December 2024 brings new laws and regulations affecting people living in Germany. Among the key changes, the USB-C connector will become the standard for charging cables across the EU. Consumers will also benefit from improved information in the event of product recalls. Additionally, new protections for pregnant women will shield them from harassment by anti-abortion activists near medical facilities. Tax …
Read More »Germany: New Laws and Regulations in November 2024
This November brings various new regulations impacting many aspects of life in Germany. These include updated laws on gender and name changes, the option to receive identification documents by post, reduction of bureaucracy and the introduction of the Economic Identification Number for self-employed individuals and businesses. Additionally, knives will be banned in public places and a group of asylum-seekers will …
Read More »Germany: New Laws and Regulations in October 2024
October 2024 brings new laws and regulations in Germany. Among other things, students will receive more financial support, winter tyres with a particular symbol will be mandatory, a new set of questions will be introduced for the driving test, support will end for Windows 11 versions and tenants will be allowed to install balcony power plants without permission. Here is …
Read More »Germany: New laws and other changes in September 2024
Like almost every month, September 2024 brings important changes, including new laws, that affect residents of Germany. For instance, building owners using gas heating must now have their systems inspected and stricter hand luggage rules for air travellers apply. Among others, a new feature will be introduced in health insurance apps and stricter emission standards for new vehicle registrations will …
Read More »Germany: New laws and other changes in August 2024
August 2024 brings numerous changes affecting various aspects of everyday life in Germany. Here is a comprehensive overview of the most important changes. Submit your 2023 tax return on time! One of the most important deadlines in August concerns the submission of tax returns for 2023. Anyone who prepares their own taxes must submit their return by 2 September 2024. …
Read More »Germany’s reformed citizenship law: What you should know
The reformed Citizenship Law entered into effect on 27 June 2024 and it’s expected to make it easier for foreign residents to become German nationals. Among the features of the legislation, the ‘Act on the Modernisation of Citizenship Law’ (das Gesetz zur Modernisierung des Staatsangehörigkeitsrechts (StARModG)), are that foreigners living legally in Germany will be able to apply for a …
Read More »Germany: New legal regulations in July 2024
The new month brings many changes that directly affect different areas of life in Germany. Pensions rise significantly, change of surnames now easier, breast cancer screening for older women, cannabis cultivation now allowed, black box to be mandatory for cars etc. Here’s an overview of all important changes in July 2024. Pensions rise significantly Pensions will rise by 4.57 …
Read More »German government to tighten regulations on recognition of paternity
When government recognises paternity it grants right of residence in Germany to a foreign parent. This is the case when a woman without regular residency rights gives birth to a child and a man who has a German nationality or long-term residence permit in Germany is acknowledged as the father, the mother and child are granted regular residence permit. The …
Read More »Germany: New Laws and Regulations in June 2024
Regulations and laws are constantly changing in Germany. June 2024, too, brings new ones that affect various areas of everyday life. For example, the plastic BahnCard will be a thing of the past, 16-17 year-olds will be allowed to vote in the European elections for the first time and foreigners will be able to naturalise more easily. Also, the new …
Read More »Germany: New Laws and Regulations in May 2024
Almost every new month of the year brings new laws and regulations that affect various areas of everyday life. In May 2024, people living in Germany can once again expect important changes: higher minimum wages in elderly care, flights from Germany will become more expensive, new field added on identity cards etc. Here’s an overview of these and other new …
Read More »Germany: New Laws and Regulations from April 2024
In April 2024, a number of new regulations and laws will come into force that will have an impact on various areas of life in Germany. What new laws are coming into force? What will change for you in your everyday life? We have summarised the important changes for you here. Normal VAT for gas and district heatingTo mitigate the …
Read More »Germany’s amended Skilled Immigration Law explained
German employers are short of hundreds of thousands of workers. To respond to the skills shortages in the country, the current federal government made a reform of the existing laws governing immigration into the country a major priority when it assumed office. The objective of the reform is to address the acute labour shortage in most sectors by bringing in …
Read More »Germany: Recipients of basic income support must stay in the country, court rules
According to a judgement of the Lower Saxony-Bremen State Social Court, recipients of basic social security benefits (Grundsicherung) must be able to prove their place of residence to the authorities in cases of doubt. The burden of proof lies with them and not with the Jobcenter, the court ruled in the case of a Nigerian couple who were registered in …
Read More »Germany: New laws and other changes in March 2024
A number of new laws and regulations will come into force in Germany from March 2024. These legislative changes affect various areas of daily life. For example, while many public sector employees can look forward to more money, some pensioners will now receive less in their accounts. Household appliances to become more efficient and skilled workers can immigrate to Germany …
Read More »German state deletes “race” from constitution
The parliament of Saarland, one of Germany’s 16 federal states, has removed the term “race” from the list of possible grounds for discrimination in the state’s constitution. In future, Article 12 will instead state that no one may be disadvantaged or favoured “on the basis of racial attributions”. “Our constitution is modern, trend-setting and understandable. Today, we are ensuring that …
Read More »Germany: Bundesrat approves dual citizenship, strict deportation rules
The Bundesrat, the upper chamber of the federal parliament, has approved two further components of the new migration policy of the governing federal coalition – the laws on faster naturalisation and deportations. The Bundesrat on Friday decided not to refer the citizenship law to the mediation committee. The new law, which was passed by the Bundestag in January, stipulates that …
Read More »Germany: New Laws and Regulations in February 2024
At the beginning of the year, we informed you about the general changes that will affect people living in Germany in 2024. From February, some changes will come into effect that will affect many areas of life. We have summarised what exactly will change here: —- New regulation for co-payment for medications Anyone who takes a doctor’s prescription to the …
Read More »New law makes naturalisation easier in Germany
The federal parliament has passed a law to make it easier for foreign residents to become German nationals. The new law on citizenship, provides for faster naturalisation. Furthermore, anyone applying for a German passport will no longer have to give up their previous nationality. For people who are dependent on state aid, however, access to citizenship is made more difficult. …
Read More »Germany: New laws and other changes in 2024
The new year brings important changes for people living in Germany. For example, anyone who is dependent on social assistance or citizen’s allowance will receive more money from January. Other changes include an increase in the basic and child allowance, a higher minimum wage, more money for school supplies and the pink paper prescription from the doctor becomes a digital …
Read More »Germany: New Laws and Other Changes in December 2023
As with every new month, December 2023 brings a number of changes for people living in Germany. Two groups of people can be particularly pleased, as they will receive more money in the new month. Deutsche Post has published tips on when Christmas presents should be sent and the Deutsche Bahn has also published its Winter Timetable. You can find …
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