Against the backdrop of a constantly evolving global immigration landscape, each major immigration expo serves not only as a platform for showcasing immigration programs but also as a crucial window for releasing information on the latest immigration policies of various countries. For those planning to immigrate, expos offer a one-stop opportunity to understand the latest policies, reform trends, and practical details of different countries. As countries worldwide continuously adjust their immigration systems to address demographic changes, labor demands, and social welfare pressures, attendees can directly obtain the latest policy information from official representatives, policy experts, and immigration consultants on-site, rather than relying on secondary sources such as the internet or intermediaries. This is significant for choosing an immigration destination, developing an immigration plan, and even making future arrangements for their families.
Policy updates reported at immigration expos often cover multiple aspects, including residency rights, work permits, social welfare, family reunification conditions, and pathways to legalizing undocumented immigrants. These policy changes may reflect a country’s strategic adjustments in response to an aging population, economic development needs, or international talent competition, thus having a profound impact on immigrants’ choices and decisions. For example, some European countries may gradually relax certain immigration conditions due to persistently low birth rates, while other countries may strengthen border controls to curb illegal immigration. At the expo, policy announcements combined with real-world case studies allowed attendees to more intuitively understand how these changes would affect their immigration paths, which was far more valuable than simply reading textual materials.
Spain
In recent international policy discussions, Spain announced a major immigration reform measure, becoming a hot topic at many immigration expos. The Spanish government passed a royal decree in early 2026 planning to grant legal status to potentially up to 500,000 undocumented immigrants. This policy will allow eligible individuals to obtain a legal residence permit for up to one year, along with rights such as work permits, making it one of the largest legalization programs in Europe. The core condition for this reform is that applicants must have resided in Spain for at least five months by December 31, 2025, and have no criminal record. This means that current long-term residents in the country have the opportunity to escape their “undocumented” status, enter the formal legal system, and enjoy basic social rights such as employment, healthcare, and housing. This measure is also seen as a strategy for Spain to address its aging population and improve its labor supply. This new policy garnered significant attention at the expo, particularly from immigrants from Latin America and Africa who hoped it would provide a more stable foundation for their lives.
Canada
While specific information from the expo might not focus on particular policy changes, analysis of various policies reveals that the country remains committed to a core policy of skilled and economic immigration. According to the latest global immigration policy summary, Canada plans to maintain stable immigration numbers in the coming years, with a further increase in the proportion of economic permanent residency (such as Federal Skilled Worker Program and Provincial Nominee Programs). This adjustment signifies Canada’s continued welcome of skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and highly educated individuals to support its long-term economic growth and labor market needs. As other countries tighten their low-skilled immigration policies, Canada’s relatively relaxed and clear skilled immigration pathway attracted a large number of applicants hoping to open immigration opportunities through employment, becoming a popular topic of discussion at the expo. Furthermore, many immigration experts at the expo reminded applicants to pay attention to changes in Canadian Provincial Nominee Programs and updates to the occupational demand lists to improve their application success rate.
China’s Policies
While China is not a traditional destination for immigrants in the traditional sense, it has introduced a series of favorable measures in recent years regarding its entry and exit policies. These policies are frequently discussed in immigration and international talent communities and are shared as key content at immigration expos. According to official announcements, China has expanded the scope of countries eligible for its visa-free transit policy, extended the permitted stay, and increased the number of visa-free channels, significantly facilitating tourism, business, and exchange for foreigners. Furthermore, China has optimized its talent recruitment policies, such as expanding the scope of talent visa services, providing document facilitation for residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, and improving efficiency through measures like smart customs clearance. These changes are often mentioned during direct exchanges with international audiences at immigration expos, as many attendees are not only interested in policies for emigration but also in the ease of entry and exit from China and the conditions for talent exchange, which have significant implications for their future cross-border lives and development.
The UK and Other Countries
Immigration policies of countries like the UK are also a focus of discussion at specialized immigration expos and policy forums. For example, the UK government’s Immigration White Paper proposed reducing net migration, raising screening standards for skilled workers, and strengthening the link between the labor market and skills demand. These policy directions were interpreted at the expo as the UK’s efforts to manage immigration and protect local employment, providing valuable reference for applicants planning to immigrate to the UK through skilled or work visas. Furthermore, some reports indicated a tightening trend in EU immigration and asylum policies, accompanied by adjustments in refugee and illegal immigration management by member states. These international political trends were also discussed at the expo, helping applicants understand the overall direction of the international immigration environment.
The new policies of popular countries revealed at the current immigration expo include both specific legal reforms (such as Spain’s large-scale legalization of undocumented immigrants) and long-term trend adjustments (such as Canada increasing the proportion of economic immigrants and the UK tightening immigration standards). Meanwhile, China’s optimization of entry and exit facilitation and talent visas has become an undeniable policy dynamic in international exchange and talent mobility. These policy changes were not only interpreted by professional consultants and policy experts at the expo but also directly influenced the decisions of countless people planning to immigrate or develop across borders. Therefore, when participating in exhibitions, visitors should pay attention to the latest policy releases from various countries, compare and judge them in light of their own conditions, and make their immigration plans more in line with the current policy environment and future goals.
