{
  "updated": "2026-10-13",
  "rules": [
    {
      "effective": "2026-06-03",
      "area": "Visa",
      "aud": "individual",
      "change": "Airport transit visa no longer required for Indian nationals (airside transit only)",
      "old": "Required",
      "new": "Not required",
      "who": "Indians changing flights at German airports",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "German Missions in India",
      "source_url": "https://india.diplo.de/in-en/2773896-2773896",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2026-03-20",
      "area": "Courts",
      "aud": "student",
      "change": "Berlin Administrative Court suspends a deportation order in an IU hybrid-study case (24 L 1/26, urgent proceedings)",
      "old": "",
      "new": "Individual decision",
      "who": "Students on hybrid programmes in Berlin",
      "status": "Court case",
      "source_name": "VisaGuard (law firm) summary",
      "source_url": "https://www.visaguard.berlin/en/post/iu-cases-berlin-administrative-court-issues-new-ruling-on-the-attendance-requirement-for-foreign-st",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2026-01-01",
      "area": "Pay",
      "aud": "individual employer student",
      "change": "Statutory minimum wage",
      "old": "€12.82/hour",
      "new": "€13.90/hour",
      "who": "All employees, Werkstudents, mini-jobbers",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "Deutsche Rentenversicherung",
      "source_url": "https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/Rheinland/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2025/25-11-21-mindestlohn.html",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2026-01-01",
      "area": "Pay",
      "aud": "student employer",
      "change": "Mini-job earnings limit",
      "old": "€556/month",
      "new": "€603/month",
      "who": "Students and side jobs",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "Deutsche Rentenversicherung",
      "source_url": "https://www.deutsche-rentenversicherung.de/BadenWuerttemberg/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2025/251222_Minijob.html",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2026-01-01",
      "area": "Visa",
      "aud": "individual employer",
      "change": "EU Blue Card salary thresholds (general; shortage occupations and recent graduates)",
      "old": "€48,300; €43,759.80",
      "new": "€50,700; €45,934.20",
      "who": "Blue Card applicants and employers",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "Make it in Germany (official portal)",
      "source_url": "https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2026-01-01",
      "area": "Family",
      "aud": "family",
      "change": "Kindergeld per child",
      "old": "€255/month",
      "new": "€259/month",
      "who": "Families",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "Federal Employment Agency: Familienkasse",
      "source_url": "https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/familie-und-kinder/kindergeld",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2026-01-01",
      "area": "Tax",
      "aud": "individual",
      "change": "Basic tax-free allowance (Grundfreibetrag)",
      "old": "€12,096",
      "new": "€12,348",
      "who": "All taxpayers",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "§32a Income Tax Act",
      "source_url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/estg/__32a.html",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2026-01-01",
      "area": "Pay",
      "aud": "individual employer",
      "change": "Social insurance ceilings: pension and unemployment; health and care",
      "old": "€96,600; €66,150",
      "new": "€101,400; €69,750",
      "who": "Higher earners and employers",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "Overview of 2026 social insurance values",
      "source_url": "https://lohn-info.de/sozialversicherungsbeitraege2026.html",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2026-01-01",
      "area": "Pay",
      "aud": "individual employer",
      "change": "Average additional health insurance rate",
      "old": "2.5%",
      "new": "2.9%",
      "who": "Everyone in public health insurance",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "Overview of 2026 social insurance values",
      "source_url": "https://lohn-info.de/sozialversicherungsbeitraege2026.html",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2026-01-01",
      "area": "Transport",
      "aud": "individual student",
      "change": "Deutschlandticket monthly price",
      "old": "€58",
      "new": "€63",
      "who": "Commuters and students",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "Deutschlandticket (official site)",
      "source_url": "https://deutschlandticket.de/",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2026-01-01",
      "area": "Visa",
      "aud": "individual",
      "change": "Chancenkarte proof of funds",
      "old": "€1,027/month",
      "new": "€1,091/month",
      "who": "Opportunity Card applicants",
      "status": "To verify",
      "source_name": "Make it in Germany",
      "source_url": "https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2025-04-01",
      "area": "Family",
      "aud": "family",
      "change": "Elterngeld income limit for births from this date (taxable income, couples and single parents)",
      "old": "€200,000",
      "new": "€175,000",
      "who": "Parents",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "Federal Family Ministry",
      "source_url": "https://www.bmfsfj.de/",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2024-09-01",
      "area": "Visa",
      "aud": "student",
      "change": "Student blocked account (proof of funds)",
      "old": "€934/month",
      "new": "€992/month (€11,904/year)",
      "who": "Students",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "Federal Foreign Office (visa section)",
      "source_url": "https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en",
      "verified": null
    },
    {
      "effective": "2024-03-01",
      "area": "Visa",
      "aud": "individual employer",
      "change": "Settlement permit for skilled workers after 3 years and 36 months of pension contributions (2 years with a German qualification)",
      "old": "Longer periods",
      "new": "§18c(1) Residence Act",
      "who": "Skilled workers",
      "status": "In force",
      "source_name": "§18c Residence Act",
      "source_url": "https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/aufenthg_2004/__18c.html",
      "verified": null
    }
  ]
}