Germany rolls out fully-digital skilled-worker visa portal across all embassies
48-hour public-transport strike to hit German cities this Friday
Interior Ministry aims to open labour market to asylum seekers after just three months
Latest News
Border-city mayor warns extended Poland–Germany checks must not become permanent
Frankfurt (Oder)’s mayor says the extension of German border checks with Poland until mid-September must remain exceptional, warning of deep economic costs for commuters and supply chains. Businesses should factor ongoing spot checks into travel and logistics planning. ([welt.de](https://www.welt.de/article699d22e2d2efdf1bd0d30416))
Berlin sets naturalisation record – but one in twenty applications still rejected
Berlin granted more than 39,000 citizenships in 2025 after digitising and centralising its processes, but almost 5 percent of applications were refused for fraud or missing information. The faster throughput benefits employers who rely on globally mobile staff, yet the stricter checks mean better document vetting is essential. ([thelocal.de](https://www.thelocal.de/20260224/how-many-of-berlins-nearly-40000-naturalisations-last-year-were-rejected))
Case of unpaid Vietnamese nursing trainees exposes cracks in Germany’s talent-attraction system
More than twenty Vietnamese trainees in Thuringia were left unpaid and homeless after their nursing employer collapsed, highlighting the risks embedded in training-linked residence permits and prompting calls for stricter oversight of recruiters. Mobility managers should brace for tougher compliance checks on vocational visas. ([thelocal.de](https://www.thelocal.de/20260224/inhumane-how-germany-failed-a-group-of-vietnamese-nursing-trainees))
Snowstorm strands 600 passengers overnight on Munich airport tarmac
Heavy snow forced six flights to stand down at Munich just before curfew, leaving 600 passengers on board until morning and prompting a police inquiry. The incident highlights winter-weather vulnerabilities at a key German hub. ([welt.de](https://www.welt.de/article699d95061abe4229fa92cf24))
Germany Rolls Out Nationwide Digital Portal for Skilled-Worker Visas
Germany has activated a fully digital work-visa portal covering all embassies, consulates and local immigration offices. Processing times for Blue Cards and ICT permits have fallen by more than half, and employers can now monitor applications online. The reform sharply reduces administrative friction for companies competing for global talent and signals Germany’s determination to stay ahead in the European skills race.
Berlin Extends Internal Border Checks Until Mid-September 2026
Germany will keep its ‘temporary’ land-border controls for another six months, extending them to at least mid-September 2026. The move, aimed at curbing irregular migration, departs from Schengen’s open-borders principle and creates uncertainty and minor delays for cross-border commuters, supply chains and business travellers.
EU Sets 3 March Meeting on Data-Sharing Deal with U.S.; Berlin Eyes Faster Security Vetting
An EU Council agenda released on 23 February 2026 schedules talks with the U.S. on a new data-exchange accord for visa and border security. Germany supports the initiative as a way to accelerate background checks for its freshly launched digital work-visa system, though privacy advocates demand robust safeguards.