European Union: General Immigration

Starting September 1, 2026, employers in the Flemish Region will face a new EUR 180 fee for each single permit application, adding to the existing federal charge and bringing the total cost to EUR 332 per application. This regional retribution covers administrative processing costs and applies to both initial applications and renewals, with no refunds for refused applications. Employers planning to submit applications should consider doing so before the September deadline to avoid the additional expense.

Non-EU nationals in Cyprus face serious legal consequences when they miss the 90-day residency application deadline. Despite having appointments scheduled by immigration offices, applicants can find themselves in unlawful presence status, facing rejections and long-term complications. Understanding the distinction between district unit acceptance and final approval is critical to avoiding these pitfalls.

Malta's citizenship and taxation systems operate independently, with tax obligations determined by residence and domicile rather than nationality. The Malta Citizenship by Merit programme allows individuals to acquire citizenship while benefiting from the country's non-domiciled tax regime, which taxes only Malta-sourced income and foreign income remitted to Malta.