Latest job, visa and migration updates in Germany

Poland has extended temporary border controls with Germany and Lithuania until April 2026 due to increased irregular migration. This tightens movement controls in the Schengen area and could affect migration and recruitment strategies in Europe.

Germany has passed the largest minimum wage increase in history and tightened rules for low-skilled migrants, emphasizing only qualified workers. These changes could redistribute migration flows and increase interest in the United States among candidates from Asia, Africa and Europe.

Simmons & Simmons reports on important changes in employment law in Europe and Asia, including new case law, remote work regulations, contract requirements and class action lawsuits. These changes are impacting international talent mobility and creating opportunities for recruitment agencies in the US and Canada.

The German government under Friedrich Merz has announced the start of the return of Syrian refugees after the end of the war, combining the process with tighter controls on labor migration. The decision could redistribute global labor flows, shifting the focus of recruitment agencies in Asia and Europe towards the United States and Canada.

In April 2025, Germany and India established a joint working group on labor mobility to facilitate the legal employment of Indian professionals in Germany. The initiative aims to overcome the labor shortage and ensure transparent recruitment of workers.

During talks in New Delhi, India raised concerns over slow visas and trade barriers with the EU, especially Germany. Both sides agreed to work on faster procedures, easier mobility for professionals, and smoother trade cooperation.