🌍 Essential work permit updates for 2025: what you need to know!

🚨 COMPLIANCE ALERT
Improper visas = Immediate sanctions
When an international assignment turns into a legal nightmare.

At MobilityPartners, we support companies daily in their international expansion. Today, we want to raise awareness around a major and often underestimated risk: sending employees on long-term assignments abroad using business or temporary visas, instead of proper work permits.

⚠️ A Constantly Evolving Risk
The regulatory landscape for professional immigration is changing rapidly. National authorities are increasing enforcement and tightening sanctions. What was acceptable yesterday may now expose your business to serious legal and financial consequences.

Potential Sanctions
Non-compliance with work permit regulations can result in:

• Financial penalties of up to €100,000 per non-compliant employee
• Criminal sanctions, including prison terms of up to 10 years
• Temporary or permanent exclusion from public procurement contracts
• Reputational damage
• Immediate deportation of the affected employees

📍 Case in Point: Nigeria’s Regulatory Shift
Nigeria exemplifies this new regulatory trend. Since May 1st, 2025, the country has implemented major reforms in its immigration policy:

New Strict Measures

• End of visa-on-arrival: mandatory transition to the e-Visa system
• National compliance campaign starting August 1st, 2025, to identify and deport foreigners without proper documentation
• Limited grace period: only 3 months (May–July 2025) to regularize situations
• Mandatory repatriation insurance: USD 500 to 1,000 per expatriate

These changes are part of the new Expatriate Administration System (EAS), a digital platform monitoring corporate compliance in real time.

🔍 Why Does This Practice Persist?

Many companies continue to send employees using business visas due to:

1. Perceived time savings – business visas are often quicker to obtain
2. Lower upfront costs – fewer immediate expenses
3. Lack of awareness – failure to keep up with regulatory changes
4. Administrative complexity – work permits often involve more bureaucracy

⚡ The Real-World Consequences
This short-term approach can have serious long-term effects:

• Sudden disruption of business operations
• Hidden costs: fines, legal fees, emergency repatriation
• Loss of trust from local partners
• Difficulty obtaining future authorizations

🛡️ Our Approach at MobilityPartners

With our expertise in global mobility, we recommend a proactive strategy:

1. Compliance Audit – Full assessment of your current mobility practices
2. Regulatory Monitoring – Ongoing tracking of legal updates in your target countries
3. Strategic Planning – Early identification of work permit needs at project launch
4. Operational Support – End-to-end assistance with administrative and legal processes, fully integrated with our EoR solutions

💡 Our Key Recommendations

1. Never use a business visa for work assignments longer than 30 days
2. Plan ahead for work permits (processing times are often 2–6 months)
3. Train your HR teams on international compliance risks
4. Consult experts before sending employees abroad

 🎯 Your Trusted Partner
At MobilityPartners, we turn the complexity of international mobility into a competitive advantage. Our expertise helps you:

• Ensure full compliance
• Control mobility costs
• Secure your international operations
• Support your talents throughout their global journey

❓Concerned about the compliance of your international mobility practices?
Our expert team is available for a free audit of your current procedures.