Lufthansa strike to ground hundreds of flights tomorrow—but 60 % of long-haul network will still operate
National strike on 12 March to ground all flights at Brussels and Charleroi airports
‘Hypocritical’ or Necessary? Canberra Seeks Power to Block 61,000 Middle-East Visa Holders
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Berlin adopts “Skilled-Labour Strategy 2035” to fast-track foreign talent
Berlin’s Senate has unveiled a 70-point Skilled-Labour Strategy that accelerates visa processing, expands a multilingual Welcome Centre and reserves subsidised housing for foreign apprentices. With 560,000 roles to fill by 2035, the capital is banking on faster immigration pathways and better integration support to keep its economy competitive.
Technical Hiccups Force France to Rethink April EES Roll-out
France admitted it cannot roll out the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System nationwide by 10 April 2026 and is seeking a staggered implementation. Additional pre-registration kiosks and a mobile app will be deployed to avoid crippling queues at airports. The postponement buys time for businesses but forces travel managers to adjust check-in guidelines.
Air India to Operate 58 West-Asia Flights on 12 March as Geopolitical Turmoil Continues
Air India and Air India Express will run 58 flights between India and the Gulf on 12 March 2026, including 40 special services to the UAE and two ad-hoc flights to Riyadh. The move safeguards critical expatriate and business links amid West-Asia air-space disruptions and offers fee-free rebooking for affected passengers.
KLM Halts Dubai Flights Until 28 March as European and Asian Carriers Bypass UAE Airspace
KLM has cancelled all Dubai flights until 28 March, joining British Airways and other carriers in avoiding UAE airspace amid regional conflict. The suspension adds cost and complexity for business travellers and supply chains, forcing rerouting through secondary hubs and prompting companies to review mobility-risk strategies.
Sequential Lodgement Rule Takes Effect for Australia’s Subclass 407 Training Visa
From 11 March 2026, Subclass 407 Training visa applications can only be lodged *after* both the sponsor’s Temporary Activity Sponsorship and the individual nomination have been approved. The shift ends the long-standing practice of concurrent lodgement, forcing employers and visa applicants to build in extra lead-time or risk status gaps. The government says the measure will curb misuse of the 407 program and sharpen processing integrity—issues that are critical for corporate mobility managers.
Poland to Erect New 4-Metre Fence on Belarus Border as Part of “Eastern Shield”
Poland has begun building a new four-metre fence along sections of its border with Belarus after weather delays. The barrier, part of the broader “Eastern Shield” security programme, adds sensors and radar to deter state-facilitated irregular crossings. Freight operators and cross-border commuters will face rerouting and longer wait times, while NGOs warn of humanitarian impacts.
Australia Doubles Graduate 485 Visa Fee—But Pacific Islanders Pay Less
The application fee for Australia’s Temporary Graduate 485 visa will jump by more than 100 percent on 25 March 2026, except for applicants from Timor-Leste and selected Pacific Island nations. Universities, employers and student groups warn the sudden hike will strain budgets and could deter talent just as skills shortages bite.
Austria ends paper transit procedures: “Smart Border Austria” enters mandatory digital phase
From 1 May 2026 Austria will require all road-transit goods to be pre-lodged electronically in the EU’s New Computerised Transit System, ending the current paper fallback. Trucks without a digital Master Reference Number will be refused entry and fined. The measure, part of the “Smart Border Austria” initiative, forces hauliers moving between Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the Western Balkans to digitise processes and align with wider EU security and CBAM rules.
Belgium drafts law to give Immigration Office authority to impose lifelong entry bans
Belgium’s Interior Committee has endorsed a bill enabling the Immigration Office to impose lifetime entry bans on people listed in the national terrorism and extremism database. Proponents say it closes security loopholes, while critics warn of transparency and proportionality issues—particularly for minors. If enacted, the measure will harden Belgium’s migration stance and could lengthen vetting procedures for international hires.
Portugal scraps postal visa applications for Brazilians, mandates in-person filing from 17 April 2026
From 17 April 2026 Portugal will no longer accept visa applications from Brazilian citizens by post. All Schengen and national visa applicants must book an appointment at VFS Global centres or Portuguese consulates in Brazil. The shift is designed to curb fraud but will increase cost and lead-time for businesses relocating staff to Portugal.
Cambodia launches four-month visa-free trial for Chinese tourists
From 15 June to 15 October 2026, Chinese citizens can enter Cambodia visa-free for stays of up to 14 days. The pilot aims to accelerate Cambodia’s post-pandemic tourism recovery and simplify corporate incentive travel from China. If successful, officials hint the waiver could become permanent.
Zurich Airport traffic up 7.9 % in February as hub prepares for record summer
Passenger traffic at Zurich Airport jumped 7.9 % in February, underlining a robust rebound in Swiss international travel. Higher volumes promise more flight options for corporates but also risk longer queues and tighter hotel inventory around the hub. Firms should prepare for capacity crunches as summer peaks approach.
EU closes infringement case on Cyprus’ scrapped ‘golden passport’ programme
Brussels has closed its infringement case against Cyprus’ citizenship-by-investment scheme after Nicosia revoked offending passports and rewrote its laws. The move lifts a major regulatory cloud just as Cyprus courts Schengen accession and foreign investment. Mobility teams can expect faster residence processing, but the era of ‘golden passports’ is definitively over.
Prague Airport Warns of Cancellations as Middle-East Airspace Crisis Ripples Across Europe
Prague Airport posted an on-site alert on 11 March warning of flight cancellations and delays caused by Middle-East air-space restrictions. The notice coincided with data from AirHelp showing 190 cancellations and 821 delays across Europe the same day. Czech business travellers face longer journey times, tight connections and limited cargo capacity until routes stabilise. EU-based passengers remain entitled to care and re-routing under EU261, but compensation is unlikely.
Spain Extends Free Public Healthcare to Undocumented Migrants
A royal decree published on 11 March makes Spain’s public healthcare system universally available, removing residency-card requirements for undocumented migrants. The change supports the government’s broader regularisation drive and is expected to lower emergency-care costs while helping employers meet duty-of-care standards.
Finnish Corporate Leaders Tie Economic Growth to Easier Immigration
An OP Financial Group survey published 11 March 2026 finds that 85 % of Finland’s large companies see higher immigration as essential for future GDP growth. Firms report easing language requirements and plan to recruit mainly within the EU but also from India, Asia and the US. Business leaders are pressing the government to speed up residence-permit processing and expand fast-track schemes, warning that talent shortages risk throttling investment.
Brazil Opens Visa-Free Entry to Irish Passport Holders Under “Open Doors 2026”
Brazil has scrapped the e-visa requirement for Irish nationals, allowing 90 days of visa-free stay for tourism and short business trips. The change removes costs and delays for leisure travellers and companies deploying staff to Latin America, and is expected to boost Irish visitor numbers by up to 40 per cent. Businesses should update travel policies and remind employees that work activities still need separate permits.