LIVING IN GERMANY

German administrative courts are pushing back on political calls for drastically faster asylum decisions, arguing that achieving such targets is both unrealistic and likely to compromise the quality of justice. Germany is preparing to implement the Common European Asylum System reform (CEAS/GEAS) by mid-2026. Among its requirements is a goal that asylum applications should be decided within six months at …

Once a year, the BiB.Monitor Wohlbefinden, a research publication by the German Federal Institute for Population Research, measures and reports on the well-being and life satisfaction of people in Germany. This year’s edition examines how life satisfaction differs among various population groups based on their immigration and emigration backgrounds. According to the findings, Africans living in Germany reported an average …

The historic Peace Hall of Osnabrück’s Town Hall provided a fitting backdrop on 29 October for the 2025 Africa Prize ceremony of the Ellen and Karl-Heinz Hornhues Foundation Pro Afrika, which honours outstanding initiatives that foster cultural exchange, education, and sustainable development between Africa and Europe. The festive event opened with a performance by Joy Wendo & Friends, followed by …

South Africans living in Germany now have faster and simpler access to key consular services, including passport renewals and birth registrations, through the newly expanded DHA Services Centre in Berlin. Officially opened on 23 October 2025 by South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, the centre is located at Spaces Spittelmarkt, Wallstraße 9–13, 10179 Berlin. With over 20,300 …

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 …

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has moved to clarify controversial remarks that sparked outrage over the past week, insisting that Germany continues to depend on immigration. Speaking during a visit to London, Merz acknowledged that people with migration backgrounds are now an “indispensable part of our labour market” and that the country “can no longer manage without them — regardless of …

In her earlier article, “Germany: When a Black Child’s Needs and Identity Are Ignored,” Amal Abbass* exposed how racism and institutional neglect within Germany’s family law system fracture Black families and undermine children’s cultural identities. In this follow-up piece, she offers a critical analysis of how race, ableism, and systemic bias intersect to deny children their rights — revealing how …

The AFRO.MESSE, which took place last Saturday in Frankfurt, brought together representatives of African diaspora organizations, social initiatives and integration projects from across Germany. The event served as a vibrant platform for exchange, cooperation and showcasing the achievements of African communities in the fields of business, culture and social engagement. One of the highlights of the day was the recognition …

A new study by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Vielfaltsbarometer 2025 (Diversity Barometer 2025), has raised concerns about the state of social cohesion in Germany. The representative survey of 4,761 people reveals that acceptance of diversity in German society has fallen significantly over the past six years. In 2019, almost two-thirds of the population expressed a positive view of diversity. Today, …

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. …

Asylum-seekers in Germany are facing significantly lower chances of having their applications approved, according to official government data from the first half of 2025. The recognition rate for protection claims has plummeted to 26.5%, a sharp decline compared to previous years, when recognition rates ranged between 59 and 72 percent. The fall is especially striking for applicants from conflict-torn countries: …

For some, a few euros at the slot machines or placing bets online are just harmless pastimes. For many others in Germany, what begins as entertainment can quickly spiral into addiction, financial ruin and family breakdown ______ A hidden epidemic is destroying lives and families across Germany, with experts warning that immigrant communities, including Africans, are disproportionately at risk. Gambling …

Berlin, 25 September 2025 – Ten years after the so-called “summer of migration,” Germany is taking stock of one of the most transformative moments in its recent history. The Heinrich Böll Foundation, in cooperation with the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM), will host an expert conference titled “Between Open Arms and Closed Borders – A Decade of …

A new migration report released by the German charity Malteser Hilfsdienst highlights persistent educational and labour market disadvantages facing children and young people with migration backgrounds in Germany. The study, presented as the Malteser Migrationsbericht 2025, delivers sobering figures: in 2023, 74 percent of students without any school-leaving certificate came from migrant families, although people with a migration background make …

On Friday, 19 September 2025, Germany will mark the National Day of Civil Courage (Tag der Zivilcourage), a nationwide initiative promoting democratic values, social engagement and tolerance. From 10 AM to 6 PM, communities across the country will host events encouraging citizens to stand against discrimination and injustice. Nationwide Participation Numerous cities are participating in the Day of Civil Courage. …

Germany is increasingly recognising the professional qualifications of foreign workers — a trend seen as vital for addressing the country’s acute shortage of skilled labour. According to new data from the Federal Statistical Office, 79,100 applications for recognition of foreign qualifications were approved in 2024, an increase of 21 percent compared to the previous year. Since systematic recording began in …

For many refugee families in Germany, the struggle does not end with finding safety. A new report by the German Children’s Fund (Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk) has revealed that refugee children often wait months — sometimes up to three years — before being allowed into regular school classes. The organisation calls this unacceptable, stressing that every child has a right to education. …

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 …

A Critical Analysis of Systemic Racism in German Family Law The treatment of Black parents and children within Germany’s family law system, exemplified by the ongoing separation of a Black man and his young son, reveals deeply embedded structural inequities that amount to violations of international human rights law, writes Amal Abbass*. Through legal, historical, sociological and intersectional lenses, she …

After a protracted legal battle and decades of public debate, Berlin’s Mohrenstraße in the Mitte district has officially been renamed Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße. The renaming was celebrated on Saturday, 23 August, coinciding with the UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition. The ceremony was only made possible after the Oberverwaltungsgericht Berlin-Brandenburg overturned a last-minute injunction granted …