Policy updates
Updates RSS feed ↗German immigration, citizenship and tax rules change often. We track the changes that matter, explain who is affected, and link to the official announcement.
- Minor TaxBenefits 1 January 2026
Child benefit rises to €259 and the basic tax allowance to €12,348
From 2026 Kindergeld is €259 per child per month (up from €255) and the income-tax basic allowance (Grundfreibetrag) rises to €12,348, slightly reducing income …
- Notable TaxBenefits 1 January 2026
2026 social insurance ceilings and rates: what changes on your payslip
For 2026 the pension/unemployment contribution ceiling rose to €101,400/year and the health/care ceiling to €69,750/year. The average public health insurance to…
- Notable VisaWork 1 January 2026
EU Blue Card salary thresholds rise for 2026
From 1 January 2026 the standard Blue Card salary is €50,700 and the reduced threshold (shortage occupations, new graduates, IT specialists) is €45,934.20 — rou…
- Minor Work 1 January 2026
Minimum wage rises to €13.90 per hour
Germany's statutory minimum wage increased to €13.90/hour on 1 January 2026 (from €12.82), and will rise again to €14.60 in 2027. Relevant for part-time work on…
- Major Citizenship 30 October 2025
Three-year fast-track citizenship abolished
Germany has scrapped the option to naturalise after just three years of residence. The standard minimum is back to five years — but dual citizenship and the red…
- Major Visa 24 July 2025
Family reunification to subsidiary-protection holders suspended for two years
A law in force since 24 July 2025 suspends family reunification to people with subsidiary protection until 23 July 2027. Only exceptional humanitarian cases are…
- Notable Visa 1 January 2025
All German visas now start online in the Consular Services Portal
Since 1 January 2025 national (D) visa applications are submitted digitally at all 167 German visa sections. You fill in forms and upload documents online, then…
- Notable WorkVisa 1 June 2024
Western Balkans work quota doubled to 50,000 and made permanent
Since 1 June 2024 up to 50,000 nationals of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia can take any job in Germany each year — …