Guides for Expats in Germany
All 86 guides on employment law and other legal topics, in plain English.
DismissalUnfair Dismissal Claim in Germany: Deadline, Costs and SettlementHow a claim against your dismissal works in Germany: the three-week deadline, what it costs, the conciliation hearing and how most…8 min read
InheritanceThe Berlin Will: How a Joint Will Works for Couples in GermanyThe Berlin will explained: spouses as sole heirs, children as final heirs, binding effect, compulsory portion clauses and inherita…3 min read
Working in GermanyBlocking Period for Unemployment Benefit in GermanyWhen the Sperrzeit applies, how long it lasts, how to avoid it after a resignation or termination agreement and how to challenge i…4 min read
Immigration and ResidenceEU Blue Card in Germany: Requirements, Salary Thresholds and RightsEU Blue Card in Germany: 2026 salary thresholds, qualification and job requirements, how to apply, changing jobs, unemployment, fa…4 min read
Property and TenancyBuying Real Estate in Germany: A Guide for ExpatsBuying property in Germany as an expat: no restrictions for foreigners, the notary process, purchase costs, transfer tax, financin…2 min read
DismissalHow to Calculate Your Notice Period in Germany: Step by StepCalculate your notice period in Germany step by step: which period applies, counting from receipt, the 15th or end of month, TVöD …5 min read
Business and TaxCapital Measures and Shareholder Resolutions in a German GmbHCapital increases, capital reductions and shareholder resolutions in a German GmbH: majorities, notarisation, registration and cha…2 min read
Working in GermanyCertificate of Employment in Germany: Your Right to a ReferenceYour right to a certificate of employment in Germany: simple or qualified, interim references, required content, grades and how to…4 min read
InheritanceCertificate of Inheritance in Germany: When You Need One and How to ApplyGerman certificate of inheritance: when you need one, how to apply, costs, alternatives such as a notarial will and the European C…2 min read
DismissalChange Notice in Germany: When Your Employer Wants to Change Your ContractA change notice combines a dismissal with new terms. Your three options, the three-week deadline, acceptance under reservation and…4 min read
Family LawChild Support in Germany: How Much and How It Is CalculatedChild support in Germany: the Düsseldorf Table 2026, minimum support, child benefit, the self-retention amount, shared care and ad…3 min read
Immigration and ResidenceCitizenship by Investment in Germany and the EU: The Real OptionsCan you buy citizenship in Germany or the EU? Why golden passports are no longer possible and the real routes to a German passport…2 min read
InheritanceCommunity of Heirs in Germany: Inheriting Together, Including PropertyInheriting together in Germany: how a community of heirs decides, how the estate is divided, inherited property and how to resolve…2 min read
Business and TaxCompany Formation in Germany: Step by Step for ExpatsHow to found a GmbH or UG in Germany as an expat: articles, notary, capital, commercial register, tax and trade registration, cost…2 min read
InheritanceThe Compulsory Portion in Germany: Your Claim If You Are DisinheritedDisinherited in Germany? Who can claim the compulsory portion, how much, gifts within ten years, your right to information and the…3 min read
Business and TaxCorporate Law in Germany: Legal Forms and Key Rules for FoundersAn overview of German corporate law for expats and founders: GmbH, UG, AG, partnerships, liability, managing director duties and r…2 min read
Family LawCustody and Contact Rights in Germany After SeparationCustody and contact in Germany: joint custody, unmarried fathers, where the child lives, shared care, contact, moving abroad and a…3 min read
InheritanceDisclaiming an Inheritance in Germany, Also From AbroadHow to disclaim an inheritance in Germany: the six-week and six-month deadlines, how to declare it from abroad, consequences for y…2 min read
Working in GermanyDiscrimination at Work in Germany: Your Rights and the Two-Month DeadlineDiscriminated against at work in Germany? Protected grounds under the AGG, harassment, compensation, the two-month deadline and th…3 min read
DismissalDismissal Due to Illness in Germany: When It Is AllowedCan you be fired for being sick in Germany? When a dismissal due to illness is valid, the three-step test courts apply and what to…5 min read
DismissalDismissal for Conduct in Germany: When Misconduct Justifies DismissalDismissal for misconduct in Germany: breach of duty, prior warning, proportionality, typical cases and the impact on unemployment …3 min read
DismissalDismissal for Operational Reasons in Germany: When It Is ValidWhen a dismissal for operational reasons is valid in Germany: business decision, no other job, social selection, common errors and…4 min read
DismissalDismissal for Personal Reasons in Germany: Requirements and RightsWhen your employer can dismiss you for reasons related to your person in Germany: illness, loss of a licence or work permit, the r…3 min read
DismissalDismissal Without Reason in Germany: When Is It Allowed?Can you be fired without cause in Germany? When no reason is needed, the limits in probation and small businesses, and how to chal…4 min read
Family LawDivision of Assets After Divorce in Germany: Equalisation of Accrued GainsHow assets are divided in a German divorce: accrued gains, initial and final assets, gifts and inheritances, the reference date an…2 min read
Family LawDivorce in Germany for Foreigners: Process, Separation Year and CostsDivorce in Germany for expats: jurisdiction, which law applies, the separation year, the court procedure, costs and recognition ab…3 min read
DismissalEmployer Insolvency in Germany: Insolvency Pay and Your JobYour employer is insolvent? How insolvency pay (Insolvenzgeld) works, the two-month deadline, unpaid wages, dismissals in insolven…3 min read
Working in GermanyEmployment Law in Germany: An Overview for ExpatsAn overview of German employment law for expats: contracts, working hours, holiday, sick pay, dismissal protection, works councils…4 min read
DismissalEmployment Lawyer in Berlin: English-Speaking Help for ExpatsNeed an English-speaking employment lawyer in Berlin? When to get advice, how the Berlin labour court works, costs and how to find…3 min read
DismissalEmployment Lawyer in Germany: How to Find English-Speaking HelpWhen you need an employment lawyer in Germany, what it costs, how to find an English-speaking specialist and what to prepare. Free…5 min read
Working in GermanyEU Labour Law: Your Rights at Work Across the European UnionWhat EU labour law guarantees in every member state: working time, holiday, equal treatment, working conditions, free movement and…3 min read
Property and TenancyEviction for Own Use in Germany: When Your Landlord Needs the FlatYour landlord wants the flat for own use? Requirements for an own-use termination in Germany, notice periods, hardship objections …2 min read
DismissalTermination Without Notice in Germany: Extraordinary Dismissal ExplainedWhen your employer can dismiss you without notice in Germany, the two-week rule, warnings, unemployment benefit and how to challen…6 min read
Family LawFamily Law in Germany for Expats: Marriage, Divorce and ChildrenGerman family law for international couples: applicable law, divorce, maintenance, division of assets, pensions, custody and marri…3 min read
Immigration and ResidenceFamily Reunion in Germany: Bringing Your Spouse, Children and ParentsBringing your family to Germany: requirements for spouses and children, language rules, exceptions for skilled workers, parents an…2 min read
DismissalFired in Germany: What to Do in the First DaysJust been fired in Germany? A checklist: deadlines, what not to sign, the employment agency, severance, your residence permit and …4 min read
Working in GermanyFixed-Term Contracts in Germany: When the Fixed Term Is InvalidFixed-term contracts in Germany: the two-year rule, objective reasons, written form, chain contracts and the three-week deadline t…3 min read
DismissalGarden Leave in Germany: Your Rights When You Are Released From WorkGarden leave in Germany: when your employer may release you, revocable or irrevocable, pay, holiday, overtime, side jobs and how t…4 min read
Immigration and ResidenceGerman Citizenship and Dual Citizenship: Requirements and ProcessHow to become a German citizen: five years of residence, B1 German, livelihood, the citizenship test, dual citizenship and childre…2 min read
DismissalHoliday Pay on Termination of Employment in GermanyWhat happens to unused holiday when your job ends in Germany: how many days you are owed, how payment is calculated and the deadli…4 min read
Immigration and ResidenceImmigration Law in Germany: Residence Permits and Pathways for ExpatsGerman immigration law for expats: work permits, EU Blue Card, Opportunity Card, family reunion, permanent residence and citizensh…3 min read
Severance PayTax on Severance Pay in Germany: What You Keep After TaxHow severance pay is taxed in Germany: income tax yes, social security no, the one-fifth rule via your tax return, worked examples…4 min read
InheritanceInheritance Law in Germany for Expats: Which Law Applies and Who InheritsGerman inheritance law for expats: the EU Succession Regulation, choosing your home law, wills, statutory heirs, the compulsory po…3 min read
InheritanceInheritance Tax and Gift Tax in Germany: Allowances, Rates and PlanningGerman inheritance and gift tax: who is taxed, allowances for spouses and children, tax classes and rates, the family home and int…3 min read
Working in GermanyJob Reference Letters in Germany: How to Read the Hidden CodesHow to read a German job reference letter: standard phrases and their grades, hidden negative codes, what is forbidden and how to …3 min read
DismissalTermination Letter in Germany: What to Check When You Receive OneReceived a termination letter in Germany? What makes it valid, what it must and need not contain, a sample letter in German and En…4 min read
DismissalLayoffs in Germany: Your Rights When Your Job Is CutLayoffs in Germany: no firing at will, the rules for operational dismissals, mass layoff notification, severance, social plans and…4 min read
Working in GermanyLegal Expenses Insurance in German Employment LawWhat legal expenses insurance covers in an employment dispute in Germany, waiting periods, what is not covered and how to pay for …4 min read
Working in GermanyLosing Your Job in Germany: What Happens to Your Residence PermitDismissed in Germany on a work-based residence permit or EU Blue Card? What happens to your permit, how much time you have and how…5 min read
InheritanceMaking a Will in Germany: Forms, Content and Tips for ExpatsHow to make a valid will in Germany: handwritten or notarial, what to include, choosing your home law, safekeeping and the compuls…3 min read
DismissalMass Dismissal in Germany: Social Plan, Severance and Your RightsMass dismissals in Germany: notification thresholds, works council consultation, the social plan (Sozialplan), social selection an…5 min read
Property and TenancyMoving Out in Germany: Notice, Renovation and Getting Your Deposit BackMoving out of a rented flat in Germany: tenant notice periods, invalid renovation clauses, the handover, and how long the landlord…2 min read
Working in GermanyNon-Compete Clauses in Germany: When They Bind You and What You Get PaidNon-compete clauses in Germany: the 50 percent compensation rule, the two-year maximum, void or non-binding clauses and how to get…3 min read
Immigration and ResidenceOpportunity Card and Job Seeker Visa in Germany: Looking for Work HereLook for a job in Germany: the points-based Opportunity Card, requirements, part-time and trial work, and the job search permit fo…2 min read
DismissalOrdinary Termination in Germany: Dismissal With Notice ExplainedOrdinary termination in Germany: how a dismissal with notice works, its requirements, the difference to dismissal without notice a…3 min read
Family LawPension Equalisation After Divorce in GermanyHow pensions are divided in a German divorce: what is included, how the division works, short marriages, foreign pensions and how …2 min read
Immigration and ResidencePermanent Residence in Germany: The Settlement Permit ExplainedPermanent residence in Germany: the settlement permit after 21 months to 5 years, requirements for Blue Card holders and skilled w…2 min read
Immigration and ResidencePractical Tips to Get Your Residence Permit in Germany FasterLong waits at the immigration office? Tips to speed up your German residence permit: complete files, fast-track procedure and your…3 min read
Family LawPrenuptial Agreements in Germany: What Couples Can AgreeMarriage contracts in Germany: notarisation, property regimes, pension equalisation, maintenance waivers, the courts' limits and c…2 min read
DismissalProtection Against Dismissal in Germany: The Dismissal Protection Act ExplainedWho is protected against dismissal in Germany, which reasons an employer needs, social selection, the works council hearing and wh…5 min read
Property and TenancyReal Estate Law in Germany: Key Rules for Expats and InvestorsAn overview of German real estate law: ownership and the land register, the notary system, apartment ownership, buying, selling, r…2 min read
DismissalReasons for Dismissal in Germany: What Is Allowed and What Is NotWhich reasons can justify a dismissal in Germany, which are never allowed, whether your employer must tell you the reason and how …3 min read
Property and TenancyThe Rent Brake in Germany: Is Your Rent Too High?The German rent brake caps new rents at ten percent above the local comparative rent until 2029. Exceptions, furnished flats and r…2 min read
Property and TenancyRent Increases in Germany: What Landlords May Do and How to CheckReceived a rent increase in Germany? The local rent index, the 15 or 20 percent cap, deadlines for consent, modernisation increase…2 min read
Property and TenancyRent Reduction for Defects in Germany: When and How MuchWhen you can reduce your rent in Germany: defects such as heating failure, mould or noise, how much, how to report them, and the r…2 min read
Immigration and ResidenceResidence by Investment in Germany: What Is PossibleGermany has no golden visa. The real routes for investors: residence permit for self-employment, freelancers, property and other E…2 min read
DismissalResignation Letter in Germany: Rules and TemplateHow to resign in Germany: written form, notice periods, delivery and a free resignation letter template in German with English tra…5 min read
Property and TenancySelling Real Estate in Germany: Process, Costs and TaxesSelling property in Germany as an expat: the notary process, documents, costs, the 10-year rule for capital gains tax and selling …4 min read
Property and TenancyService Charge Statements in Germany: How to Check Your NebenkostenabrechnungHow to check your German service charge statement: deadlines, which costs may be charged, distribution keys, heating costs, receip…2 min read
Severance PaySettlement Agreement in Germany: Signing After a DismissalWhat a settlement agreement after a dismissal in Germany means, how it differs from a termination agreement, the blocking period r…5 min read
DismissalSpecial Protection Against Dismissal in Germany: Who Is ProtectedPregnancy, parental leave, severe disability, works council: who has special protection against dismissal in Germany, what it mean…5 min read
Family LawSpousal Maintenance in Germany: During Separation and After DivorceSpousal maintenance in Germany: support during separation, when it is owed after divorce, how it is calculated and how it can be l…2 min read
DismissalNotice Periods in Germany: Statutory Rules for Employees and EmployersNotice periods in Germany: the statutory four weeks, longer periods for employers, probation, contract clauses and what happens if…6 min read
InheritanceStatutory Succession in Germany: Who Inherits Without a WillGerman statutory succession explained: orders of heirs, the spouse's share depending on the property regime, examples, unmarried p…2 min read
Property and TenancySubletting in Germany: When You Need Permission and What to AgreeSubletting a flat or room in Germany: when the landlord must allow it, short-term rentals, rent limits, sublease contracts and you…2 min read
Business and TaxTax Law in Germany: The Basics for ExpatsGerman tax basics for expats: tax residence, income tax rates, tax classes, the tax return, double taxation agreements, investment…3 min read
Property and TenancyTenant Law in Germany: Your Rights as a RenterTenant law in Germany for expats: rental contracts, deposit, rent increases, the rent brake until 2029, service charges, repairs, …5 min read
Severance PayTermination Agreement in Germany: What to Check Before You SignOffered a termination agreement in Germany? What you give up, how to avoid the blocking period, typical severance and the clauses …6 min read
DismissalDismissal During Parental Leave in Germany: Your ProtectionParental leave in Germany protects you against dismissal. When protection starts and ends, exceptions, part-time work and returnin…4 min read
DismissalDismissal During Pregnancy in Germany: Your Protection and RightsPregnant employees in Germany are protected against dismissal until four months after birth. When a dismissal is invalid and what …4 min read
Severance PayThe One-Fifth Rule in Germany: How It Reduces Tax on SeveranceThe one-fifth rule (Fünftelregelung): how it works, the conditions, why you must claim it in your tax return since 2025 and when i…4 min read
Working in GermanyTransfer of Undertaking in Germany: Your Rights When Your Employer Is SoldYour company or department is sold? Your employment passes to the buyer. Your rights, the information letter, the objection deadli…3 min read
Working in GermanyUnemployment Benefit in Germany: A Guide for ExpatsWho gets unemployment benefit in Germany, how much and for how long, when to register and what it means for your residence permit.…5 min read
Working in GermanyWarning Letter in Germany: What It Means and How to RespondReceived a warning letter (Abmahnung) in Germany? What it must contain, when it is invalid, how to respond and its effect on a lat…4 min read
Immigration and ResidenceWork Visa and Work Permit in Germany: Routes for Non-EU ProfessionalsWork visa for Germany: skilled worker permit, EU Blue Card, experience-based route, recognition of qualifications, agency approval…2 min read
Severance PaySeverance Pay in Germany: What Expats Can ExpectSeverance pay in Germany explained for expats: when you get it, how much is realistic, how it is taxed and what to watch out for.…7 min read
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