A sweeping amendment to Germany’s Residence Act (AufenthG) entered into force on 6 February, making it a criminal offence to facilitate the entry or transit of anyone listed in an EU travel-ban decision. New §14(3) imposes an outright prohibition, while the freshly created §95a sets prison sentences of three months to five years for intentional assistance; organised or commercial facilitation carries a minimum one-year term. (de.wikipedia.org)
The change plugs a long-criticised gap in German primary law: until now, border officers relied on administrative circulars when stopping sanctioned oligarchs, politicians or military officials. Codifying the ban strengthens legal certainty for airlines, ground-handlers and chauffeurs who can now point to statutory text when refusing service. (de.wikipedia.org)
![Germany Criminalises Assistance in Entering the Country for EU-Sanctioned Individuals]()
For companies or individuals unsure how the new residence rules might affect their upcoming trips, VisaHQ’s dedicated Germany hub (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) can help. The platform lets users verify visa and entry requirements, receive alerts when EU sanctions lists change, and obtain the correct travel documentation quickly. By integrating these checks into your mobility workflow, VisaHQ reduces the risk that employees or service providers inadvertently assist a black-listed traveller.
Corporate mobility teams must update their compliance playbooks immediately. If company drivers, relocation agents or even colleagues knowingly help a black-listed individual cross Germany’s borders—whether via VIP car transfers from Zurich or private-jet positioning from Vienna—they risk criminal liability. The same applies to “soft” facilitation, such as arranging hotel bookings that disguise a traveller’s identity.
Practically, assignees who share flights or car services with sanctioned persons could face questioning at the border, so mobility managers should pre-screen guest lists for board meetings and events in Germany. Because the law references EU Council decisions, the list of barred individuals can expand at any time; automated screening against the EU’s consolidated financial-sanctions list is now essential.
The change plugs a long-criticised gap in German primary law: until now, border officers relied on administrative circulars when stopping sanctioned oligarchs, politicians or military officials. Codifying the ban strengthens legal certainty for airlines, ground-handlers and chauffeurs who can now point to statutory text when refusing service. (de.wikipedia.org)
For companies or individuals unsure how the new residence rules might affect their upcoming trips, VisaHQ’s dedicated Germany hub (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) can help. The platform lets users verify visa and entry requirements, receive alerts when EU sanctions lists change, and obtain the correct travel documentation quickly. By integrating these checks into your mobility workflow, VisaHQ reduces the risk that employees or service providers inadvertently assist a black-listed traveller.
Corporate mobility teams must update their compliance playbooks immediately. If company drivers, relocation agents or even colleagues knowingly help a black-listed individual cross Germany’s borders—whether via VIP car transfers from Zurich or private-jet positioning from Vienna—they risk criminal liability. The same applies to “soft” facilitation, such as arranging hotel bookings that disguise a traveller’s identity.
Practically, assignees who share flights or car services with sanctioned persons could face questioning at the border, so mobility managers should pre-screen guest lists for board meetings and events in Germany. Because the law references EU Council decisions, the list of barred individuals can expand at any time; automated screening against the EU’s consolidated financial-sanctions list is now essential.
