Every first of July, Germany quietly flips a switch. New rules kick in, old ones expire, and if you're not paying attention, you'll find out the hard way. Here's everything that changed on July 1st — and what's still coming before the month is out.

Germany's long-term unemployment benefit, Bürgergeld, has been replaced by a new system called Grundsicherung (Basic Security). The new system comes with stricter requirements — if you're able to work, you'll be placed into employment faster, with tougher consequences for refusing job offers.

📌 What this means for expats: If you or someone in your household has ever used Bürgergeld, check in with your Jobcenter now. The obligations have changed and the paperwork will follow.

Germany's fuel tax discount (Tankrabatt) officially expired on June 30. From July 1, petrol and diesel are back to pre-discount prices. Budget a bit more for fuel this month. Your Deutschlandticket is looking better than ever.

📌 What this means for expats: If you drive regularly around NRW or beyond, expect to pay more at the pump. A good reminder to weigh up whether the €58/month Deutschlandticket covers more of your routes than you think.

Good news for summer travel: Germany's Luftverkehrsteuer (aviation tax) has been reduced back to pre-May 2024 levels. Flights departing from German airports — including Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn — will cost a little less going forward.

📌 What this means for expats: Worth knowing if you're comparing fares for a summer trip home. The savings aren't enormous, but every euro counts when you're flying long-haul.

The EU has abolished the €150 customs exemption for packages arriving from outside the bloc. A 3-euro duty now applies to all such packages — regardless of order size. That means every order from Temu, Shein, AliExpress, and similar non-EU platforms now attracts customs duties. The EU says 93% of e-commerce parcels from outside the EU previously fell under this exemption.

📌 What this means for expats: Factor this into your pricing before you checkout on non-EU platforms. That “cheap” order may not be as cheap as it looks once the duty is added.

Germany has closed a legal loophole that allowed some drivers to trade driving licence penalty points (Punkte in Flensburg) with other drivers. That is now illegal and carries fines of up to €30,000. On top of that, the limitation period for traffic offences has been doubled from three to six months — meaning a speed camera fine can arrive in your post up to half a year after the incident.

📌 What this means for expats: Don't assume that speed camera photo from a few weeks ago has quietly expired. It may still land in your letterbox. And never, under any circumstances, try to transfer penalty points.

If you work a Minijob (earning up to €603/month), you now have a one-time option to opt back into the state pension system. Your employer pays a flat 15% into your pension and you contribute 3.6% of your monthly wage.

📌 What this means for expats: Relevant if you're working a Minijob while studying, settling in, or supplementing your income. Opting in builds your pension entitlement and counts your employment time towards waiting periods — which matters for future visa renewals.

Any shop that sells e-cigarettes must now accept used ones for free disposal — even if you didn't buy it there. Kiosks, petrol stations, corner shops, supermarkets — all legally required to take them back and display information about it.

📌 What this means for expats: Stop putting old vapes in general waste bins. Drop them off wherever you see them sold.

⚠️ Tax return deadline — July 31, 2026

If you're filing your 2025 Steuererklärung (income tax return) yourself — without a tax adviser (Steuerberater) — the deadline is July 31. If you're using a Lohnsteuerhilfeverein or Steuerberater, the extension deadline is later. Don't sleep on this one.

⚠️ Right to Repair — also July 31

Germany must transpose the EU's Right to Repair Directive by July 31. Once active, certain consumer electronics and appliances must be repaired (not just replaced) by manufacturers. Good news if you've ever be