECD International Migration Outlook 2025
- 09
70.9% of immigrants in OECD countries were in work in 2024, against 72.1% of the native-born.
OECD International Migration Outlook 2025
Employers
- 10
51% of employers passed up a business opportunity in the past two years because of immigration issues. Survey of 528 employers.
EY Mobility Reimagined survey, Apr 2026
- 11
72% of employers report difficulty filling roles. Survey of 39,063 employers in 41 countries.
ManpowerGroup Global Talent Shortage, Feb 2026
Work visas by country
- 12
234,841 UK work visas in the year to June 2026, 62% below the December 2023 peak.
UK Home Office, Aug 2026
- 13
26,894 Skilled Worker visas went to main applicants in the UK, down 30%.
UK Home Office, year to Jun 2026
- 14
343,981 eligible H-1B cap registrations for FY2026, down 26.9% from 470,342.
USCIS, FY2026
- 15
112,640 primary 482 visa holders were in Australia at 31 December 2025, up 29.2%.
Australian Department of Home Affairs, Dec 2025
- 16
230,000 temporary worker arrivals is Canada's plan for 2026, falling to 220,000 in 2027.
IRCC Immigration Levels Plan 2026 to 2028
- 17
1.30 million first EU residence permits for work in 2025, up 16.1%.
Eurostat, 2025
- 18
72% of the 78,096 EU Blue Cards granted in 2024 came from Germany.
Eurostat, 2024
Visa rules in 37 countries
- 19
19 of 37 countries restrict placing a sponsored worker with another business.
EmployerRecords visa rules check, Oct 2026
- 20
26 of 29 countries with a stated rule require a local sponsor.
EmployerRecords visa rules check, Oct 2026
- 21
18 of 33 set a fixed salary floor for the main skilled route, with a median of USD 52,722 a year.
EmployerRecords visa rules check, Oct 2026
- 22
20 of 27 require a labour market test, at least in some cases.
EmployerRecords visa rules check, Oct 2026
- 23
8 of 23 cap numbers or set a ratio of local to foreign staff.
EmployerRecords visa rules check, Oct 2026
- 24
15 of 29 let a spouse work without a permit of their own.
EmployerRecords visa rules check, Oct 2026
01 · Talent flows
Highly skilled moves fell 11.6% in 2025, while the US took a bigger share of those who did move
BCG tracks 221 million highly skilled professionals and counted 3.3 million cross-border moves in 2025, about 430,000 fewer than in 2024. The OECD's count for 2024 points the same way: permanent labour migration to member countries fell by a fifth, while temporary work permits held steady at about 2.3 million.
What are the latest global mobility statistics? BCG counted 3.3 million cross-border moves by highly skilled workers in 2025, down 11.6% from 3.7 million in 2024. OECD countries took in 6.2 million new permanent immigrants in 2024, 4% fewer than in 2023, and permanent labour migration fell 21% to 934,000. The EU issued 1.30 million first residence permits for work in 2025, up 16.1%.
Cross-border moves of highly skilled workers
−11.6%
about 430,000 fewer moves
Change in 2025, by group
Who gained and lost share of the movers
- United States+4.0 pointsLargest share gain, though it lost share among AI specialists
- United Arab Emirates~194,000highly skilled arrivals, share up 0.8 points
- Saudi Arabia2.6xretention ratio, the highest BCG measured
- Canada−2.1 pointsfell out of the top three destinations to 7th
Temporary labour migration to OECD countries, 2024
Immigrants are almost as likely to be in work as people born in the country
OECD International Migration Outlook 2025, employment rates in 2024 across OECD countries
70.9%
employment rate of immigrants
72.1%
employment rate of the native-born
02 · Work visa volumes
The UK issued 62% fewer work visas than at its peak. Australia went the other way.
Each country counts something different: visas granted, lottery registrations, planned arrivals, people holding a visa on a given day. We show them side by side with their own definitions and do not rank them.
United Kingdom
234,841
Work visas granted, including dependants, year to June 2026
−18% on the year; −62% against 613,627 in the year to December 2023
Skilled Worker main applicants 26,894 (−30%); Health and Care Worker main applicants 7,228 (−65%)
UK Home Office, Aug 2026
United States
343,981
Eligible H-1B cap registrations, FY2026
−26.9% from 470,342 in FY2025
About 57,600 employers registered. USCIS has received enough petitions to reach both the 65,000 regular cap and the 20,000 master's cap for FY2027.
Australia
112,640
Primary Skills in Demand (482) and 457 visa holders in Australia, 31 December 2025
+29.2% from 87,160
34,360 new primary 482 grants from July to December 2025, up 9.8%
Department of Home Affairs, Dec 2025
Canada
230,000
Planned temporary worker arrivals in 2026
Falls to 220,000 a year in 2027 and 2028
170,000 through the International Mobility Program and 60,000 through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Germany
+7.7%
Visa applications for work processed by German missions abroad, 2025
About 15,000 more than in 2024
Total visa applications processed fell 0.9% to 1,979,931 over the same year
Federal Foreign Office, Feb 2026
These figures use different definitions and periods, so read each row on its own terms. A fall in one country and a rise in another is not a like-for-like comparison.
03 · Europe
EU countries issued 1.30 million work permits in 2025, a third of all first residence permits
Eurostat counted 3.86 million first residence permits for non-EU citizens in 2025, up 10.1%, and permits for work grew faster than the total. Poland issued the most, even though its total fell by almost 20,000.
Top issuers of first residence permits for work, 2025
Share of all first residence permits, 2025
72 of every 100 EU Blue Cards came from Germany
Germany's foreign missions also processed about 15,000 more visa applications for work in 2025 than in 2024, a rise of 7.7%, while applications for family reunion fell 10%.
04 · Visa rules by country Original research
19 of 37 countries restrict placing a sponsored worker with another business
We checked the main employer-sponsored skilled work route in every country where EmployerRecords has a country page, on immigration authority, labour ministry and law pages. Thirteen countries have an explicit rule on agency work, staff leasing or client-site placement, and six more tie the permit to one named employer and workplace. That is the rule to check first if you plan to sponsor through an employer of record.
Can an employer of record sponsor a work visa? In most countries, yes: 26 of the 29 countries with a stated rule require a locally registered sponsor, which an EOR's own entity can be. The limit is placement. 19 of 37 countries restrict a sponsored worker from working for a business other than the sponsor, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and Germany, so the route depends on how each country treats the client relationship. Our guide on whether an EOR can sponsor a work visa covers the arrangements.
19 / 37
restrict client placement
26 / 29
require a local sponsor
18 / 33
set a fixed salary floor
20 / 27
require a labour market test, at least sometimes
8 / 23
cap numbers or set a local staff ratio
15 / 29
let a spouse work without a permit
| Country and route | Salary floor | Labour market test | Cap or quota | Local sponsor | Client placement | Spouse can work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
United StatesH-1B specialty occupation | Market rateHigher of actual or prevailing wage | Limited | Yes | Yes | Restricted | Limited |
United KingdomSkilled Worker visa | GBP 41,700USD 55,746 a year | No | No | Yes | Restricted | Yes |
CanadaLMIA-based work permit, high-wage stream | Market ratePrevailing wage (Job Bank median) | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Restricted | Limited |
AustraliaSkills in Demand visa (subclass 482) | AUD 79,423USD 55,774 a year | Yes | Unverified | No | Restricted | Unverified |
New ZealandAccredited Employer Work Visa | Market rateMarket rate; median wage rule removed Mar 2025 | Limited | No | Yes | Restricted | Limited |
IrelandCritical Skills Employment Permit | EUR 40,904USD 45,784 a year | Limited | No | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
GermanySkilled worker permit or EU Blue Card | Market rateComparable domestic pay; EUR 55,770 floor only for first-time applicants 45+ | No | No | Yes | Restricted | Yes |
NetherlandsHighly skilled migrant | EUR 71,304USD 79,811 a year | No | No | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
FranceTalent passport, qualified employee | EUR 39,582USD 44,304 a year | Limited | No | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
BelgiumSingle permit, highly qualified worker | EUR 48,912USD 54,747 a year | Limited | Not stated | Yes | Unverified | Yes |
AustriaRed-White-Red Card, key workers | EUR 48,510USD 54,297 a year | Limited | No | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
SpainHighly qualified professional | EUR 41,356USD 46,290 a year | No | No | Unverified | Not stated | Yes |
ItalyWork permit under the annual quota | Market rateCollective agreement pay; Blue Card at ISTAT average; 2026 quota: 76,200 non-seasonal employee places (164,850 including seasonal and self-employed) | Yes | Yes | Unverified | Unverified | Yes |
DenmarkPay Limit Scheme | DKK 552,000USD 82,658 a year | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Limited |
FinlandSpecialist residence permit | EUR 47,244USD 52,880 a year | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Yes |
NorwaySkilled worker permit | NOK 545,400USD 58,326 a year | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Restricted | Yes |
PolandWork permit type A | No route floorNational minimum wage PLN 4,806 a month | No | Not stated | Not stated | Restricted | Limited |
Czech RepublicEmployee card | No route floorNational minimum wage | Limited | Yes | Not stated | Restricted | Yes |
GeorgiaRight to work permit | No route floorNo route minimum | No | Yes | Yes | Tied to employer | Unverified |
IsraelB/1 foreign expert permit | ILS 325,584USD 104,304 a year | Not stated | Not stated | No | Not stated | Limited |
United Arab EmiratesMOHRE work permit | No route floorNo route minimum | No | Yes | Yes | Restricted | Yes |
SingaporeEmployment Pass | SGD 67,200USD 52,563 a year | Limited | No | No | Not stated | Limited |
Hong KongGeneral Employment Policy | Market rateMarket level for professionals | Yes | No | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
JapanEngineer, humanities or international services | Market rateEqual to a Japanese national in a comparable role | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Restricted | Limited |
South KoreaE-7-1 professional visa | KRW 31,120,000USD 23,496 a year | Unverified | Unverified | Yes | Not stated | No |
ChinaForeigner's work permit | No route floorNo floor on standard Category B beyond local minimum wage | Limited | No | Yes | Restricted | Unverified |
TaiwanSpecialised or technical work permit | TWD 575,652USD 17,708 a year | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Tied to employer | Limited |
IndiaEmployment visa | INR 1,625,000USD 17,115 a year | Limited | Unverified | Yes | Not stated | No |
PhilippinesAlien Employment Permit and 9(g) visa | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Yes | Unverified | Not stated |
IndonesiaRPTKA approval and E23 work visa | Unverified | Limited | No | Yes | Tied to employer | No |
ThailandWork permit and employment visa | THB 600,000USD 17,780 a year | Not stated | Yes | Yes | Tied to employer | Limited |
VietnamWork permit | No route floorNo route minimum | Yes | No | Yes | Tied to employer | Not stated |
MalaysiaEmployment Pass | MYR 60,000USD 14,686 a year | Yes | No | Yes | Tied to employer | Not stated |
BrazilResidence authorisation for work | No route floorNo floor; equal-pay rule | Not stated | Yes | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
MexicoTemporary resident with work permission | Not stated | Limited | Yes | Yes | Restricted | Limited |
ColombiaM visa, worker category | Unverified | Limited | No | Unverified | Not stated | Unverified |
ArgentinaTemporary residence as a migrant worker | Market rateCollective agreement pay | Not stated | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
What is changing
Singapore raises its Employment Pass salary floors for new applications from 1 January 2027, to SGD 6,000 a month at the youngest end and SGD 6,600 in financial services. Denmark starts a new Collective Agreement Scheme on the same date. In the US, the USD 100,000 payment for new H-1B petitions is extended to September 2027 but not being collected after a federal court blocked enforcement on 30 September 2026; the government appealed on 9 October.
Where a permit names the employer and the workplace
In Georgia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia the permit is tied to one employer and position, and working for anyone else needs a new permit. Taiwan treats it as an offence that bars new applications for three years. Thailand's permit also names the province, so moving a hire to a client's site in another city needs a notification and a fee.
- Route
- H-1B specialty occupation. The employer files a petition with USCIS after the Department of Labor certifies a Labor Condition Application.
- Processing time
- No standard time is published. Premium processing guarantees action within 15 business days for a USD 2,965 fee.
- Client placement
- Allowed with conditions. When the worker is placed at a client site, USCIS judges the specialty occupation against the client's requirements and may ask for contracts or visit the site.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- H-1B modernisation rule (17 Jan 2025). USD 100,000 payment for new petitions for workers outside the US (21 Sep 2025), extended to 21 Sep 2027 but blocked by a federal court on 30 Sep 2026. Wage-weighted selection for the FY2027 cap (27 Feb 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in United States · Link to this row
- Route
- Skilled Worker visa, sponsored by a licensed UK employer.
- Processing time
- About 3 weeks from outside the UK and about 8 weeks from inside.
- Client placement
- A sponsor cannot hire a worker out to a third party or fill an ongoing role for a client. Fixed-term client projects with an end date are allowed.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- General salary threshold raised to GBP 41,700 and most medium-skilled roles removed, apart from shortage lists (22 Jul 2025). Sponsors can no longer pass sponsorship costs on to the worker (9 Apr 2025).
Official source · EOR providers in United Kingdom · UK Skilled Worker visa guide · Link to this row
- Route
- Employer-specific work permit backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment, high-wage stream.
- Processing time
- High-wage LMIAs took 98 business days on average (applications processed in Sep 2026).
- Client placement
- Staffing and employment agencies that supply workers to other businesses are not treated as the employer and cannot be approved to hire for them.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Open work permits for spouses restricted (21 Jan 2025). High-wage thresholds updated (27 Jun 2025 and 17 Jul 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Canada · Link to this row
- Route
- Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams.
- Processing time
- 90% of applications decided within 39 days (Specialist Skills) and 47 days (Core Skills), per a Department of Home Affairs estimate from Feb 2025.
- Client placement
- The visa holder must work directly for the sponsor. Placing workers with clients needs an on-hire labour agreement.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Income thresholds indexed to AUD 79,423 (Core Skills) and AUD 146,576 (Specialist Skills), and visa charges raised (1 Jul 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Australia · Link to this row
- Route
- Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV).
- Processing time
- 80% of applications decided within 5 weeks.
- Client placement
- Placing migrant workers with other businesses needs a separate type of accreditation, and the business controlling the work must also meet the requirements.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Median wage rule removed so the market rate applies, experience requirement cut from three years to two, and three-year visas for lower-skilled roles (10 Mar 2025).
Official source · EOR providers in New Zealand · Link to this row
- Route
- Critical Skills Employment Permit for listed roles; General Employment Permit for others.
- Processing time
- No service standard. In late October 2026 the department was processing Critical Skills applications received about a week earlier.
Official source · EOR providers in Ireland · Link to this row
- Route
- Residence permit for skilled workers with academic training (section 18b Residence Act), or the EU Blue Card (section 18g).
- Processing time
- No processing time is published.
- Client placement
- The Federal Employment Agency must refuse approval if the person would work as a temporary agency worker.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Annual thresholds updated: EU Blue Card EUR 50,700 (EUR 45,934.20 for shortage roles), and EUR 55,770 for first-time applicants aged 45 and over (1 Jan 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Germany · Link to this row
- Route
- Highly skilled migrant permit, through an employer recognised as a sponsor by the IND.
- Processing time
- Legal decision period of 90 days.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Search period after losing a job extended from three to six months for holders with two or more years on the permit (22 May 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Netherlands · Link to this row
- Route
- Talent passport for qualified employees (master's level, employer in France), or the EU Blue Card.
- Processing time
- Qualified employee: no answer after four months counts as a refusal. EU Blue Card: 90 days, or 30 for existing Blue Card holders.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Reference salaries updated to EUR 39,582 for qualified employees and EUR 59,373 for the EU Blue Card.
Official source · EOR providers in France · Link to this row
- Route
- Single permit for highly qualified workers, issued by the region (Flanders, Brussels or Wallonia).
- Processing time
- Brussels: up to 120 days from a complete file to a decision.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Flanders reformed economic migration: highly qualified roles must be at skill level 5 or above, low-skilled roles are excluded and the labour market test is stricter (1 Jan 2026). Wallonia raised its thresholds on the same date. Flanders added a EUR 180 single permit fee (1 Sep 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Belgium · Link to this row
- Route
- Red-White-Red Card for other key workers (points-based, with an employer declaration). A shortage occupation stream is also available.
- Processing time
- No processing time is published.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Thresholds updated for 2026: key workers EUR 3,465 a month, EU Blue Card EUR 55,678.
Official source · EOR providers in Austria · Link to this row
- Route
- Highly qualified professional permit through the Large Companies Unit (Law 14/2013), or the EU Blue Card.
- Processing time
- Decided within 20 days of online filing, and approved if the authority does not answer in time. The visa then takes 10 days.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- EU Blue Card threshold set at 1.4 times average gross pay (31 Jan 2026), updated to EUR 41,356 in June 2026.
- Route
- Work authorisation (nulla osta) for non-seasonal employment under the annual quota decree. The EU Blue Card sits outside the quotas.
- Processing time
- EU Blue Card: within 30 days. Non-seasonal quota permits: about 60 days, per adviser sources. Application days for 2026 were 16 and 18 February.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Pre-filled applications made permanent and each private employer limited to three applications (4 Oct 2025). Quotas of 497,550 places set for 2026 to 2028, including 76,200 non-seasonal employee places in 2026.
- Route
- Pay Limit Scheme (Beløbsordningen).
- Processing time
- Normally 1 month; up to 3 months if more information is needed.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Pay limit indexed to DKK 552,000 for 2026. A new Collective Agreement Scheme starts on 1 Jan 2027.
Official source · EOR providers in Denmark · Link to this row
- Route
- Residence permit for a specialist.
- Processing time
- About 2 weeks on the fast track for specialists and EU Blue Card holders.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Permit holders who lose their job now have 3 months to find another (6 months for specialists and long-term holders), and employers must report early terminations within 14 days (11 Jun 2025). Threshold raised to EUR 3,937 a month for 2026.
Official source · EOR providers in Finland · Link to this row
- Route
- Residence permit for skilled workers.
- Processing time
- No processing time is published.
- Client placement
- Staffing agencies must be in the Labour Inspection Authority's register and list confirmed client assignments. The permit covers only those assignments, for at most one year at a time.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Salary floors raised twice, most recently to NOK 624,700 (master's level) and NOK 545,400 (bachelor's level) on 1 May 2026. Employers must often confirm the job offer before the application is filed (19 Feb 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Norway · Link to this row
- Route
- Work permit type A, or a combined temporary residence and work permit. EU Blue Card for highly qualified workers.
- Processing time
- No processing time is published.
- Client placement
- A worker can be placed with another business only through a registered temporary employment agency. Otherwise the application is refused.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- New act on employing foreigners: labour market test abolished, applications online only, new grounds for refusal (1 Jun 2025). Employer fees raised about fourfold (1 Dec 2025).
Official source · EOR providers in Poland · Link to this row
- Route
- Employee card (zaměstnanecká karta).
- Processing time
- 60 days; 90 to 120 days in complex cases or where the Labour Office gives a binding opinion.
- Client placement
- Agencies may assign employee card and EU Blue Card holders only to job types listed in a government regulation, with the vacancy reported and a contract with the user company.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Holders without free labour market access now have 90 days, up from 60, to report a new employer after a job ends (1 Oct 2025).
Official source · EOR providers in Czech Republic · Czech employee card guide · Link to this row
- Route
- Right to work permit for foreign employees, followed by a D1 visa or a work residence permit.
- Processing time
- 30 calendar days, or 10 working days expedited.
- Client placement
- The permit is tied to one employer and one position, and any transfer is prohibited.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Right to work made mandatory (1 Mar 2026). Labour market test removed, with employer quotas and turnover thresholds added (9 Jul 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Georgia · Link to this row
- Route
- B/1 foreign expert work permit and visa.
- Processing time
- No official processing time is published.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Expert minimum wage raised to ILS 27,132 a month and government fees increased (1 Jan 2026), per a law firm update.
- Route
- Work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), followed by a residence visa.
- Processing time
- 2 working days for the MOHRE permit.
- Client placement
- An employer may not let a worker work for others except where the law allows it.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- New wage protection system rules (1 Jun 2026). Emiratisation targets for the first half of 2026 fell due on 30 Jun 2026.
Official source · EOR providers in United Arab Emirates · Link to this row
- Route
- Employment Pass.
- Processing time
- Within 10 business days online for Singapore-registered companies; within 6 weeks for most overseas companies applying through a local sponsor.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Salary floors rise for new applications from 1 Jan 2027 (renewals from 1 Jan 2028), to between SGD 6,000 and SGD 11,500 a month, or SGD 6,600 and SGD 12,700 in financial services.
Official source · EOR providers in Singapore · Link to this row
- Route
- General Employment Policy for professionals.
- Processing time
- About 4 weeks after all documents and the fee are received.
Official source · EOR providers in Hong Kong · Link to this row
- Route
- Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services status of residence.
- Processing time
- Certificate of Eligibility: 1 to 3 months. Change of status: 1 to 2 months.
- Client placement
- Dispatch to a client is allowed only with a fixed destination when filing, written pledges from the dispatching company and the client, and the dispatch contract.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Revised documents for dispatched workers (9 Mar 2026). Extra documents for smaller employers and B2 language proof for language-based roles (15 Apr 2026). Residence fees raised (1 Oct 2026).
- Route
- E-7-1 specially designated activities (professional).
- Processing time
- No official processing time confirmed.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- New E-7 wage floors, including KRW 31.12 million for E-7-1, per a law firm publication (1 Feb 2026). Dependants can no longer apply for the F-3 visa from inside Korea (Apr 2025).
Official source · EOR providers in South Korea · Link to this row
- Route
- Foreigner's work permit (Category A or B), followed by a Z visa and a work residence permit.
- Processing time
- Decision within 20 working days of acceptance, extendable by 10. Beijing advertises 3 working days of pre-check plus 5 of processing.
- Client placement
- Dispatch is allowed only with a three-way agreement between the dispatching agency, the worker and the Chinese employer, and the contract must list up to five work cities.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Beijing and Shanghai began strictly enforcing salary thresholds for Category A and salary-based Category B permits (mid-Feb 2026). A new K visa for young STEM talent needs no employer sponsor (1 Oct 2025).
- Route
- Work permit for specialised or technical work from the Ministry of Labor, followed by a resident visa and residence certificate.
- Processing time
- 7 working days online; 12 working days on paper in exceptional cases.
- Client placement
- The permit is employer-specific. Working for anyone else is an offence that bars new applications for three years. A foreign company may send workers to Taiwan to perform a contract for up to 90 days.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Foreign Professionals Act amendments eased experience rules for graduates of top universities and let spouses apply directly (1 Jan 2026). Online review standard set at 7 working days (13 Apr 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Taiwan · Link to this row
- Route
- Employment visa sponsored by an Indian company or organisation, with registration on arrival.
- Processing time
- No processing time is published.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025 and its rules took effect (1 Sep 2025), with an amendment to the rules on 1 Jun 2026.
- Route
- Alien Employment Permit from the labour department, plus a 9(g) pre-arranged employment visa from the Bureau of Immigration.
- Processing time
- Alien Employment Permit: 15 working days from payment. The visa stage has no published time.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Permit rules revised in 2025, and all permit functions moved to the Bureau of Local Employment (11 Jun 2026). Visas for economic zone companies can proceed while the permit is pending (26 Aug 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Philippines · Link to this row
- Route
- Foreign worker utilisation plan (RPTKA) approved by the manpower ministry, then an E23 work visa and limited stay permit.
- Processing time
- RPTKA: 2 working days after assessment. Work visa: 4 working days after payment.
- Client placement
- The plan is specific to one employer and position. Employing someone on another employer's plan is sanctioned.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Joint decision to connect the investment and manpower systems for permit processing (9 Sep 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Indonesia · Link to this row
- Route
- Work permit from the Department of Employment, plus an employment visa (now in the L-A labour group). BOI-promoted companies use the Single Window.
- Processing time
- No official processing time confirmed.
- Client placement
- The permit names the employer, position, job and workplace or province. Working outside it is an offence, and changing workplace needs a notification and a fee.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Seventeen non-immigrant visa categories merged into seven groups, with employment now under L-A (31 Aug 2025). More target industries for the long-term resident visa for highly skilled professionals (15 Jun 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Thailand · Link to this row
- Route
- Work permit under Decree 219/2025 for managers, executives, experts and technical workers, then a temporary residence card.
- Processing time
- 10 working days after a complete file, which must be filed 10 to 60 days before the start date.
- Client placement
- The permit is tied to the employer, position and form of work. Working for another employer or changing position needs a new permit.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Decree 219/2025 replaced Decree 152/2020: separate demand approval abolished, job posting cut to 5 business days, online filing and one two-year extension only (7 Aug 2025).
Official source · EOR providers in Vietnam · Link to this row
- Route
- Employment Pass, Categories I to III.
- Processing time
- 5 working days once all documents are in.
- Client placement
- The holder may work only for the company named on the pass. A new employer means a new application.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Revised expatriate salary policy roughly doubled the thresholds (1 Jun 2026). Appeal window cut to 14 days (15 May 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Malaysia · Link to this row
- Route
- Prior residence authorisation for work under an employment contract, then a temporary work visa.
- Processing time
- The justice ministry estimates 130 to 180 days. The law sets 60 days for a decision.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Employer and attorney signatures must now be made through gov.br, and files that do not comply are returned (April 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Brazil · Link to this row
- Route
- Temporary resident visa with permission to work, based on a job offer from an employer registered with the National Migration Institute.
- Processing time
- The consulate issues the visa within 10 business days of the interview.
- Client placement
- Supplying your own staff to work for another business is prohibited. Only specialised services outside the client's core business, by providers on the labour ministry's register, are allowed.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Work visa guidelines amended: applications must state the on-site, remote or hybrid arrangement and include a new support letter and company details (15 May 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Mexico · Link to this row
- Route
- M (migrant) visa in the worker category, valid for up to three years.
- Processing time
- 30 calendar days once the application is complete and the fee paid.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- New visa fee schedule, with the M visa at USD 260 in total (1 Apr 2026).
Official source · EOR providers in Colombia · Link to this row
- Route
- Temporary residence as a migrant worker, on a pre-contract with a registered employer.
- Processing time
- No processing time is published.
- Changes since Jan 2025
- Decree 366/2025 tightened residence and citizenship criteria (29 May 2025). Its effect on the worker category is not detailed.
Official source · EOR providers in Argentina · Link to this row
05 · Salary floors
Fixed salary floors run from USD 14,686 in Malaysia to USD 104,304 in Israel
18 of the 33 countries with a stated rule set a fixed minimum salary for their main skilled route. The median is USD 52,722 a year. Eight more require the market or collective agreement rate for the job, and seven set no floor above the national minimum wage.
Fixed salary floors for the main skilled work route
No fixed floor: the market rate applies
- United StatesHigher of actual or prevailing wage
- CanadaPrevailing wage (Job Bank median)
- New ZealandMarket rate; median wage rule removed Mar 2025
- GermanyComparable domestic pay; EUR 55,770 floor only for first-time applicants 45+
- ItalyCollective agreement pay; Blue Card at ISTAT average; 2026 quota: 76,200 non-seasonal employee places (164,850 including seasonal and self-employed)
- Hong KongMarket level for professionals
- JapanEqual to a Japanese national in a comparable role
- ArgentinaCollective agreement pay
No route floor above the minimum wage
- PolandNational minimum wage PLN 4,806 a month
- Czech RepublicNational minimum wage
- GeorgiaNo route minimum
- United Arab EmiratesNo route minimum
- ChinaNo floor on standard Category B beyond local minimum wage
- VietnamNo route minimum
- BrazilNo floor; equal-pay rule
06 · Rule changes
27 of 37 countries changed the rules of their main skilled work route since January 2025
We separated real rule changes from routine updates. Another 7 countries only indexed their salary thresholds or fees, and Singapore's next change is announced but not yet in force. The dated steps below are the ones most likely to change a hiring plan.
2025
17 Jan 2025 · United States
H-1B modernisation rule takes effect
Revised specialty occupation and third-party placement rules
10 Mar 2025 · New Zealand
Median wage rule removed for the AEWV
Market rate applies; experience needed cut to two years
1 Jun 2025 · Poland
Labour market test abolished
New act on employing foreigners, online applications only
22 Jul 2025 · United Kingdom
Skilled Worker floor rises to GBP 41,700
Most medium-skilled roles removed from the route
7 Aug 2025 · Vietnam
Decree 219/2025 replaces Decree 152
Separate demand approval abolished
21 Sep 2025 · United States
USD 100,000 payment for new H-1B petitions
Applies to workers outside the US
2026
1 Jan 2026 · Belgium (Flanders)
Economic migration reform
Highly qualified route narrowed; stricter labour market test
27 Feb 2026 · United States
Wage-weighted H-1B selection
Higher wage levels get more entries in the FY2027 draw
1 Mar 2026 · Georgia
Right to work becomes mandatory
Foreign employees need a work permit before starting
1 Jun 2026 · Malaysia
Revised expatriate salary policy
Employment Pass salary floors roughly doubled
9 Jul 2026 · Georgia
Labour market test removed, quotas added
Employer quotas and turnover thresholds apply
30 Sep 2026 · United States
Court blocks the USD 100,000 payment
Not collected while the order stands; appeal filed 9 Oct
Sources: official gazettes and immigration authority pages for each country, listed in the methodology. The US court ruling of 30 Sep 2026 and the appeal are from law firm reports of the case.
07 · Employer surveys
Half of employers in EY's survey passed up business because of immigration problems
No statistics office measures how companies run international assignments, so this chapter relies on surveys. We show each one with its sample and label who ran it.
51%
of employers did not pursue a business opportunity in the past two years because of immigration issues.
EY 2026 Mobility Reimagined survey (22 Apr 2026). 1,038 respondents: 528 employers and 510 employees.
80%
of employees said a mobility opportunity made them more likely to stay with their employer.
Same EY survey, employee sample of 510.
72%
of employers report difficulty filling roles, down from 74% a year earlier. AI model and application development was the hardest skill to find.
ManpowerGroup Global Talent Shortage 2026 (26 Feb 2026). 39,063 employers in 41 countries, surveyed in October 2025.
Relocation volumes. About two-thirds of companies with cross-border moves expect the same or more relocations in 2026, and 66% expect international short-term assignments, according to Cartus's 2026 Global Mobility Survey (11 Mar 2026). Cartus is a relocation provider and does not publish its sample size, so we keep the figure out of our findings.
08 · For employers
Sponsoring a hire through an EOR works in most countries, if the job stays with you
The pattern across our 37 countries is consistent: the sponsor has to be local, and the person has to work for the sponsor. An EOR can meet the first test with its own entity. The second depends on how the country reads the client relationship.
Usually workable through an EOR
- The EOR's entity holds a sponsor licence or registration in that country, and the permit names it as employer
- The country has no placement rule, or allows fixed-term client projects with an end date, as the UK does
- Australia, which accepts sponsorship from an overseas business, and Singapore, where an overseas company applies through a local sponsor
Needs a different route or a closer check
- Germany refuses approval where the worker would be a temporary agency worker
- Canada does not treat staffing agencies as the employer for an LMIA
- Poland and the Czech Republic allow placement only through a registered agency, and Japan and China only with a dispatch arrangement filed with the application
- The six countries where the permit names one employer and workplace
Check the placement rule first. 19 of 37 countries restrict it. Ask the provider how the permit will describe the role and who directs the work.
Confirm the sponsor licence. 26 of 29 countries require a local sponsor. Ask whether the EOR's entity in that country is already licensed or registered, or has to apply.
Set the salary against the right floor. 18 countries publish a fixed floor; eight use the market rate, which the authority checks job by job.
Plan for the labour market test. 20 of 27 countries with a stated rule require one at least in some cases, which adds advertising time before you can file.
Ask about the family. A spouse can work without their own permit in 15 of 29 countries. In South Korea, India and Indonesia they cannot.
Compare with your own company. If you plan several sponsored hires in one country, price an entity too. Our EOR vs entity setup guide sets out the steps and our EOR visa and work permit guide covers the paperwork.
Context
The global totals behind the employer figures
304M
international migrants worldwide, 3.7% of the world's population
UN DESA, mid-2024
167.7M
international migrants in the global labour force, 4.7% of all workers
ILO, 2022 data, published Dec 2024
68.4%
of migrant workers are in high-income countries
ILO, 2022 data, published Dec 2024
Methodology
How we built this report
Between 18 and 25 October 2026 we read 200 source pages for the visa rules and checked every headline figure at its publisher. 83% of the visa rule cells come from immigration authorities, labour ministries or law texts; the rest come from law firm or Big Four publications and are labelled in the row detail.
One route per country
For each of the 37 countries we chose the main route an employer uses to sponsor a skilled hire, and recorded seven rules for it. EU Blue Card rules are noted where they differ.
Silent is not the same as no
Where the official text says nothing, the cell reads Not stated. Where we could not read the official page, it reads Unverified. Both are left out of every count, and each count shows its denominator.
Flows from the publisher
Every flow figure comes from the publisher's own release or database. Surveys are labelled with who ran them and kept out of the key findings. Amounts convert to USD at ECB rates for 23 October 2026.
Every change logged
When a figure or a rule changes we record the date, old value, new value and source below. Our editorial guidelines explain how we check sources.
- 25 Oct 2026Report moved from the EmployerRecords blog to Research and rebuilt around a 37-country check of skilled work visa rules. Remittance figures, migrant safety data and the permanent establishment update were removed as outside the employer scope.
- 25 Oct 2026BCG talent flows now use the Q2 2026 Top Talent Tracker: 3.3 million moves in 2025. The previous edition's 2.4 million covered a different window and base and is not comparable.
- 25 Oct 2026US H-1B: we show the FY2026 registration count published by USCIS (343,981 eligible registrations). USCIS has not yet published FY2027 registration figures on its own pages.
All sources (218)
Statistics
BCG, Top Talent Tracker Q2 2026, Jun 2026
BCG, Top Talent Tracker report (PDF), Jun 2026
OECD, International Migration Outlook 2025, chapter 1, Nov 2025
Eurostat, first residence permits by reason (migr_resfirst), 2025 data
Eurostat, residence permits and EU Blue Cards, 2024 data
UK Home Office, Why do people come to the UK? Work, Aug 2026
USCIS, H-1B electronic registration process, Oct 2026
Australian Department of Home Affairs, temporary resident (skilled) report, Dec 2025
IRCC, Immigration Levels Plan 2026 to 2028, 2025
German Federal Foreign Office, visa statistics, Feb 2026
EY, 2026 Mobility Reimagined survey, Apr 2026
ManpowerGroup, Global Talent Shortage 2026, Feb 2026
Cartus, Global Mobility Survey 2026, Mar 2026
UN DESA, International Migrant Stock 2024: key facts and figures, 2025
ILO, global estimates on international migrants in the labour force, Dec 2024
Ogletree Deakins, court order on the H-1B payment, Oct 2026
Bloomberg Law, appeal of the H-1B payment ruling, Oct 2026
ECB euro reference rates, 23 Oct 2026
Visa rules, by country
United States: dol.gov, law.cornell.edu, gtlaw.com, ecfr.gov, govinfo.gov, hollandhart.com, uscis.gov, ecfr.gov, whitehouse.gov
United Kingdom: gov.uk, gov.uk, gov.uk, gov.uk, gov.uk, gov.uk, gov.uk
Canada: canada.ca, canada.ca, canada.ca, canada.ca
Australia: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, envoyglobal.com, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, ahclawyers.com, resourcehub.bakermckenzie.com, australianmigrationlawyers.com.au, vialtopartners.com, eiglaw.com
New Zealand: immigration.govt.nz, immigration.govt.nz, immigration.govt.nz, immigration.govt.nz, immigration.govt.nz, eiglaw.com
Ireland: enterprise.gov.ie, enterprise.gov.ie, enterprise.gov.ie
Germany: make-it-in-germany.com, make-it-in-germany.com, gesetze-im-internet.de, gesetze-im-internet.de, gesetze-im-internet.de, gesetze-im-internet.de, gesetze-im-internet.de
Netherlands: ind.nl, ind.nl, ind.nl, business.gov.nl, ind.nl
France: welcome.businessfrance.fr, service-public.gouv.fr, welcome.businessfrance.fr, welcome.businessfrance.fr, welcome.businessfrance.fr
Belgium: economie-emploi.brussels, kpmg.com, vlaanderen.be, vlaanderen.be, commissioner.brussels, ey.com, vlaanderen.be
Austria: migration.gv.at, migration.gv.at, migration.gv.at, migration.gv.at, migration.gv.at
Spain: inclusion.gob.es, boe.es, inclusion.gob.es, inclusion.gob.es, inclusion.gob.es, investinspain.org, boe.gob.es, inclusion.gob.es
Italy: integrazionemigranti.gov.it, arlettipartners.com, diritto.it, cs.camcom.it, assolombarda.it, integrazionemigranti.gov.it, money.it, assolombarda.it
Denmark: nyidanmark.dk, nyidanmark.dk
Finland: migri.fi, migri.fi, migri.fi, migri.fi, assets.kpmg.com
Norway: udi.no, udiregelverk.no, udi.no, udi.no, udi.no
Poland: monki.praca.gov.pl, krakow.kbw.gov.pl, zielonalinia.gov.pl, wloclawek.praca.gov.pl, grantthornton.pl, grantthornton.pl
Czech Republic: mzv.gov.cz, envoyglobal.com, mzv.gov.cz, mzv.gov.cz, up.gov.cz, arws.cz, mzv.gov.cz, ipc.gov.cz, mv.gov.cz
Georgia: matsne.gov.ge, kpmg.com, matsne.gov.ge
Israel: meitar.com, newlandchase.com, lawoffice.org.il
United Arab Emirates: mohre.gov.ae, mohre.gov.ae, u.ae, envoyglobal.com
Singapore: mom.gov.sg, mom.gov.sg, mom.gov.sg, mom.gov.sg, mom.gov.sg, mom.gov.sg
Hong Kong: immd.gov.hk, immd.gov.hk
Japan: moj.go.jp, japaneselawtranslation.go.jp, moj.go.jp, moj.go.jp, moj.go.jp, moj.go.jp
South Korea: thekoreanlawblog.com, hikorea.go.kr, hkg.mofa.go.kr, ibs.re.kr, incheon.go.kr, fragomen.com
China: english.shanghai.gov.cn, kjj.xuancheng.gov.cn, english.shanghai.gov.cn, en.nia.gov.cn, english.beijing.gov.cn, kpmg.com
Taiwan: law.moj.gov.tw, ezworktaiwan.wda.gov.tw, ezworktaiwan.wda.gov.tw, assets.kpmg.com, law.moj.gov.tw
India: cgisf.gov.in, psalegal.com, hcilondon.gov.in, indianvisaonline.gov.in, thc.nic.in
Philippines: immigration.gov.ph, bwc.dole.gov.ph, kpmg.com, kpmg.com
Indonesia: imigrasi.go.id, jdih.kemnaker.go.id, dfdl.com, imigrasi.go.id, ssek.com, imigrasi.go.id, jdih.kemnaker.go.id
Thailand: washingtondc.thaiembassy.org, osos.boi.go.th, thailawonline.com, thailawonline.com, smart-visa.boi.go.th, kpmg.com
Vietnam: english.luatvietnam.vn, tilleke.com, thuvienphapluat.vn
Malaysia: esd.imi.gov.my, esd.imi.gov.my, kpmg.com, kpmg.com, esd.imi.gov.my, esd.imi.gov.my, esd.imi.gov.my
Brazil: planalto.gov.br, aurum.com.br, schiefler.adv.br, gov.br, planalto.gov.br, ey.com
Mexico: diputados.gob.mx, diputados.gob.mx, diputados.gob.mx, diputados.gob.mx, kpmg.com
Colombia: cancilleria.gov.co, cancilleria.gov.co, cancilleria.gov.co, cancilleria.gov.co
Argentina: argentina.gob.ar, argentina.gob.ar, kpmg.com
FAQ
Global mobility and work visa questions, answered with the data
What are the latest global mobility statistics?
BCG counted 3.3 million cross-border moves by highly skilled workers in 2025, down 11.6% from 3.7 million. OECD countries took in 6.2 million new permanent immigrants in 2024, and permanent labour migration fell 21% to 934,000. The EU issued 1.30 million first residence permits for work in 2025, up 16.1%.
How many skilled workers moved abroad in 2025?
BCG's Top Talent Tracker counted 3.3 million cross-border moves among the 221 million highly skilled professionals it tracks, about 430,000 fewer than in 2024. STEM movers fell 13.2% to 854,000, AI specialists 12.0% to 315,000 and PhD researchers 19.0% to 164,000.
Can an employer of record sponsor a work visa?
In most countries the sponsor must be a locally registered entity, which an EOR's own entity can be: 26 of 29 countries with a stated rule require one. The limit is placement. 19 of 37 countries restrict a sponsored worker from working for a business other than the sponsor, so check that rule first. See can an EOR sponsor a work visa.
Which countries have the highest salary threshold for a skilled work visa?
Of the 18 countries with a fixed floor, Israel's expert rate is the highest at ILS 325,584 a year (USD 104,304), followed by Denmark at DKK 552,000 (USD 82,658) and the Netherlands at EUR 71,304 (USD 79,811) for workers aged 30 and over. The median across the 18 is USD 52,722. Malaysia's Category III floor is the lowest at MYR 60,000 (USD 14,686).
How many work visas did the UK issue in 2026?
The UK granted 234,841 work visas, including dependants, in the year to June 2026. That is 18% fewer than a year earlier and 62% below the peak of 613,627 in the year to December 2023. Skilled Worker visas to main applicants fell 30% to 26,894.
How many H-1B registrations were there?
USCIS received 343,981 eligible registrations for the FY2026 H-1B cap, 26.9% fewer than the 470,342 for FY2025, from about 57,600 employers. For FY2027, USCIS has received enough petitions to reach both the 65,000 regular cap and the 20,000 master's cap.
Is the USD 100,000 H-1B payment still in force?
The payment applies to new H-1B petitions for workers outside the US and was extended to 21 September 2027. On 30 September 2026 a federal court in California blocked the agencies from enforcing it until they complete notice-and-comment rulemaking, so it is not being collected. The government appealed on 9 October 2026, and DHS says it will collect the payment if the order is lifted.
How many work permits does the EU issue?
EU countries issued 1,295,687 first residence permits for work to non-EU citizens in 2025, up 16.1%, out of 3.86 million first permits in total. Poland issued the most at 318,186, followed by Portugal, Spain and Germany. Germany also granted 72% of the 78,096 EU Blue Cards issued in 2024.