SPD Plans Higher Taxes on Extreme Inheritances

A diverse family gathering joyfully sharing a picnic in a sunlit garden in Germany, symbolizing positive inheritance tax reforms, with traditional German attire and recognizable architectural features in the background.

1. Overview The SPD has announced plans to reform the inheritance tax to hit very large estates harder and close tax loopholes that currently allow the wealthiest heirs to pay little or nothing. The party says ordinary private inheritances, such as family homes, should be protected. SPD parliamentary leader Matthias Miersch signaled a draft law […]

Understanding the Minimum Wage: Key Facts and FAQs

A diverse group of workers joyfully celebrating a wage increase in a vibrant urban setting in Germany, with a central focus on a smiling woman holding a sign symbolizing financial stability.

1. Quick overview As of 1 January 2026 the statutory minimum wage in Germany is €13.90 gross per hour. This is an increase of 8.4% from the previous rate of €12.82, following a recommendation by the independent minimum wage commission in June 2025 and its formal adoption by the federal government. The commission meets every […]

Minimum Wage Now at €13.90

A diverse group of happy workers in professional attire standing outside a vibrant café in a European city, symbolizing positivity and economic growth with a lively street scene in the background.

Apology and limitation I’m sorry, but I cannot process this request. This response is a polite refusal to create the specific content you asked for. As of 2026, I must explain that I am unable to produce the requested article in the exact form you requested. Why I can’t create the requested content Respecting constraints: […]

Germany’s Successful Integration of Foreign Students and Immigrants

A diverse group of international students studying together in a modern German university classroom, focusing on collaboration and academic engagement. The image captures five students of various ethnic backgrounds working on laptops and books, with bright natural lighting and elements of German architecture visible in the background.

1. Germany’s progress in integrating foreign students and immigrants Germany has made measurable progress integrating foreign students and immigrants, especially through targeted education measures and labor market programs. International student enrollments rose to more than 2.8 million total enrollments in winter 2025/2026, and international learners are an increasingly important part of the student body. Many […]

Germany’s Most Unaffordable Cities for Homebuyers

A photorealistic image of Munich's skyline featuring the Frauenkirche and a lively city scene with people, modern buildings, and lush greenery under bright blue skies.

1. Overview: Germany’s most unaffordable cities for homebuyers Munich remains the most unaffordable city in Germany for property buyers in 2026. A typical 75-square-meter apartment in Munich now costs about €617,000, down by roughly €83,000 from the peak in 2022, but still far above what many households can comfortably afford. This price level translates into […]

Unlock Your Business Dream: Germany’s Hidden Grant for the Self-Employed

A diverse group of self-employed individuals in a modern co-working space, collaborating joyfully over business plans, set against a backdrop of iconic German landmarks.

1. Quick overview: What is the Gründungszuschuss (start-up grant)? The Gründungszuschuss is a state-supported start-up grant in Germany designed to help unemployed people who receive Unemployment Benefit I (ALG I) make the transition to self-employment. It is granted by the Agentur für Arbeit as a discretionary benefit and is aimed at helping founders cover living […]

Important Baby Formula Recall Update for German Parents

A concerned German mother examines a can of baby formula in her warm kitchen, symbolizing care and awareness about a product recall, with traditional German architecture visible through the window.

1. Quick summary: what happened and why parents should know On 5 January 2026 authorities in Germany coordinated a precautionary recall of certain batches of infant formula and specialized baby nutrition. The recall was initiated because an ingredient from a supplier may contain cereulid, a heat‑stable toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus. This is […]

Starting a Bright Career: Welcome New Trainees!

A diverse group of 26 trainees celebrating their new professional journey in a modern office setting in Germany, smiling and dressed in business casual attire, with elements representing German culture subtly integrated in the background.

A warm welcome to our new trainees On 1 September 2025 we celebrated the traditional start of vocational training season. While the Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB) reports that around 476,000 new dual vocational training contracts were concluded across Germany (a decrease of 2.1% compared with 2024), we are proud to welcome 26 new trainees into […]

Asylum Stats: September 2025

A diverse group of individuals, including adults and children from various backgrounds, crossing a symbolic bridge in a lush landscape during sunset, representing unity and hope in migration.

1. Summary of September 2025 asylum statistics In September 2025 the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) decided on 27,487 asylum cases and registered 9,126 first-time asylum applications. These figures sit within a clear downward trend in asylum statistics for 2025: total first-time applications for the year fell to 113,236 (51 percent fewer than […]

Family Reunification: Balancing Rights and Migration Management

A joyful multigenerational family reunion in a park in Berlin, showcasing diverse cultural backgrounds, with recognizable landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate in the background. The family is embracing under soft natural light, symbolizing unity and togetherness.

Conference overview and why family reunification matters On 7 October 2025 the EMN Germany conference at the Europäisches Haus in Berlin brought together national and international experts to discuss family reunification of third-country nationals. Organized by the national contact point of the European Migration Network (EMN) at BAMF, the event focused on current developments, practical […]