The Federal Government’s monthly overview of legal changes, published on 29 January 2026, contains two items with direct mobility implications. First, from 1 February the Interior Ministry may classify ‘safe countries of origin’ by regulation instead of passing a full statute through the Bundestag. The move is designed to speed up asylum procedures and removals; once a country is listed, claims from its nationals can be processed in days. Corporate mobility managers should expect a sharp drop in approvals for humanitarian status from newly listed states and plan alternative assignment locations for affected staff.
Second, the United Kingdom will begin strict enforcement of its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme on 25 February 2026. Airlines and ferry operators will face fines if they carry ETA-exempt passengers. Although German citizens have enjoyed visa-free entry since Brexit, they must now obtain the £10 digital permit at least 72 hours before departure. Travel teams should update booking workflows to capture ETA numbers and build in buffer time during peak periods such as Easter and trade-fair season.
![February rule-changes: Germany gains fast track to declare ‘safe countries’ and UK ETA becomes mandatory for German travellers]()
Travel coordinators who prefer a single digital dashboard can outsource permit procurement to VisaHQ, which already processes Germany-related documentation (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) and will add the UK ETA as soon as applications open. The platform automates reminder emails, stores staff passports securely, and offers expedited service during trade-fair rushes—useful when internal teams are juggling shifting safe-country rules and new UK carrier penalties.
Other measures entering into force next month include new powers to revoke wrongly obtained German citizenship for ten years and the abolition of mandatory legal counsel in deportation detention from June. While not directly tied to business travel, these changes signal a broader tightening of migration controls that could influence future policy on skilled-worker visas.
Companies with mixed European–UK travel patterns should brief employees immediately; failure to present a valid ETA will lead to denied boarding and potentially derail client meetings or production deadlines. Likewise, immigration counsel should watch the Federal Gazette for quick additions to the safe-country list that may affect dependants or contractors from the Western Balkans and parts of Africa.
Second, the United Kingdom will begin strict enforcement of its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme on 25 February 2026. Airlines and ferry operators will face fines if they carry ETA-exempt passengers. Although German citizens have enjoyed visa-free entry since Brexit, they must now obtain the £10 digital permit at least 72 hours before departure. Travel teams should update booking workflows to capture ETA numbers and build in buffer time during peak periods such as Easter and trade-fair season.
Travel coordinators who prefer a single digital dashboard can outsource permit procurement to VisaHQ, which already processes Germany-related documentation (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) and will add the UK ETA as soon as applications open. The platform automates reminder emails, stores staff passports securely, and offers expedited service during trade-fair rushes—useful when internal teams are juggling shifting safe-country rules and new UK carrier penalties.
Other measures entering into force next month include new powers to revoke wrongly obtained German citizenship for ten years and the abolition of mandatory legal counsel in deportation detention from June. While not directly tied to business travel, these changes signal a broader tightening of migration controls that could influence future policy on skilled-worker visas.
Companies with mixed European–UK travel patterns should brief employees immediately; failure to present a valid ETA will lead to denied boarding and potentially derail client meetings or production deadlines. Likewise, immigration counsel should watch the Federal Gazette for quick additions to the safe-country list that may affect dependants or contractors from the Western Balkans and parts of Africa.
