Lufthansa pilots call 48-hour strike for 4–5 May, threatening widespread flight cancellations
Germany’s new Asylum Act aligns with EU rules, speeds border decisions from June
ICT Card 2026: tougher salary parity tests and centralised ‘Work & Stay Agency’ reshape intra-company transfers
Latest News
May update: Deutsche Bahn freezes long-distance fares and other rule changes expats need to know
From 1 May, Deutsche Bahn will hold long-distance fares flat for a year, while a short-term fuel-tax cut, a pending €1,000 tax-free bonus, and a new online EV-subsidy portal also take effect. The measures lower transport costs for expatriates and employers but require updated travel and car-policy planning.
Government data: deportations fall 22 % in Q1 2026, opposition renews call for moratorium
Germany deported 4,807 people in Q1 2026—1,344 fewer than a year earlier—marking the first quarterly decline in five years. While the interior ministry calls the fall ‘operational fluctuation’, opposition parties demand a broader deportation freeze, keeping migration policy firmly in the public spotlight.
Berlin hails 13,500 Moroccan recruits as model for new skilled-migration pacts
Foreign Minister Wadephul told reporters in Rabat that 13,500 Moroccan nationals received German work or training visas in the past two years, calling the flow “indispensable” for Germany’s labour market. Berlin aims to deepen the partnership and use it as a template for further talent agreements.
Germany Publishes GEAS Adaptation Law, Overhauling National Asylum System
Germany’s GEAS Adaptation Law was published on 29 April and takes effect on 12 June 2026, aligning national asylum rules with the EU’s overhauled system. The statute introduces accelerated border procedures, faster work authorisations for recognised refugees and stricter benefit rules, while obliging employers to report refugee hires. Companies should prepare for new compliance steps and monitor forthcoming implementing ordinances.
Lufthansa and Cabin Crew Union Agree to Externally Mediated Dialogue
On 29 April, Lufthansa and the UFO cabin-crew union agreed to an externally moderated dialogue to repair relations before substantive wage bargaining restarts. The pause in industrial action should stabilise German business travel in the short term, but employers should monitor talks closely as unresolved issues over pay and the fate of 1,300 CityLine staff still carry strike risk later in 2026.
Fuel Crunch Forces Lufthansa to Slash 20 000 More Flights Ahead of Summer
Lufthansa said on 29 April that a worsening jet-fuel shortage would force it to cancel 20 000 additional short-haul flights through October, on top of aircraft already grounded. The cuts will tighten seat supply on core European business routes and could push corporates to rebook early or shift to rail alternatives, while the airline faces mounting cost pressure and unresolved labour disputes.
Bundestag Schedules Hearing on ‘MDWG’ Bill to Digitise Immigration Processes
On 29 April the Bundestag set 4 May as the hearing date for the MDWG, a bill that would digitise Germany’s immigration administration, introduce electronic residence files and create an API for real-time permit checks. If passed, the reform promises faster processing for visas such as the EU Blue Card but will impose new digital-reporting duties on employers.
German Court Says Interior Border Checks Breach Schengen Rules
A Koblenz court ruled on 28 April that Germany’s internal land-border checks breach the Schengen Borders Code because the Interior Ministry failed to justify a ‘serious new threat.’ The decision, while case-specific, intensifies political and legal pressure to end the controls and would remove costly delays for cross-border commuters and supply chains if upheld on appeal. Companies should track the government’s appeal and be ready to adjust travel policies.