What changes in Germany from September 2026
September in Germany has turned out to be a dense month: part of the tax advice reform came into force, the minimum rate in Zeitarbeit went up, the parliamentary season begins and three elections in the federal states come at once. We look separately at the deadlines in health insurance — both the move from a statutory Krankenkasse to a private insurer and the switch from one private policy to another: in both cases the date of 30 September comes up for a reason.
Customs will be able to seize assets without criminal proceedings
On 12 August 2026 the federal cabinet approved a bill that gives the German Zoll the right to seize assets of questionable origin —
Exchange of driving licence in Germany
— with no theory and no practical test. Ukraine was added to Anlage 11 of the German Driving Licence Regulation (FeV) by a decree published in the Federal Law Gazette
Work visas for Germany and their types
German work visas 2026: § 18a, § 18b, § 19c, Blue Card, Chancenkarte, § 21. Salary thresholds, documents, application steps and extension under § 8 AufenthG.
How to get German citizenship
Since 2024, German citizenship is granted after 5 years and without renouncing the previous passport, while the expedited path of 3 years was abolished on 30.10.2025. Conditions, pathways and costs.
Recognition of a degree in Germany
Diploma recognition is the official response of a German authority to a single question: is your education equivalent to the German one? This response determines whether you will be able to work in your profession, which visa you will receive, and what salary you can expect.
Opportunity Card
From 1 June 2024, it is possible to obtain a Chancenkarte for fast-track entry into Germany. Given the huge demand for skilled labour in many sectors, the German government has introduced the Opportunity Card – a job-seeker visa valid for up to 12 months.
What is the difference between a Steuer-ID and a Steuernummer?
Steuer-ID and Steuernummer are constantly confused — and with good reason: both translate as «tax number», both come from the tax office, and both consist of digits. The difference is simple and important.
10 useless insurances in Germany
Which insurance policies do not work in Germany: 3–5 year contracts, all-in-one packages, policies lacking key clauses. What to check in the contract and what to replace them with.
You will definitely pay for this in Germany.
Contributions to Germany’s statutory health insurance in 2026: a rate of 14.6 % plus a 2.9 % top-up from the health insurance fund, calculated in euros, the cap, and how to pay less.
Where to look for a job in Germany?
Where to actually look for work in Germany, how major portals differ, what to do if you are not yet in the country, and what a German employer expects in an application. All links have been verified, and the figures are based on data from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit.
AI in immigration offices: the cabinet approves the KIMVG
On 29 July 2026 the federal cabinet approved a bill on the use of artificial intelligence in the migration field — the KI-Migrationsverwaltungsgesetz (KIMVG). Authorities will be able to train AI on applicants' data and automatically check information against open sources on the internet. If you or people you know have an open asylum procedure or an application to extend an Aufenthaltstitel, this is not abstract news.
What changes in Germany from August 2026
August in Germany is a month when several very different rules take effect at once: two Krankenkassen raise their contributions, old cards held by family members of EU citizens lose their validity, and the AI Act article on labelling AI-generated content becomes applicable. We have gathered what really changes someone's plans and expenses.
Awkward questions for IT professionals in Germany
I collected the trickiest questions about IT — the ones people usually don't ask out loud — and put them to Andrey and Nastya. They are a married couple, both working in IT in Germany. I asked them to answer briefly and without corporate boilerplate. It came out more honest than expected: about money, about what the working day actually consists of, about AI and about what is hardest right now.
What changes in Germany from July 2026
On 1 July 2026 a whole block of changes came into force at once — many laws in Germany are tied to the start of the second half of the year to simplify the recalculation of benefits. We have collected what really affects your wallet: pensions, social benefits, parcels from abroad, taxes and fines.
