EU postpones ETIAS launch after Entry/Exit System chaos
Brussels rejects calls to suspend EES despite airport disruption
2026 IT Specialist Visa update opens Germany’s Blue Card to non-degree tech talent
Latest News
Lufthansa faces coordinated pilot-and-cabin-crew strike threat
Pilot union Vereinigung Cockpit and cabin-crew union UFO have jointly threatened a 24-hour strike on 11 July if wage and pension talks fail. A walkout would ground most Lufthansa passenger and cargo flights from German hubs, forcing businesses to re-book travellers and freight. Mediation continues but the risk of summer disruption remains high.
Deutsche Bahn admits delay on Nürnberg–Regensburg line; key corridors on track
Deutsche Bahn has delayed the reopening of the Nürnberg–Regensburg main line, citing extended safety tests of new signalling technology. The hold-up prolongs detours for both passengers and freight, potentially affecting airport connections and supply chains in southern Germany. Other major renovation corridors remain on schedule.
Germany’s draft ‘Digital Nomad’ guidance published as freelancers eye 2027 visa
Germany has published detailed guidance for freelance and remote workers, outlining income, insurance and language requirements that will underpin a dedicated digital-nomad visa expected in 2027. The move gives global employers and would-be nomads clarity on compliance steps and costs when planning long-term remote work from Germany.
Germany records lowest number of irregular border crossings in five years
Only 3,290 people crossed Germany’s land borders irregularly in June 2026, 42 % fewer than a year earlier and the lowest monthly total since 2021. The Bundespolizei credits tighter spot checks introduced in 2024-25. Business travellers should expect continued document inspections until at least mid-September 2026, when the current Schengen-control waiver expires. Lower migration pressure could free administrative capacity for work-visa processing.
EU Entry/Exit System causes multi-hour queues; German aviation sector demands summer flexibility
On 6 July, travel industry reports detailed multi-hour queues for non-EU passengers at several Schengen airports, including Berlin, caused by the new biometric Entry/Exit System. German airport and airline groups are urging the European Commission to let states pause fingerprint and face-scan checks during the peak holiday rush. Companies should budget extra transit time for staff and monitor possible ad-hoc suspensions of biometric enrolment.
Holiday traffic to Italy snarled by Germany–Austria border controls on Fernpass route
Live traffic reports on 6 July show heavy jams on Austria’s B179 Fernpass road, an important Germany-Italy holiday route, exacerbated by German spot border checks at Füssen/Reutte. Upcoming Saturday demonstrations and construction mean further delays, and travellers are advised to carry full ID and consider alternative routes or modes.