Finance : Learn the strategies to save taxes when receiving severance pay. There are two main strategies to save taxes on your severance pay: The one-fifth rule and contributing to the pension insurance. There are certain things you must do to qualify for these strategies. This requires advance planning. We have explained both strategies in detail and what you should keep in mind here.
Health : You can pause your contributions to public health insurance when you leave Germany temporarily. To do so, you must apply for the "Anwartschaft" status. The insurance expert explained the complete process, eligibility criteria, and loopholes during the webinar. You can get the webinar recording here.
Health : Updated our dental insurance guide. We recommend the "DFV Exclusiv 100*" dental insurance plan. The dental insurance plans from Barmania/Feather not only reduced their dental coverage but also increased their premiums. In our recent comparison, if you get DFV instead of Barmenia/Feather when you are 35 and stay with it until you are 45, you will save around €750. The premium gap increases as you get older. Read more ->
Family : You no longer need to apply for Kindergeld. The new law (effective from 2027) will enable automatic payment of Kindergeld without having to apply at the Familienkasse. As soon as you register your newborn with the Standesamt, the Standesamt will notify the tax office. The tax office will then notify the Familenkasse. Read more ->
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Changes in March
From March 1, the green insurance plates for e‑scooters and mopeds will become invalid. You must switch to the new black plates issued by your insurer. The colour of your insurance plate will change every year. This will allow the police to easily check whether you have valid insurance coverage. [5]
From March 1 until Sep. 30, the Federal Nature Conservation Act prohibits radical pruning of hedges, bushes, and coniferous trees. This is to protect birds nesting in bushes and trees. [8]
On March 8, municipal and district elections take place in Bavaria. Both German and EU nationals can vote. [1]
On March 8, state elections will be held in Baden‑Württemberg [2]
On March 22, state elections will be held in Rhineland‑Palatinate [3]
On March 29, the clocks will move forward by one hour. So, prepare to lose one hour of sleep that night. [6]
Border controls are extended further until September. Ensure to carry your passport and residence permit when crossing borders. [4]
Berlin immigration authorities digitized the freelance visa process. Hopefully, it will reduce the waiting time. [7] If you are waiting for your residence permit (more than 6 months) or citizenship (more than 12 months), you should consider filing an Untätigkeitsklage (inaction lawsuit). This is the only option to push your applications forward. Please note that just because authorities mention 18 months as the minimum processing time for your application doesn't make it a legal timeline. Courts consider 12 months as reasonable for citizenship and 6 months for other resident permits. You can contact LegalWeg for a free case assessment*.
Ukrainian refugees' protected status will be automatically extended until March 4, 2027. [9]
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The information provided here is based on our own experience and in-depth research. The content might be inaccurate. It should not be considered financial, insurance, tax, legal, or any kind of advice.
We are not certified brokers or consultants. Always do your research and contact certified professionals before making any decision. GermanPedia disclaims any and all liability for damages or losses arising from the use of this document.
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New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Your unfair advantage in Germany We are in the final stages of launching GermanPedia's first mobile app. It'll be a free app to prepare for the German citizenship test. No more apps that feel they were built in the 90s, and watching a 30-second ad to learn. You can track your progress, learn in three different modes, take unlimited mock tests, English translations, and explanations, and more. Essentials...
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Your unfair advantage in Germany Happy belated Easter, everyone. 🐰 I hope you had a relaxing holiday or are having one. First of all, I would like to thank you all for the kind words and for sharing the webinar topics. You should expect even more deep dives in different areas in April. We are currently looking for a tax advisor to share tax tips during the webinar. If you know one, let us know. Over the...
New here? Check out GermanPediaDid someone forward you this? Subscribe to this newsletter. Your unfair advantage in Germany We had our biggest webinar ever. It's all thanks to you and your support. 370+ registrations and many people who couldn't register requested recordings after the webinar. We aim to continue to offer such webinars. But, to make them relevant, we need your feedback. Please share which topics interest you most. We will find the experts in those areas and organize the...
