Germany end free appeals for rejected visa applicants
If your visa to visit or move to Germany is rejected after the start of July, you will no longer be able to use a free government review process, called remonstration, to challenge it.
Until now, the remonstration process had allowed rejected visa applicants to be re-evaluated at no extra cost, and to include additional documents or note clarifications about their application.
Going forward rejected applicants will have two options: starting over with a new visa application or formally challenging their rejection in court.
READ MORE: Germany to end free appeals for rejected visa applicants from July
For travellers and those hoping to move to Germany, this significant policy shift means they should take extra care to ensure their applications are complete and as strong as they can be.
Don’t forget to file your tax return!
Tax returns for 2024 have to be submitted by July 31st this year – and NOT at the end of August, as was the case last year (when tax deadlines were extended following the COVID pandemic).
For people filing with a tax advisor or income tax assistance organisation (Lohnsteuerhilfeverein), you still have until the end of February 2026.
READ MORE: The German tax deadlines to know in 2025
Pensions to go up from July 1st
From the start of the month, the German statutory pension will increase by 3.74 percent. For pensioners, this means the average monthly pension will increase by around €66.
In addition, the victim's pension for former political prisoners in former East Germany will be increased by €70 to €400 per month.
READ MORE: Where people in Germany receive the highest pensions
Note that as a result of the pension increase, many pensioners will exceed the basic tax allowance for the first time (€12,096 for single people in 2025). This means that around 73,000 pensioners will have to file a tax return in future and may have to pay tax.
New pensioners in 2025 will be particularly affected, as their taxable pension portion will now be 83.5 percent.
More money for care workers and politicians
In addition to pensioners, there are a couple other groups of people who can look forward to a little extra money in their accounts this month.Â
Care workers:
Employees in elderly care will receive more money from July 1st, with the minimum hourly wage rising to €20.50 for nursing staff, €17.35 for qualified nursing assistants, and €16.10 for nursing assistants.
Family carers:
Changes will also affect nursing care insurance from July this year. Respite care and short-term care benefits are being combined into a total annual amount of €3,539.
Caregivers, looking after family members in need of care level two and up, will be able to use this budget flexibly, without having to submit separate applications in advance.
In addition, family carers can apply for benefits as soon as care level two has been determined. Previously, family carers had to have been looking after for a family member for at least six months. Â
Politicians:
The 630 members of Germany’s Bundestag have also awarded themselves a pay rise. As of July 1st, their salaries will increase by 5.4 percent to around €11,834 per month.
DHL increases prices for international shipping
Shipping is set to get a bit pricier from July as DHL’s prices for international parcels and small packages will increase starting from the 1st.
In future, an XS package weighing up to two kilograms to a country in the EU will cost €6.99 in postage, for example – an increase of 50 cents.
The list of DHL prices is found here, with the changes highlighted in bold.
DHL has also standardized the maximum weight for international parcels to 30 kilograms.
Changes to cash withdrawals for members of the Cash Group
Until now, customers of Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank, Postbank, or Hypovereinsbank (known as the Cash Group) have been able to withdraw cash at Shell petrol stations without paying a minimum purchase or service fee.
This arrangement comes to an end on the last day of June this year.
Don’t forget: No more paper photos for IDs and residency cards from the end of July
If you'll be renewing your e-Ausweis (eID card) or electronic Aufentshaltstitel (residence permit) soon note that printed photos are only to be accepted until the end of July.
As the next step toward the digitalisation of Germany's administrative services, most immigration offices and citizens' offices will stop accepting paper photos as of June 31st.
However, as of mid-May some immigration offices has told us that exceptions were being made for small children or at offices where digital photo machines had not been set-up yet. If in doubt, you'd be advised to check with your local Bürgeramt or Ausländerbehörde.
READ MORE:
- What foreigners should know about Germany's digital ID cards and residence permits
- 'Machines don't work!' - The problem of getting digital ID photos in Germany
Finally, school summer holidays begin in 12 of Germany’s 16 states
With the exception of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia – who began their holidays in June – and Bavaria (always the last federal state to start the summer break, on August 1st this year) – schools across Germany will be closing their doors during July.
The summer holidays, which generally last about six weeks in Germany, are staggered across the states in an attempt to ease congestion on the roads and at popular tourist destinations.
READ MORE:
- Key dates - When are the school holidays across Germany this summer?
- Eight of the most beautiful German villages to visit this summer
Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments section below.
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