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 wholistic 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 June 2026 in the Asia-Pacific region.
India
Tightening Regulations Around Registration of Foreigners
The Ministry of Home Affairs has tightened the regulations regarding registration at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
Foreigners intending to stay in India for more than 180 days are now required to complete their FRRO registration before crossing this deadline. Previously, they were required to register within 14 days after crossing this threshold. Under the revised rules, they must initiate registration before completing 180 days of stay, and such registration will be approved only in exceptional circumstances.
The MHA has further clarified that a child’s birth in India does not need to be registered with the FRRO provided either one of the parents is an Indian citizen and that parent intends to retain Indian citizenship for the child. If the child acquires foreign citizenship during his/her stay in India, the authorities must be updated within 30 days. If both parents are non-Indian citizens, the child’s birth must be reported to the FRRO within 30 days of birth.
Malaysia
Changes in Foreign Knowledge Worker Application Process
For Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) registered companies, there is a change in the application process for Foreign Knowledge Worker (FKW) Quota projections effective June 3, 2026. Companies planning to request new or additional FKW headcount are required to submit an FKW Projection Request via the eXpats system. They are required to ensure that all mandatory supporting documents are complete upon submission. MDEC will review and evaluate the request based on the revised policy requirements and supporting documents submitted. Companies will then be notified via the system on the outcome of the request by the FKW Approval Committee. The processing time is 14 working days. Only approved projection headcount will enable companies to proceed with an Employment Pass (EP) application.
Additionally, companies are required to take note of the additional requirements for FKW Individual Application, i.e., EP applications from June 1, 2026:
Company’s Succession Plan: Companies are encouraged to provide succession plan information, where available, to support early readiness and alignment ahead of the annual Succession Plan declaration requirement, which will take effect from January 1, 2027. This applies to both MDEC and ESD registered companies.
Additional Supporting Documents for Specific Arrangements/Requirements: For applications under specific arrangements/requirements, companies must provide the relevant supporting documents, where applicable as follows:
- Proof of GBS Sector Operations (for Non-MD companies only)
An official letter or relevant supporting document must be provided to demonstrate that the company operates within the Global Business Services (GBS) sector. This may include:
- Membership with GBS Malaysia
- Membership with the Contact Centre Association of Malaysia (CCAM)
- Any other relevant supporting documents deemed acceptable by MDEC
- Native/Near-Native Language Requirement Justification
- Companies must clearly justify any native or near-native language requirement for the role.
New Zealand
Changes in Investment Rules for Active Investor Plus Visa Growth Category
Effective June 1, 2026, Active Investor Plus Visa Growth category applicants will be allowed to allocate up to 20% of their total investment toward philanthropic contributions.
In addition, new eligibility requirements for philanthropic investments applicable to both the Growth and Balanced categories will be implemented. To qualify, philanthropic investments must be made to New Zealand charities that:
- Are registered and have maintained at least five (5) years of compliant annual financial returns
- Hold current Inland Revenue Donee (IRD) status
- Qualify as Tier 1 to Tier 3 reporting charities
- Use the donated funds within New Zealand
Applicants may also contribute to approved Department of Conservation projects listed on the department’s website. Authorities have likewise indicated that applicants must disclose any existing relationships or connections with recipient charities, and applications may be declined where conflicts of interest are identified. Applicants under the Balanced category may continue to allocate any proportion of their total investment to philanthropy, provided the investment satisfies the updated eligibility requirements.
Change to English Language Requirements for Certain Visa and Occupations
Effective June 1, 2026, applicants for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) or National Occupation List (NOL) skill level 3 roles must meet minimum English language requirements. Currently, only AEWV applicants in skill level 4 or 5 occupations must demonstrate English language proficiency through citizenship, English-based work, or study experience or an approved English language test.
This new requirement will not apply retrospectively to individuals who already hold a valid AEWV. Applications for Global Workforce Seasonal Visa, Peak Seasonal Visa AEWV, and AEWV Job Change are also exempt.
Individuals holding an AEWV that expires on or before December 1, 2026 will be exempted from the new English language requirement when applying for a further AEWV in a skill level 3 role. Those who have already provided evidence of English language ability as part of a previous AEWV application will also remain exempt.
Philippines
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Central Office now Handles all Alien Employment Permit (AEP) Related Matters
From June 9, 2026, any Alien Employment Permit (AEP)-related matters will be handled solely by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Central Office. This includes new and renewal AEP applications, AEP exemptions, and AEP issuance. Regional offices will no longer handle AEP applications.
Pending applications received by regional offices on or before June 8, 2026 will be processed by the DOLE Central Office. As a result of this centralization, there may be some processing delays.
Together with the above changes, the Bureau of Local Employment will also manage the Labor Market Testing (LMT) process through a centralized digital platform and labor registries. The DOLE has not yet issued implementing guidelines outlining how the new process will be conducted.
Vietnam
All Online Immigration Transactions Now Require a Vietnam Electronic Identification (VNeID) Account
Effective June 1, 2026, companies are required to use a Vietnam electronic identification (VNeID) account as the sole and official authentication method for all online immigration transactions. Legacy accounts on the National Public Service Portal using digital signatures (i.e., tokens) are no longer accepted, announced the Ho Chi Minh City Immigration Office.
The VNeID system functions as a centralized electronic identification mechanism issued by the Vietnamese authorities to verify user identity when accessing public administrative services, which includes immigration procedures.
Companies should register with VNeID as soon as possible and designate authorized personnel to manage submissions through the platform to avoid any delays in processing immigration applications.
New Health Declaration Required at Border Checkpoints
From July 1, 2026, individuals entering, exiting, or transiting at Vietnam’s border checkpoints will be required to submit a health declaration within seven (7) days before their arrival date.
The declaration will include the individual’s personal details, travel itinerary, accommodation, health status, vaccination, and exposure history. This new regulation aims to enhance disease surveillance, support early detection, prevent infectious diseases, and protect public health.
Declarations may be submitted electronically or in paper form issued by the Ministry of Health. At the time of writing, the government has yet to publish a dedicated online submission link or portal for the health declaration form.
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 June’s updates for the EMEA and Americas regions, click the respective region.
This publication is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or a solicitation to provide legal services. The information in this publication is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel. The views and opinions expressed herein represent those of the individual author only and are not necessarily the views of Clark Hill PLC. Although we attempt to ensure that postings on our website are complete, accurate, and up to date, we assume no responsibility for their completeness, accuracy, or timeliness.
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