Berlin’s Senate has confirmed that the transit-and-registration centre at the disused Tegel Airport—Germany’s largest single accommodation facility for refugees—will be wound down over the coming months. Roughly 1,500 Ukrainians still living in tents and containers on the apron will be dispersed to smaller hostels and modular housing across the city by spring 2026.
Tegel was opened within weeks of Russia’s invasion and processed more than 400,000 arrivals at the height of the 2022-23 influx. The site drew criticism from aid groups for overcrowding and poor sanitation, yet it offered centralised medical care, language volunteers and integrated identity-management systems that sped up residence-permit issuance.
![Berlin to Close Tegel Refugee Hub, Relocate 1,500 Ukrainians]()
City officials say demand has fallen sharply—daily new arrivals from Ukraine average 60, down from 1,200 last year—and that decentralised housing will improve privacy and foster community ties. The move also clears the way for the €8 billion “Urban Tech Republic” redevelopment of the former airport, which includes a green housing quarter for 10,000 residents.
For corporate relocation and project-staffing teams, the closure means that initial registration of Ukrainian hires will shift to district welfare offices rather than Tegel’s one-stop shop. Processing times could lengthen unless companies book appointments early and assist with transport to scattered centres. Employers should also note that Berlin plans to convert parts of Tempelhof Airport into a permanent arrival hub that complies with new EU reception standards coming in mid-2026.
The policy reflects a broader trend among German Länder: large emergency camps are being phased out in favour of smaller, longer-term facilities integrated into local housing markets. Mobility managers should adjust onboarding checklists accordingly and brief transferees about the change in arrival routines.
Tegel was opened within weeks of Russia’s invasion and processed more than 400,000 arrivals at the height of the 2022-23 influx. The site drew criticism from aid groups for overcrowding and poor sanitation, yet it offered centralised medical care, language volunteers and integrated identity-management systems that sped up residence-permit issuance.
City officials say demand has fallen sharply—daily new arrivals from Ukraine average 60, down from 1,200 last year—and that decentralised housing will improve privacy and foster community ties. The move also clears the way for the €8 billion “Urban Tech Republic” redevelopment of the former airport, which includes a green housing quarter for 10,000 residents.
For corporate relocation and project-staffing teams, the closure means that initial registration of Ukrainian hires will shift to district welfare offices rather than Tegel’s one-stop shop. Processing times could lengthen unless companies book appointments early and assist with transport to scattered centres. Employers should also note that Berlin plans to convert parts of Tempelhof Airport into a permanent arrival hub that complies with new EU reception standards coming in mid-2026.
The policy reflects a broader trend among German Länder: large emergency camps are being phased out in favour of smaller, longer-term facilities integrated into local housing markets. Mobility managers should adjust onboarding checklists accordingly and brief transferees about the change in arrival routines.
