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WHAT CHANGES IN GERMANY

Everything that changes in Germany in June 2024

June is a big month for changes in Germany, especially for foreign residents. From the citizenship law coming into force to the 'opportunity card' visa, we round up the important changes.

Published: 24 May 2024 09:14 CEST
Updated: 1 June 2024 08:20 CEST
Uwe Jahn, of Magdeburg Cathedral, checks the hands of the southern tower clock through a hatch.
Uwe Jahn, of Magdeburg Cathedral, checks the hands of the southern tower clock through a hatch. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Peter Gercke

Germany’s ‘opportunity card’ visa launches

For non-EU citizens, coming to Germany for work should get slightly easier from June 1st.

That’s because those who are eligible can apply for a new visa for jobseekers called the Chancenkarte or ‘opportunity card’.

The basic requirement is at least two years of vocational training or a university degree in the country of origin as well as language skills in German or English. Depending on the applicant’s language skills, professional experience, age and connection to Germany, they are awarded points that entitle them to receive the visa. 

READ ALSO:

Bahncards 25 and 50 to go digital

Rail customers will see a change to Deutsche Bahn subscription cards from June 6th. From this date onwards, the plastic cards for Bahncard 25 and 50 will no longer be available and will only be offered in digital form.

To use the travel card digitally, customers will need a profile in the Bahn app or on the bahn.de platform. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can print out a replacement document. Existing plastic cards can be used until the printed expiry date.

The BahnCard 100 is exempt from the change and is still available as a plastic card.

READ ALSO: How to find cheap train tickets in Germany

EU citizens vote in the European elections

The European elections in Germany will take place on June 9th. Some countries, such as the Netherlands, start voting on June 6th.

A new EU Parliament will be elected with over 720 MEPs. This year, for the first time, young people aged 16 and over will be able to vote in Germany. This means that the number of eligible voters has increased from around 61.5 million in the last election in 2019 to around 65 million people in this election.

If you are still unsure which party to vote for, you can check out the Wahl-O-Mat to help make your decision. 

READ ALSO: What’s at stake in Germany’s European election vote?

EU flag

EU flags – the EU will vote for its parliament in June. Photo by ALEXANDRE LALLEMAND on Unsplash

The UEFA European Football Championship comes to Germany 

Get ready for football mania as Germany hosts the Euros. The championship kicks off in Munich on June 14th when Germany will take on Scotland. 

A total of 24 teams will compete in the month-long tournament, which ends on July 14th in Berlin. In total 51 games will be played on 22 match days.

Several cities will host games. Aside from Berlin and Munich, matches will be held in Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Dortmund, Leipzig, Gelsenkirchen, Stuttgart, and Düsseldorf.

READ ALSO: Euro 2024 – What you can expect from Europe’s biggest football frenzy 

New German citizenship law comes into force

It’s a moment many people in Germany have been waiting for. The landmark reform of citizenship law will come into force on June 27th 2024.

From this date, foreign residents will be able to obtain German citizenship more quickly. Naturalisation will be possible after just five years of residence instead of eight, and even after three years in cases of ‘special integration and C1 level German.

Dual citizenship or holding multiple nationalities will also be permitted – the law previously only allowed this in exceptional cases and for EU citizens. Former ‘guest workers’ and ‘contract workers’ will only have to prove their oral knowledge of German for naturalisation and will no longer have to take a naturalisation test.

READ ALSO: Requirements, costs and permits – 6 articles for German citizenship

Changes to cable TV connections for tenants

Millions of tenants in Germany have to decide by June 30th at the latest how they want to watch TV in their home in future. From July, landlords will no longer be allowed to add cable TV connection fees to the Nebenkosten, or additional costs. 

Tenants who want to continue to watch cable TV in their home will have to contact a provider to arrange for this. However, some renters could find themselves potentially paying more for this service. The new arrangement starts from July 1st. 

READ ALSO: Why tenants in Germany could face higher costs for cable TV this year

TV set cable TV

A man changes the channel on a TV set at home. Photo: Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Some German states begin their summer holiday 

While most of Germany’s 16 states start their summer break in July, a few begin earlier. Pupils in Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia will start their summer holidays in the second half of June. 

READ ALSO: 7 reasons why June is the best month in Germany

Disney+ to start restricting account sharing

Anyone who uses Disney+ via someone else’s account will have to make a change. The streaming service is launching its measures against account sharing worldwide starting from June. In future, every household will need its own Disney+ account to continue streaming films and series from the Marvel or Star Wars universe.

New Europe-wide payment system launches

The online payment services PayPal and Apple Pay are facing competition. Customers of some banks in Europe will be able to make smartphone-to-smartphone payments with each other from the end of June.

This is being made possible by the Europe-wide payment system ‘wero’ from the EPI banking initiative. In Germany, savings banks, cooperative banks and Deutsche Bank are participating. The first expansion stage is due to start at the end of June, with the aim to create a standardised Europe-wide system for payment by card and smartphone.

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For members

WHAT CHANGES IN GERMANY

Everything that changes in Germany in July 2024

From cannabis clubs and changes to cable TV connection fees to summer holidays and the Euro 2024 final, there are plenty of things happening this July in Germany that foreign residents should know about.

Published: 24 June 2024 16:55 CEST
Everything that changes in Germany in July 2024

Cannabis clubs to be allowed in Germany

Germany’s cannabis rules are being extended. 

From July 1st, the next phase of the cannabis law will come into force, making it possible to legally obtain weed through “cannabis clubs”.

These regulated associations will be allowed to have up to 500 members each, and will be able to distribute up to 50 grams of cannabis per person per month.

But it’s worth noting that members will not be allowed to smoke weed in the clubs – they must be at least 100 metres away from the entrance area.

Since April 1st adults over 18 have been allowed to carry 25 grams of dried cannabis and cultivate up to three marijuana plants at home. 

Cannabis remains banned for under-18s and within 100 metres of schools, kindergartens and playgrounds.

READ ALSO: What to know about Germany’s partial legalisation of cannabis

Someone holds part of a cannabis plant

Cannabis is partially legalised in Germany. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

Drink lids must be attached to bottle

Plastic bottles with permanently attached lids have been available for several months now as part of aims to better protect the environment. 

And from July 3rd, all manufacturers will have to change their ways, as loose caps will be banned on certain drinks.

The law applies to single-use packaging made entirely or partly of plastic – such as juice cartons or disposable PET bottles – with a volume of up to three litres.

School holidays start in several states

School pupils (and teaching staff) in Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia start their summer holidays in the second half of June. 

Other states will follow in July. Pupils in Bavaria have the latest start – they go off on July 29th. 

Holiday resorts and popular routes are likely to be busier as families flock on vacation during the summer months. 

A family sit at a lake.

A family sit at a lake in Bavaria. Image by Eva Mospanova from Pixabay

Summer construction works may cause problems

Those getting out on the road or railway network should be aware that there may be more construction works than usual.

Officials often use the summer months for upgrades. 

A big one is due for the rail network – on July 15th, Deutsche Bahn begins the general refurbishment of the Riedbahn, which connects Frankfurt and Mannheim. The line will remain closed until December 14th. Trains will be diverted and there will be rail replacement services.

READ ALSO: Where to expect disruption due to rail upgrades in Germany this year

Keep an eye out on local announcements for road construction projects in your area. 

UEFA Euro 2024 final in Berlin 

Germany has been hosting the Euro 2024 tournament – and it will come to a dramatic close on July 14th. 

That’s when the final match will be played at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. 

A total of 24 teams are competing in the month-long tournament that sees 51 games played on 22 match days across 10 German cites. 

Who’s going to be in the final? We still have no idea but we bet it will be a great spectacle. 

PODCAST: Countdown to citizenship law change, Euro fever and can the coalition survive?

Back box and assistance systems on new cars to be mandatory

From July 7th every newly registered car or commercial vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes in Germany must be fitted with an Event Data Recorder (EDR). Like a black box, this stores data that can be used to investigate an accident.

To prevent serious accidents, various driver assistance systems will also be mandatory in new cars coming off the production line from July.

German members of the Bundestag to get pay boost

This change will please the 734 members of the Bundestag – they are to receive 6 percent more money from July. Their parliamentary allowance will rise by €635.50 to a total of €11,227.20 per month.

The allowances are adjusted each year in line with the nominal wage development on July 1st. In addition to this amount, there is a tax-free expense allowance. This currently amounts to €5,051.54  per month. MPs must use this to cover all expenses, such as a constituency office or a second home in Berlin.

READ ALSO: This is how much German politicians earn in various parliaments

MPs in the debating chamber of the German Bundestag.

MPs in the debating chamber of the German Bundestag. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Kay Nietfeld

Cable TV connection fees change

Up to now, the costs for cable TV connections were automatically passed on to many tenants by their landlord or housing company. The so-called service charge privilege made it possible to conclude more favourable collective contracts that were billed via the Nebenkosten – additional costs.

But this is changing. From July 1st, every tenant can decide for themselves how they want to watch TV: whether via the Internet, satellite or cable. Automatic bundled contracts within rental contracts will no longer exist. 

Those who are affected and want more information should contact their landlord, a consumer rights’ organisation or a provider to figure out their options as soon as possible. 

READ ALSO: What to know about changes to cable TV fees in Germany this July 

Truck toll fees extended

Tolls have been mandatory for certain vehicles since December 2023. And from July 1st, the regulation will be extended to include vehicles weighing 3.5 tonnes and above. Previously it applied to trucks weighing from 7.5 tonnes. The toll obligation applies to both domestic and foreign vehicles.

A number of exemptions are in place, however, including for rescue vehicles, fire services, civil protection and agricultural vehicles. 

Pensioners to receive financial boost

In July, Germany’s roughly 21 million pensioners can look forward to more money. Pensions will be raised by 4.57 percent in all federal states. The increase is based on new data from the Federal Statistical Office and the pension provider Deutsche Rentenversicherung.

A retiree receiving a pension of €1,000 will get an extra €45.70 per month under the change. 

Some people who receive a reduced earning capacity pension will get a bigger boost – with a hike of 7.5 percent. However, this only applies to pensioners whose pension started between January 2001 and June 2014. If the pension commenced between July 2014 and December 2018, the increase in pension payments will be around 4.5 percent.

Well-known Berlin department store to shut its doors

Popular luxury French department store Galeries Lafayette will close its Berlin location to customers on July 31st. The store, located on Friedrichstraße in central Berlin, is the only branch in Germany.

The company said last year that the decision is due to “a consequence of changing consumer habits in Germany and significant changes in the city’s retail market”.

The store employs around 190 people. 

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