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India’s “visa on arrival” scheme has proven popular, with 1,793 visas issued in the first three months of a 12-month pilot program, according to The Economic Times. Intended to increase tourism, the program allows citizens of Singapore, Finland, New Zealand, Japan and Luxembourg to obtain a tourist visa upon arrival in India instead of securing the visa beforehand. More than half of the visas were obtained by tourists arriving at the Delhi airport. So far, Singapore nationals have been issued the largest number of visas (642) under the program.

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The BBC reports that the number of immigrants to Australia from China has surpassed those from New Zealand and the United Kingdom, thereby making China the country’s main source of immigrants. In the four months prior to October 2009, 6,350 Chinese nationals came to Australia. While emigration from China to Australia rose by 15% over the same period last year, it decreased from the UK and New Zealand by 28% and 47%, respectively. Emigration from the UK and New Zealand is largely employment-driven, whereas Chinese emigration is primarily to reunite families.

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New Zealand’s Minister of Immigration recently announced that a new visa scheme has been created to attract highly skilled individuals between the ages of 20 and 35. The “Silver Fern” policies, which will take effect in April 2010, create two types of permits.

• A “job search” permit allows qualifying individuals entry to New Zealand for nine months to seek skilled employment. Initially, permit availability will be limited to 300 per year.
• A “practical experience visa/permit” grants those who gain employment the right to work and reside in New Zealand for a further two years. There will be no annual limit to the number of applicants for this type of permit.

Image credit: ButterStick

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