German Immigration News

For decades, registered mail with return receipt was considered the pragmatic standard in German HR departments: inexpensive, fast, and in case of dispute, proof of delivery from Deutsche Post was included in the file. With its ruling of May 7, 2026 (Case No. 2 AZR 184/25), the Federal Labor Court undermined this trust. For companies employing international specialists , this is more than just a minor detail in labor law. Those who cannot prove receipt of a notice of terminat

A letter of termination lies on the table, and with it a question that many Turkish people have. Skilled workers in Germany caught off guard: Must the loss of their jobs be a consequence of the pandemic? When should I register with the immigration authorities ? Those who have lived and worked in Germany for years with a residence permit under the EEC-Turkey Association Agreement (ARB 1/80) rarely find a clear answer in the authorities' information leaflets, because the re

The fact that medium-sized businesses are struggling with the ongoing economic crisis has been a recurring theme for years. One term that keeps cropping up is personnel costs . Because entrepreneurs feel abandoned by the government and fear for their survival, relying on cheap labor from abroad is particularly attractive. However, a multitude of regulations must be observed, and violations of these regulations can pose significant risks for those responsible. The accusation o

A renovated apartment in an old building in Berlin-Mitte, a newly founded limited liability company, plus solid rental income: For many wealthy buyers from the USA , For those living in Great Britain or Canada, the path to a German residence permit seems clear. Anyone who invests, starts a business, and generates revenue should, one would assume, be considered an entrepreneur. This is precisely where one of the most frequent misunderstandings we encounter in our consultat

Who his Anyone who needs to renew their residence permit in Berlin knows the ritual: find an appointment, wait for weeks, appear in person – and then submit fingerprints, a photo, and a signature that the authorities already recorded two years ago. This is precisely where a law comes in that sounds like pure administrative procedure and, with its name "Migration Administration Digitalization Development Act" (MDWG), isn't exactly inviting to read. The Bundestag passed it on

Most applications at The State Office for Immigration ( LEA ) fails not due to a lack of qualifications, but due to misunderstandings. As a law firm specializing in immigration law in Berlin, we have handled hundreds of cases and are familiar with the pattern: A highly qualified skilled worker from the USA , Great Britain or Canada meets all the conditions for their Residence permit . Despite this, she waits for months, receives one inquiry after another, or in the

The semester is underway, the tuition fees have been paid, the The residence permit is only supposed to be extended – and then, instead of the appointment, a hearing notice arrives in the mailbox. We are currently receiving further reports from lawyers about precisely this situation: Immigration authorities , currently in the Barnim district of Brandenburg, are informing students of the Berlin School of Business and Innovation (BSBI) that BSBI is merely a franchise of a f

Anyone who checks the appointment calendar of a German embassy or consulate abroad is familiar with the sobering message: a waiting period of six, sometimes twelve months, before a visa appointment is even available. Skilled workers who have a fixed start date with their new employer in Germany, for HR departments that urgently need a new employee to begin work For those who rely on skilled workers or for students with a fixed semester start date, this is not merely an in

Several international media outlets are currently reporting on an alleged new change to German immigration law . Germany has reportedly relaxed its rules for foreign graduates and now allows them to obtain a permanent residence permit after just two years. This sounds like a significant reform of German immigration law. However, there's a problem: this regulation isn't new. The current report describes a special regulation under Section 18c Paragraph 1 of the Residence Act th

Anyone involved in the Skilled immigration as highly qualified professionals skilled worker from the USA , People from Great Britain or Canada who come to Germany usually know their goal exactly: a permanent residence permit as soon as possible. The EU Blue Card promises exactly that – a permanent residence permit after just 27 or 21 months, instead of the usual five years. But what happens if the Was the EU Blue Card not available from the outset, but was the emp

The European Entry/Exit System (EES) is now fully operational. Since April 10, 2026, the system has replaced the previous manual passport stamping for millions of travelers at the Schengen external borders. However, there is an important misunderstanding: The EES does not apply to every third-country national entering Germany . In particular, persons with a corresponding residence permit or long-term national visa from a state participating in the EES are generally not regist

Globalization has fundamentally changed the world of work. For top international talent, highly qualified academics, and expats, relocating across national borders has long been part of career planning. Young professionals and established specialists coming to Germany often bring not only economic potential but also a family . In metropolitan areas like Berlin, HR departments and employers regularly face the challenge of retaining foreign talent long-term. A crucial milestone

Since the beginning of the war against Ukraine, Section 24 of the German Residence Act (AufenthG) has granted millions of displaced persons uncomplicated residence permits – without the usual hurdles such as a visa application or proof of sufficient means of subsistence. However, for some of those affected, this relief is now anything but certain: those who hold a second nationality in addition to Ukrainian citizenship are increasingly facing rejections from immigration autho

Career paths in the age of global mobility are multifaceted. Highly qualified academics , diplomats , and expats find excellent professional prospects in Germany, often within international organizations, diplomatic missions, or consular posts. Securing such a position is prestigious and comes with privileges. However, the legal status granted by the Federal Foreign Office involves bureaucratic peculiarities that often only resurface years later. Young professionals or experi

In today's modern workplace, increasingly characterized by mobility and global competition for talent, the process following a resignation often seems routine: the desk is cleared, access to the server is blocked, and the employee is sent home with continued pay until the end of the notice period. However, behind this apparent standard procedure lies a profound legal conflict, one that has enormous implications, particularly for highly qualified workers from abroad. When a sk

At the end of last week, it was revealed that the Düsseldorf public prosecutor's office, together with the Federal Criminal Police Office , is investigating 32 suspects who allegedly used forged documents to claim descent from Jewish victims of Nazi persecution in order to obtain German citizenship. to fraudulently obtain citizenship . According to research by "Der Spiegel," a large proportion of the suspects come from China. The actual descendants of the affected Jewish ci

International students who exceed the regular study period face difficulties when applying for an extension. Residence permit quickly leads to a dangerous situation: The The immigration office rejects the application, an appeal is pending, and suddenly the question arises whether one is even allowed to enter the country to take the final exams. This is precisely the scenario we encounter repeatedly in our consulting practice – and it demonstrates how quickly a seemingly s

Months of work on the application, stacks of translated documents, reaching the five-year deadline – and suddenly the final step towards German citizenship is delayed. Citizenship applications are stalled. Many highly qualified skilled workers from the USA , Companies in Great Britain or Canada, as well as HR departments looking to retain top talent in Germany long-term, often feel secure after receiving a B1 language certificate. However, many applicants experience a

For many foreign managers and highly qualified specialists, the career move to Germany is accompanied by high expectations. An attractive salary, a state-of-the-art workplace, and the prospect of long-term residency shape the image. However, in the daily work routine, many expats quickly encounter reality: projects demand full commitment, and weekly working hours significantly exceed the contractually agreed hours. When it comes to compensating this overtime, foreign professi

Germany is extending border controls at its land borders once again. The current control period ends on September 15, 2026. Immediately afterwards, the controls will continue from September 16, 2026, until March 15, 2027. The affected areas are Germany's land borders with France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Poland. For most people with clearly documented residency rights, little will change. However, the checks c