Germany: Law & Society

February 2026 may be short, but it brings wide-ranging changes—from migration and travel rules to religious life. Staying informed helps residents navigate the month with fewer surprises and better preparation. Here is a clear overview of what is new—and what it means in everyday life. Continued School Support for Low-Income Families As the second half of the 2025/2026 school year …

The German government has put forward a new draft law aimed at stopping what it describes as the abuse of paternity acknowledgments — a practice called “sham paternity” (Scheinvaterschaft) — that can be used to secure residence rights, citizenship and social benefits for children and their parents. The reform is intended by the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz to address …

The minimum wage and the CO₂ price are rising. The Germany-wide public transport ticket is becoming more expensive, as are fuel and heating with oil and gas. A wide range of changes will come into force in 2026. Many of them take effect automatically, through taxes, social security contributions or higher tax allowances. Others will be felt more directly when …

Germany is preparing to overhaul its welfare system in a move that will have far-reaching consequences for millions of benefit recipients. The planned abolition of the Bürgergeld (Germany’s basic unemployment benefit and the successor to Hartz IV) and its replacement with a stricter “Grundsicherung” marks a significant shift in social policy, with tougher sanctions and new obligations for claimants. In this …

Germany is rolling out a series of major legal and administrative changes this December that affect millions of residents. Whether you are a pensioner, commuter, car owner or regular online shopper, the new month brings changes you should be aware of. Many of these reforms seek to modernise public services, promote digital access and support a more efficient transport system, …

A new court ruling in Baden-Württemberg could transform access to vocational training for thousands of refugees across Germany, especially in the elderly care sector where skilled workers are urgently needed. The Higher Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof, VGH) in Mannheim has decided that refugees with a Duldung (tolerated stay) do not need a work permit to begin training in elderly care, even …

A series of important legal and regulatory changes will enter into effect in November. From stricter credit rules and new tax provisions to updated citizenship regulations and infrastructure expansion, these changes shape both how you live and participate in German society. Understanding the new rules is key to navigating daily life and making the most of emerging opportunities. Stricter checks on …

The German federal parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to abolish the so-called “turbo naturalisation” rule introduced just a year ago by the previous coalition government. The fast-track pathway had allowed exceptionally well-integrated foreigners — for example, those fluent in German, financially independent and actively engaged in society — to apply for a German passport after only three years of residence. …

October brings changes that will touch daily life in different ways, from how we transfer money and access healthcare to how non-EU nationals cross borders. Bank customers will notice new safeguards for money transfers, Microsoft bids farewell to Windows 10 and doctors must now use electronic patient records. The EU also introduces a new digital entry-exit system for non-EU citizens. …

The German-African Initiative for Development and Integration (GAIDI gUG) has launched a free legal clinic for refugees and migrants in Berlin under its You Are Not Alone in Berlin (YANA Berlin) project, thanks to a grant provided by CMS Stiftung in August. This new service marks a significant expansion of YANA Berlin’s support for African newcomers navigating the complex legal …

September 2025 may not bring a flood of new laws in Germany, but several important changes will take effect this month. Some of these changes may directly affect you – from a higher minimum wage for apprentices, which is especially relevant for young people starting vocational training, to the nationwide rollout of the electronic health record system and the deadline …

Like in every month, a series of new laws and regulations enter into effect in August. These changes will impact many aspects of daily life. Staying informed about these updates is crucial to understanding how they may affect you. Below is an overview of the key legal changes starting from August. Digital Passport Photos Now Mandatory From 1 August, applicants …

As a new month begins, so do new laws and regulations in Germany. From higher pensions and wages to updated tax deadlines and simplified care benefits, July 2025 brings a range of changes that affect millions of people in the country. Whether you’re retired, working in healthcare, caring for a loved one or filing your taxes — it’s important to …

Five years after Berlin enacted its groundbreaking anti-discrimination law targeting bias within public institutions, a new report reveals a steady stream of complaints, highlighting persistent structural discrimination, particularly racism, in areas such as local government offices and schools. Since the law came into effect on 21 June 2020, the state Ombudsoffice established to handle such cases has recorded 1,785 formal …

In a major ruling that challenges Germany’s increasingly restrictive asylum policies, the Higher Social Court of Lower Saxony has declared that asylum-seekers cannot be completely cut off from state welfare support even when their application has been rejected under the EU’s Dublin Regulation and their deportation is delayed. The decision, announced Monday, 23 June, stems from the emergency appeal of …

Germany’s recent policy of turning back asylum-seekers at its borders has been dealt a legal blow, following a landmark ruling by the Berlin Administrative Court. The court decided that the rejection of three Somali nationals at the German-Polish border was unlawful, affirming that asylum-seekers must be processed according to EU law, specifically the Dublin Regulation. The case involved two men …

Several important legal and regulatory changes will take effect in Germany and across the European Union in June. These changes affect everything from taxes and consumer electronics to digital accessibility and maternity rights after pregnancy loss. Here’s an overview of the most important changes Tax Deadlines: What You Need to Know • 2 June 2025: Deadline to file your 2023 …

Just weeks after taking office, Germany’s new conservative-led coalition has begun rolling back progressive migration policies introduced under the previous SPD-led government. On Wednesday, the cabinet approved a bill that will suspend the right to family reunification for refugees with subsidiary protection status for the next two years This policy change will primarily affect Syrian refugees, who make up a …

Since its introduction in 2023, Germany’s Opportunity Residence Act has granted over 82,000 people with a suspended deportation order a path to legal status. A new government plan will tighten this scheme, but hope remains, reports Femi Awoniyi. Since January 2023, the Opportunity Residence Act (Chancen-Aufenthaltsrecht) has enabled people with a Duldung (tolerated stay) to receive an 18-month temporary residence …

Several important changes are taking effect across Germany in May 2025 that affect everyday life — from how passports and ID cards are issued to stricter recycling rules and new family name rights. The African Courier has summarised the most relevant updates here: Digital Photos for ID and Passport Applications Starting May 2025, anyone applying for a passport, national ID, …