Visa-free travel, work restrictions, and more: June's immigration shake-up

The start of June 2025 has seen fresh waves of immigration policy changes across several countries. From China’s visa waivers to Australia’s migration caps, and Poland’s electronic-only applications, the new rules come as governments continue to balance national needs and foreign labour demands. Here’s a closer look at the developments and a quick recap of the changes that took place in May.

China expands visa-free access

Starting June 9, 2025, China will let citizens from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia visit for up to 30 days without a visa. This builds on earlier deals with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said in a statement, “We welcome more friends from the GCC countries to embark on an impromptu trip to China.