Germany-based expatriates have been put on notice that 2026 will start with a fresh dose of bureaucracy and disruption. In its monthly ‘what-changes’ briefing published on 30 January, IamExpat Media flagged seven developments for February that global-mobility managers should circulate to assignees.
Most urgent is the end of the United Kingdom’s “transitional tolerance period” for the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) on 25 February. From that date, German and other non-UK/Irish passport holders must have an approved ETA – applied for at least 72 hours in advance – before boarding a flight, Eurostar or ferry to Britain. The document costs £16 and is valid for two years. Mobility teams are advised to add the ETA lead-time to short-notice business-trip workflows, especially for staff who frequently shuttle between German headquarters and UK subsidiaries.
![February 2026 rule-book: Expats in Germany face UK-ETA deadline, more strikes and cultural highs]()
Domestically, Germany is bracing for renewed public-sector wage strikes after unions ver.di, dbb and GEW declared the 7 percent pay offer from state employers “unaffordable”. January’s warning strikes closed schools, universities and some municipal offices; further walk-outs in February could hit residence-permit appointments, driver-licence offices and airport security checkpoints. Companies should build buffers into assignment schedules and advise travelling staff to monitor airport notices.
Less onerous but still relevant is a routine change to Germany’s solar feed-in tariff on 1 February, which affects homeowners on long-term assignment packages. Meanwhile, cultural dates such as the Cologne Carnival (12–16 February) and the start of Ramadan (17 February) will bring both celebration and traffic congestion in major cities – factors worth flagging to relocating families.
Taken together, the February checklist underscores how non-visa issues – from local strikes to third-country entry schemes – can disrupt corporate mobility programmes. HR teams are advised to update pre-trip approval templates, circulate ETA guidance and coordinate with relocation vendors on possible municipal-office closures.
Most urgent is the end of the United Kingdom’s “transitional tolerance period” for the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) on 25 February. From that date, German and other non-UK/Irish passport holders must have an approved ETA – applied for at least 72 hours in advance – before boarding a flight, Eurostar or ferry to Britain. The document costs £16 and is valid for two years. Mobility teams are advised to add the ETA lead-time to short-notice business-trip workflows, especially for staff who frequently shuttle between German headquarters and UK subsidiaries.
Domestically, Germany is bracing for renewed public-sector wage strikes after unions ver.di, dbb and GEW declared the 7 percent pay offer from state employers “unaffordable”. January’s warning strikes closed schools, universities and some municipal offices; further walk-outs in February could hit residence-permit appointments, driver-licence offices and airport security checkpoints. Companies should build buffers into assignment schedules and advise travelling staff to monitor airport notices.
Less onerous but still relevant is a routine change to Germany’s solar feed-in tariff on 1 February, which affects homeowners on long-term assignment packages. Meanwhile, cultural dates such as the Cologne Carnival (12–16 February) and the start of Ramadan (17 February) will bring both celebration and traffic congestion in major cities – factors worth flagging to relocating families.
Taken together, the February checklist underscores how non-visa issues – from local strikes to third-country entry schemes – can disrupt corporate mobility programmes. HR teams are advised to update pre-trip approval templates, circulate ETA guidance and coordinate with relocation vendors on possible municipal-office closures.
Source: IamExpat
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