August 2026 Outbound Immigration and Global Mobility Recap | APAC

Also Authored by Melvin Ng and Riduan Fattah

Clark Hill’s Outbound Immigration & Global Mobility practice guides corporate clients and individuals through complex global immigration challenges worldwide. We pride ourselves on creative, compliant, and people-centered solutions – looking at global mobility from a holistic perspective in an ever-changing immigration environment. Our team assists with short-term assignments, long-term relocations, consular processing, document procurement, document legalizations/apostilles, and business visas in 100+ countries worldwide.

Below is an overview of the major updates from August 2026 in the Asia-Pacific region.

Australia

New Processing Priority Framework Introduced

The Australian government has introduced a new processing priority framework that establishes a revised processing order for a range of employer-sponsored, skilled, and regional migration visa applications. Some of the more common visas include the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Skilled Independent (subclass 189), Skilled Nominated (subclass 190), Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491), and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494).

Under the framework, the highest priority is given to applicants in occupations supporting Australia’s law enforcement and defense interests. This is followed by applicants in specified healthcare, teaching, and construction occupations. Applicants already in Australia also have higher priority over those applying offshore. The new policy removes the previous processing priority afforded to regional positions and nominations lodged by accredited sponsors. The revised priority order applies to all applications lodged on or after July 25, 2026, including earlier applications that have not yet been finalized.

The Family Migration category increased priority for onshore applications. The National Innovation visa priority order continues to favor globally recognized experts, government-nominated applicants, and individuals with exceptional achievements in Tier 1 priority sectors, including critical technologies, renewable and low-emission technologies, and health industries.

Singapore

Ministry of Manpower Releases New Salary Benchmarking Table

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has released the upcoming salary benchmarking table for the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), which will apply to initial EP applications starting January 1, 2027, and EP renewal applications of passes expiring July 2027.

The following EP qualifying salary requirements apply to new applications and renewals:

 

Sector	Current minimum qualifying salary	Minimum qualifying salary for new applications from January 1, 2027, and for renewal of passes expiring January 1, 2028
All (except financial services)	$5,600 (increases progressively with age from age 23, up to $10,700 at age 45 and above)	$6,000 (increases progressively with age from age 23, up to $11,500 at age 45 and above)
Financial services	$6,200 (increases progressively with age from age 23, up to $11,800 at age 45 and above)	$6,600 (increases progressively with age from age 23, up to $12,700 at age 45 and above)

 

Impact on Employers:

To earn points under the C1 salary criterion, employers must ensure that their foreign employees meet the minimum salary requirements specified in the COMPASS benchmarking table. Failure to meet these salary thresholds will result in the foreign national’s inability to qualify for points under category C1, which is necessary to contribute to the minimum 40 points required to obtain or renew an EP.

China

New Strict Exit and Entry Policies Introduced

From September 15, 2026, the following new exit and entry policies will take effect in China:

Stricter scrutiny of immigration applications: Immigration authorities have the discretion to request additional supporting documents and information to verify an applicant’s identity and purpose. Those who knowingly submit false materials or statements may have their immigration application refused or be denied entry or exit. Furthermore, those who issue false invitation letters or other application materials can be fined RMB 5,000-10,000. Corporations can be fined RMB 10,000-50,000, with additional fines for responsible supervisors/personnel and confiscation of illegal gains.

New entry restrictions for foreign nationals: Foreigners who provide false materials or statements when applying for a Chinese visa or seeking entry at a port may be prohibited from entering China for one to five years. Similar entry bans may apply to foreign nationals penalized for certain border-control or immigration violations. Restrictions may also apply to individuals included on specified countermeasures or entity lists.

Increased Access to China’s 240-hour Visa-Free Transit Program

The policies for transiting travelers have been relaxed further, and nationals of Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam are now eligible to access China’s 240-hour visa-free transit program. They must enter and exit through approved ports across 24 permitted provincial-level regions in China and hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. The 10 days are calculated from midnight after the day of arrival. The allowable activities include tourism, business, and family visits. This expansion brings the total number of eligible countries to 57.

Malaysia

Increase in Salary Threshold for Exemption from the Labor Market Testing

The salary threshold for the exemption from the Labor Market Testing (LMT) process under MyFutureJobs has increased from MYR 15,000 to MYR 20,000. This change aligns with the revised Employment Pass salary framework introduced on June 1, 2026. Under the revised threshold, positions offering monthly salaries below MYR 20,000 may now be subject to the LMT process unless they qualify for another exemption.

The existing exemptions remain unchanged and include positions with a monthly base salary of MYR 20,000 or more, senior management positions, intra-company transfers, Representative Office/Regional Office (RERO) positions, investors, shareholders and company owners, organizations covered by the International Organizations (Privileges and Immunities) Act, positions in the sports sector, and Employment Pass renewals.

Photo Verification for eVisa Online Applications

The Expatriate Services Division (ESD) has announced that a Photo Verification section for eVisa online applications will be available from August 21, 2026. This enhancement facilitates early verification of passport photos and helps ensure compliance with the required photo specifications for MyVISA applications.

The following enhancements will be available via ESD Online:

• Public Photo Verification for Applicants:

A photo verification section will be available on the ESD Online landing page and can be accessed by the public without logging in. Applicants may use this feature to verify that their passport photo meets the required specifications before sharing it with their employer for the expatriate application.

• Photo Verification for Employers:

The photo verification feature will also be available within the ESD Online application interface, allowing the listed person in the Letter of Undertaking (LOU) from the employer’s side to recheck and verify the applicant’s passport photo before submitting the expatriate application.

Applicants and employers are encouraged to utilize the Photo Verification feature to ensure passport photos comply with the required specifications before submitting an expatriate application. This enhancement forms part of our continuous efforts to improve the application process and minimize issues arising from non-compliant passport photos during the MyVISA application process.

New Zealand

New Selection Process for the Parent Resident Visa

Effective October 5, 2026, the government will introduce a new selection process for the Parent Resident Visa (PRV). Under the revised approach, approximately 90% of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will be selected according to their position in the queue, while the remaining 10% will be chosen through a ballot. The annual limit will remain at 2,500 PRVs per financial year, and the eligibility criteria for applicants and sponsors will not change. The August 2026 selection will proceed under the existing rules, with the first selection using the new model scheduled for November 2026.

EOIs already in the pool will transfer automatically to the new system, without applicants needing to file a replacement EOI. Generally, individuals who have continuously maintained an EOI (including those who lodged a replacement within 90 days after an earlier EOI expired) will retain a queue position linked to the date their original EOI was accepted. Additionally, EOIs will no longer expire after two years. Instead, applicants will need to reconfirm every two years, at no additional cost, that they wish to remain in the pool and ensure their information remains current.

The government is expected to provide further transition guidance to current and previous EOI holders before the effective date, with information on individual queue positions becoming available after the new system takes effect.

Vietnam

Updated Administrative Penalties for Labor-Related Violations

Effective September 10, 2026, the Vietnamese government will introduce updated administrative penalties for labor-related violations. This includes new penalties for employers that fail to submit, or submit late, mandatory work notifications concerning employees working at multiple locations, work permit or work permit exemption certificate (WP/WPEC) cancellations, and other reporting obligations prescribed by the labor authorities.

Individuals who employ foreign workers may face fines ranging from VND 1 million to VND 3 million for reporting violations. Fines for organizations are generally double those applicable to individuals, ranging from VND 2 million to VND 6 million. The decree also introduces specific penalties for using forged or altered documents to obtain a WP/WPEC.

Expanded Availability of Electronic Identification under the VNeID System

From September 28, 2026, the eligibility to obtain an electronic identification account under the VNeID system will be expanded to foreign nationals residing in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Under the previous framework, eligibility for foreign nationals was limited to those holding a Vietnam Permanent Residence Card or Temporary Residence Card. Under the new provisions, foreign nationals who legally enter Vietnam or legally reside in Vietnam (in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) may request for an electronic identification account to be set up.

Obtaining a Level 2 electronic identification account may require the applicant to appear in person at an appointment so authorities can verify the applicant’s information and collect the necessary biometric data, including facial images and fingerprints.

For additional information, please contact Clark Hill’s APAC team at apac@clarkhill.com.

For further information on any of the updates in this bulletin, reach out to one of the members of our Outbound Immigration & Global Mobility team.

To view August’s updates for the EMEA and Americas regions, click the respective region.

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