Life in Germany. Changes in Germany June 2024. June brings several new changes that will impact daily life for many people in Germany. These changes affect those living in rented apartments, commuters traveling by train, and foreigners seeking citizenship. Additionally, new border restrictions will affect travellers to Germany. Here are the most important changes coming into effect from June.
Naturalization will become easier
Starting June 27, 2024, foreigners will be able to obtain German citizenship more quickly. Naturalization will be possible after five years of residence, down from the current eight years, and even after three years for those with “special integration merits.” Additionally, individuals will be allowed to hold multiple passports. If a parent has lived legally in Germany for at least five years and has permanent residence, their child will automatically receive German citizenship at birth, aiming to enhance the child’s educational opportunities.
Deutsche Bahn will implement new terms for BahnCard 25 and 50 subscriptions
Starting June 9, 2024, Deutsche Bahn will only sell BahnCard 25 and 50 in digital form. Customers must register in the Bahn app or on bahn.de. For those without a smartphone, a printed proof of the card will be available. Previously issued plastic cards will remain valid until they expire.
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Border checks in Germany connected to the Euro 2024
During Euro 2024, Germany will extend stationary border controls to all crossings, according to an announcement by Nancy Faeser, the head of the German Ministry of the Interior. Officers will stop travelers to verify their documents and compare them with the list of wanted individuals. They will also inspect vehicles and cargo. Euro 2024 will begin on June 14, with the final scheduled for July 14, 2024.
Opportunity card for non-EU citizens
Skilled workers from outside the EU can now enter Germany with a “Chancenkarte” to seek employment. This residence permit is available to those who have completed at least two years of vocational training or possess higher education and can speak German or English. The Chancenkarte is issued based on a point system that considers language proficiency, professional experience, and age. Once a certain number of points are reached, the card is granted, allowing the holder to stay in Germany for a year to find a job.
New rules regarding contracts with television service provider
In Germany, around 12 million families live in rented apartments. Starting from July 1, 2024, landlords will no longer be able to pass on the costs of cable television to their tenants. Anyone living in a rented property as of June 30 will need to decide on their own TV service and contract, which may end up being more expensive than the previous one arranged by the landlord.
Disney+ limits account sharing
Starting June 2024, Disney+ will implement a new policy prohibiting the sharing of account passwords among users. Those currently using another person’s account will need to create their own account or risk losing access to the platform.
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European elections: Voting starting from the age of 16
For the first time in Germany, young people aged 16 and above are eligible to vote in the European elections on June 9. This expands the pool of eligible voters from approximately 61.5 million in the 2019 election to about 65 million for this election.
Mobile to mobile payments from EPI
Starting from the end of June 2024, customers of certain banks in Europe will be able to make mobile-to-mobile payments with each other using the European payment system “wero” from the EPI banking initiative. Participating banks in Germany include savings banks, Volks- and Raiffeisenbanks, as well as Deutsche Bank. The first phase of the expansion is set to commence by the end of June. The aim of the initiative is to establish a unified European card and smartphone payment system, providing customers with an alternative to major US platforms like Paypal, as reported by wunderweib.de.
Gravis closes all branches in Germany
On June 15, 2024, all branches of the Apple retail chain Gravis in Germany will be closed, impacting 4,000 employees who will lose their jobs. A social plan has been put in place, offering severance payments based on factors like length of service. Customers seeking device repairs will no longer have access to this service, as it was available only until May 15, 2024