Frankfurt Airport urges passengers to arrive early as EU Entry/Exit System lengthens border checks
German Customs Launches Nationwide Raids on Hair & Beauty Sector to Tackle Illegal Employment
Nation-wide EES roll-out doubles queue times at major German airports
Latest News
Saxony Signs Recruitment Pact with Egypt to Alleviate Skilled-Labour Shortage
On 29 September Saxony and Egypt concluded an MoU that creates a fast-track channel for Egyptian skilled workers to take up jobs in the eastern German state. The scheme promises to shorten visa processing times and ease acute labour shortages in engineering, IT, health care and the trades. Employers may soon benefit from a larger, better-prepared applicant pool but will need to ensure competitive salaries and integration support.
EU Update Confirms Germany’s Internal Border Checks Extended to March 2027
An updated European Commission list published on 29 September confirms that Germany has prolonged temporary controls at all of its land borders until 15 March 2027, citing security and migration pressures. The move could mean sporadic delays for freight and passengers and underscores the need for travellers to keep passports and residence permits on hand. Businesses dependent on cross-border supply chains should adjust schedules accordingly.
Seven Undocumented Workers Using Borrowed Passports Caught in Steinfurt Logistics Sweep
During a 29 September inspection in Steinfurt (North Rhine-Westphalia) customs agents discovered seven workers using genuine but borrowed passports to conceal their illegal status. One has been jailed, two are in asylum proceedings and the rest face deportation, while the employers risk criminal charges. The incident highlights rising document fraud amid tighter border checks and underscores the need for rigorous right-to-work verification.
Internationally Wanted Suspect Arrested During Exit Check at Cologne/Bonn Airport
German Federal Police apprehended a Moroccan passenger wanted by French authorities during an exit check at Cologne/Bonn Airport on 27 September, announcing the arrest to media on 28–29 September. The case highlights the reach of the EU’s upgraded exit-control and information-sharing systems and serves as a reminder that outbound travellers are now subject to the same scrutiny as arrivals.
Germany’s ‘Munich Migration Meeting’ revives EU plan for offshore Return Hubs and stronger Frontex role
At a summit in Munich on 28 September, German interior minister Alexander Dobrindt rallied European counterparts behind plans to create migrant “Return Hubs” in third countries and to expand Frontex’s remit. The initiative, aimed at accelerating removals of rejected asylum-seekers, could reshape EU migration management and add new compliance requirements for employers moving staff across borders.
Destatis data show migrant workers fill more than half of Germany’s shortage occupations
A new Destatis micro-census shows that migrants already make up 27 % of Germany’s workforce—and well over half in some shortage jobs such as cooking and bus driving. The data land just as Berlin streamlines visa rules, bolstering business arguments for faster processing and highlighting retention risks for employers that depend on foreign staff.
German consumer watchdog slaps Ryanair, TAP and Wizz Air over refund obstacles
The Centre for European Consumer Protection has warned Ryanair, TAP and Wizz Air that their practice of diverting refund claims to online travel agents violates EU passenger-rights law. If the carriers fail to comply within 14 days, the watchdog will sue in German courts—good news for corporate travellers who have struggled to recoup cancelled-flight costs.
Frankfurt Airport urges travellers to arrive three hours early as new EU Entry-Exit System bites
With the new EU biometric border system causing headaches, Frankfurt Airport is telling long-haul passengers to be at the terminal three hours before take-off and to pre-book security slots wherever possible. Mobility teams should pad layovers, warn staff and expect similar disruption as EES goes Europe-wide.
Record low Rhine water level forces NRW to keep Sunday truck-ban suspension
The Rhine in Cologne has fallen to an unprecedented 40 cm, prompting North-Rhine Westphalia to prolong the waiver of its usual Sunday lorry ban. Businesses relying on river barges must divert cargo to road, pushing up trucking costs and altering relocation timetables.
German Embassy Dakar Moves to Waiting-List System as Schengen Visa Backlog Tops 10 Weeks
Germany’s Dakar embassy now allocates all Schengen-visa appointments via an online waiting list, citing high demand and new EES biometric checks. Business travellers must plan for roughly 10 weeks between registration and interview, prompting German firms to adjust project timelines and budgets.
Berlin Marathon closures spill into 28 September, affecting access to government quarter and BER transfers
Post-race clean-up means key arteries in Berlin’s government and business districts remain closed until midday on 28 September, with some stretches of Straße des 17. Juni blocked until Tuesday night. The residual closures and related train cancellations may add 20–40 minutes to airport transfers and inner-city trips.
Border Vigilance: Bundespolizei Nabs French-Wanted Fugitive at Cologne/Bonn Airport
Federal Police at Cologne/Bonn Airport, operating under Germany’s extended internal-border regime, arrested a Moroccan passenger wanted by France. The incident illustrates tighter exit controls that can delay departures and reinforces the need for companies to verify employees’ legal status before EU travel.
Federal Police push back Polish national under Germany’s extended Schengen border checks
Bundespolizei officers in Saxony removed a Polish traveller subject to an entry ban, illustrating how Germany’s renewed internal border checks are playing out in day-to-day policing. Cross-border commuters and employers should brace for continued ID inspections while Berlin seeks to prolong controls into 2027.