Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific immigration policy and labor market updates
Key trends shaping Asia-Pacific's labor and immigration landscape
Skilled talent attraction
Many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are competing to attract skilled workers. Hong Kong’s Talent List expansion, New Zealand’s AEWV reforms, and Australia’s MATES scheme highlight efforts to recruit professionals in fields such as technology, engineering, and healthcare.
Digital transformation in immigration
Japan’s transition to the My Number Card for health insurance and China’s integration of work permits with social security cards point to a broader trend toward digitizing immigration processes, enhancing both efficiency and compliance monitoring.
Sector-specific reforms
In response to labor shortages, countries like New Zealand and Australia have introduced sector-specific reforms. New Zealand’s seasonal visa pathways and Australia’s Skills in Demand visa are designed to address gaps in industries like agriculture and construction.
Tighter visa regulations
The trend towards stricter compliance is evident in Vietnam’s business visa restrictions and China’s foreign worker tracking system, where both countries are tightening controls to prevent misuse of visa categories and to ensure that foreign workers are complying with local regulations.
Regional talent mobility
Across the Asia-Pacific region, countries are refining their immigration policies to promote regional talent mobility, with enhanced schemes in Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. These policies are aimed at attracting high-skilled professionals to meet the evolving economic needs and ensure a competitive edge in the global market.
Elections
The most notable election in the Asia-Pacific region was the general election in Japan, which saw the new Prime Minister Ishiba hold office in a minority government. The impact of the election on global mobility and immigration policy is expected to be limited.
Country insights
Hong Kong
In the 2024 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced major reforms to attract skilled workers. These include expanding the Talent List, enhancing the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) for high-caliber professionals, and introducing a new points-based system for skilled migrants. Additionally, Hong Kong plans to extend the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) and enhance the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES), all aimed at retaining talent amidst a growing shortage.
Australia
The new Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) will allow Indian graduates and early-career professionals to live and work in Australia for up to two years, addressing skill shortages in key sectors. The Core Skills Occupation List was also updated to support the new Skills in Demand visa program, simplifying the path for skilled workers. Additionally, the government introduced a more flexible Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) to address labor shortages across various industries.
New Zealand
The New Zealand government announced several changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), including the removal of the median wage requirement and reducing the experience requirement from three years to two for skilled migrants. A new seasonal visa pathway will also be implemented, especially for the agricultural sector, and the Job Check process will be redesigned to make it easier for low-risk employers to access the system by mid-2025.
Japan
Starting December 2, 2024, Japan transitioned to using the My Number Card as the sole health insurance card for residents, including long-term foreign nationals. This card, which serves as an identity verification tool, will now integrate health insurance and a range of government services, improving access and efficiency.
Mainland China
Effective December 1, 2024, China has integrated the foreign work permit with the social security card. This new system will streamline administrative processes and provide authorities with more efficient tracking of foreign nationals working in China. This is part of a broader trend of improving compliance and administrative efficiency.
Vietnam
The Vietnamese government has implemented stricter rules for business visa applications. Foreign nationals can now only apply for two business visas per year, and on the third application within the same year, they may be required to provide a work permit. This policy aims to ensure compliance with visa regulations and to prevent misuse of the business visa system.
Want more information on Asia-Pacific immigration policy and updates?
Reach out to our experts.
Cherie Wright
Partner
Alice Zhong
Senior Associate