Everything that changes in Germany in August 2024

Profession experience to be formally recognised 

On August 1st, a new piece of legislation designed to make on-the-job training more attractive and support people without formal qualifications will enter into force.

Under the new Vocational Validation and Digitalisation Act, people without a university degree or other professional qualifications will be able to get their work experience certified as a qualification. 

Applicants must have worked in a relevant field 1.5 times the duration of the equivalent training - for a three-year university course, that would equate 4.5 years of professional experience - and be at least 25 years old.

The validation process will be widely available from January 2025 through chambers of industry, commerce, and crafts.

Changes to train routes 

From August 16th to December 14th, ICE journeys between Hamburg and Berlin will take 45 minutes longer due to a diversion via Stendal. This will bring the journey up to 2.5 hours.

Only one train per hour will run between the two cities during this time, and the EC trains to Dresden and Prague will begin and end in Berlin instead of Hamburg.

Due to construction work, the night trains from Berlin to Paris and Brussels will be cancelled between August 12th to October 25th. These new connections were added to the rail schedule back in December, travelling via Halle, Erfurt and Mannheim.

READ ALSO: What to know about Deutsche Bahn's summer service changes

New rules on cannabis consumption for drivers

Following the legalisation of cannabis possession and the introduction of licensed cannabis clubs in Germany, the government is introducing new laws to regulate driving under the influence.

From August this year, authorities will be entitled to check the level of THC - the psychoactive compound in weed - contained in drivers' bloodstreams. According to the new law, this should be no more than 3.5 nanograms per millilitre.

Exceeding this limit can result in fines up to €3,000, with higher fines if alcohol is also involved. For new drivers and drivers under 21 years old, any level of THC is banned. 

Slower postal deliveries 

Starting in August, letters sent to recipients in Germany can take up to three working days to arrive, rather than the previous two. These changes were set out in the government's recent Postal Modernisation Act, which is due to come into force on August 1st. 

In addition to companies like DHL and Hermes, the government is also planning to allow more competition on the parcel delivery market in the hopes of improving the service for consumers. However, new companies on the market must still comply with German labour laws such as the minimum wage and maximum working hours.

When packages weigh more than 10kg or 20kg, they will need to be labelled accordingly. 

READ ALSO: Post in Germany to arrive later after parliament passes landmark reform

Young people gain right to an apprenticeship

From August 1st, more young people will have the right to state-supported vocational training if they are learning disabled, socially disadvantaged, or live in areas with insufficient training opportunities.

Employers who offer training and apprenticeships will receive a bigger bonus of €3,000 for transitioning trainees into company-based training. 

In addition, vocational colleges will be permitted to carry out more of their training and examinations digitally.

The new apprenticeship guarantee builds on a previous piece of legislation designed to encourage young people into vocational training programmes.

The older law provides for trainees and interns to be supported with accommodation and travel costs so that they can complete an apprenticeship in another town or city. 

According to Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD), one of the major problems facing skilled trades in Germany is not the lack of apprenticeship places, but the lack of applicants to fill them. 

More generous grants for students 

This August, BAföG - Germany's financial aid scheme for students - will increase in time for the next semester.

The basic monthly allowance will rise from €452 to €475, while the housing allowance for students living away from home will increase from €360 to €380 Euros.

Health and care insurance subsidies will also be adjusted to account for the higher costs.

Additionally, students from very low-income families will receive an initial grant of €1,000 when starting a course at a university.

The income threshold for students' additional earnings will also increase to €538 per month.

READ ALSO: How much money do international students need to study in Germany?

A new "flexibility semester" is set to come into force, allowing students to claim their BAföG grants for an additional semester if they need longer to finish their studies.

In addition, an extended deadline for changing study programs will be introduced.

Dozens of Galleria branches close

Due to ongoing insolvency proceedings, nine of Galeria's remaining 92 stores will close on August 31st this year.

According to a statement on the department store's website, the affected stores include: Galeria Augsburg, Galeria Berlin Ringcenter, Galeria Berlin Tempelhof, Galeria Chemnitz, Galeria Essen, Galeria Leonberg, Galeria Regensburg, Galeria Trier and Galeria Wesel.

Around 1,400 of Galeria's 12,800 staff are likely to lose their jobs following the closures. 

Higher wages for trainee painters and stonemasons

Apprentices in the painting and varnishing trades are set to see their wages go up this August.

First-year apprentices will earn 800 per month, second-year apprentices will earn €885, and third-year apprentices will earn €1,050. 

Young people training to be stonemasons will also get an income boost, earning €925 per month in the first year, €1,025 in the second year and €1,175 in their third year of training. 

Gender self-recognition becomes easier

On August 1st, the government's new Self-Determination Act, which broadens rights for trans people, enters into force in Germany. 

The self-determination act makes it easier for someone in Germany to change their gender entry and first name simply by submitting a declaration to the registry office. There is no longer a requirement for a medical certificate, expert opinion or court order, as previously mandated under the 1980 Transsexual Act.

The self-determination act only affects the process for changing genders with the registry. It does not make any provisions for physical interventions, such as hormone therapies or gender reassignment surgery.

READ ALSO: How Germany's 'self-determination law' will make it easier for people to change their gender

Subsidies for green energy systems open up

In line with the government's Heating Bill, which encourages households to swap out old heating systems for eco-friendly ones, landlords, single-family homeowners and apartment owners will be able to apply for subsidies to exchange their heating systems from August.

Up to 70 percent of the costs of a new heating system can be subsidised by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), with subsidies depending only partly on household income. 

There are also changes on the horizon for people with solar panel installations on their balcony or roof. In many cases, people with solar panels produce an surplus of energy that they feed back into the grid in order to turn a profit. The amount people can earn this way will drop by one percent from August. 

For systems up to 10 kWp, the new rate will be 8.04 cents per kWh if partially fed into the grid and 12.73 cents per kWh if fully fed. Systems between 10 and 40 kWp will have rates of 6.95 and 10.68 cents per kWh, respectively, and systems between 40 and 100 kWp will receive 5.68 and 10.68 cents per kWh. 

Local governments could introduce 30km/h zones

Under pressure from local authorities and campaigners, the government recently passed a sweeping reform of its Road Traffic Act to allow local governments to have more control over their streets.

Rather than prioritising cars at all times, districts can now point to other considerations like health or the environment in order to introduce new speed limits, pedestrian zones and cycle lanes. 

Specifically, local authorities can more easily implement 30 km/h speed limits near playgrounds, school routes, and pedestrian crossings - a measure many regions have been calling for.

Though no specific date has yet been said for introducing the amended law, it's likely to come into effect at the end of July or early August.

READ ALSO: How can Germany fix its patchy rural transport connections?

Tax deadline extended 

The official deadline for mandatory tax declarations is August 31st this year. However, since this date falls on a Sunday, taxpayers in Germany will have until Monday, September 2nd to submit their documents to the Finanzamt.

For most employees in Germany, filling in a tax return is not compulsory, but certain groups of people, including those with second sources of incomes and the self-employed, must submit declarations annually.

Employees can also often benefit from submitting a non-mandatory tax declaration as it allows them to write off work-related expenses and thereby reduce their tax burden. 

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED - The best apps to help you track your German taxes