https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Many foreigners need a residence permit to stay in Germany legally. Residence permits can be renewed a few weeks before expiry, but waiting times of several months or more are common. So what are your rights while you wait to hear back? https://www.thelocal.com/20250121/qa-what-are-your-rights-while-waiting-for-a-german-residence-permit Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:12:41 +0100 qa-what-are-your-rights-while-waiting-for-a-german-residence-permit In Germany, the supermarket you frequent says a lot about you, potentially revealing hints about your daily routine, diet and how much you're willing to splurge on bread or beer, writes Paul Krantz. https://www.thelocal.com/20240801/what-your-choice-of-german-supermarket-says-about-you Thu, 01 Aug 2024 14:29:52 +0200 what-your-choice-of-german-supermarket-says-about-you Germany plans to keep controls at all nine land borders until March 2027. The move comes among an on-going debate over migration policy and the future of Europe's border-free Schengen area. https://www.thelocal.com/20260819/europes-free-movement-in-question-as-germany-extends-border-controls Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:51:59 +0200 europes-free-movement-in-question-as-germany-extends-border-controls Germany is set to allow bakeries and public libraries to extend their Sunday opening hours from next year. Now, many business leaders want to see the rules lifted for the entire retail sector. Here's what readers of The Local think. https://www.thelocal.com/20260723/your-views-is-germanys-sunday-shopping-ban-an-outdated-tradition-or-a-chance-for-calm Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:50:43 +0200 your-views-is-germanys-sunday-shopping-ban-an-outdated-tradition-or-a-chance-for-calm Germany's federal authorities had already reduced access to language and integration courses for immigrants. Now a draft budget for next year reveals that funding for the state-funded classes is being slashed. https://www.thelocal.com/20260721/germanys-draft-budget-halves-funding-for-integration-courses Tue, 21 Jul 2026 14:18:35 +0200 germanys-draft-budget-halves-funding-for-integration-courses From distracting pop-ups to last-minute offers, some businesses will try everything to stop customers from cancelling contracts. In Germany that should be a thing of the past, according to a new court ruling. https://www.thelocal.com/20260720/no-tricks-german-court-ruling-makes-it-easier-to-cancel-online-contracts Mon, 20 Jul 2026 11:31:25 +0200 no-tricks-german-court-ruling-makes-it-easier-to-cancel-online-contracts A homeowners' association can't prevent apartment owners from installing an air conditioning unit, Germany's court of justice ruled on Wednesday, in a case seen as strengthening homeowners' right to cool their homes. https://www.thelocal.com/20260717/court-affirms-german-homeowners-right-to-install-air-conditioning Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:42:28 +0200 court-affirms-german-homeowners-right-to-install-air-conditioning Raising a child is expensive, but in Germany parents also get supportive benefits, as well as affordable childcare and health insurance. Here's a look at how much it really costs to raise a family here. https://www.thelocal.com/20260318/how-much-does-it-cost-to-raise-children-in-germany Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:13:46 +0100 how-much-does-it-cost-to-raise-children-in-germany From July 1st, Bürgergeld is no more. Germany is replacing this long-term unemployment benefit with a new version called 'Basic Security Allowance'. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.com/20260630/no-more-burgergeld-the-changes-to-germanys-unemployment-benefits-from-july Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:01:51 +0200 no-more-burgergeld-the-changes-to-germanys-unemployment-benefits-from-july Foreign residents would gain the right to vote after five years in Germany under a new proposal. The move potentially gives millions a political voice but has also sparked sharp political opposition. https://www.thelocal.com/20260528/left-party-calls-for-voting-rights-for-foreigners-in-germany Thu, 28 May 2026 12:40:37 +0200 left-party-calls-for-voting-rights-for-foreigners-in-germany From where to stay, what to do and how to travel, Berlin-based journalist and mom Rachel Stern lays out some tested tips on going on a family holiday in and around Germany. https://www.thelocal.com/20240710/10-tips-for-travelling-with-kids-in-germany Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:19:08 +0200 10-tips-for-travelling-with-kids-in-germany For the first time in 15 years, more EU citizens are leaving Germany than arriving. A new government study explains why. https://www.thelocal.com/20260304/why-are-so-many-eu-citizens-planning-to-leave-germany Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:47:42 +0100 why-are-so-many-eu-citizens-planning-to-leave-germany Student participation, called 'Mitarbeit', makes up a large portion of students' grades in German schools. But the way it's assessed can be poison in the classroom, particularly for foreign pupils, writes Tom Pugh. https://www.thelocal.com/20250702/opinion-german-school-grading-is-unfair-on-foreign-students-and-its-maddening Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:30:24 +0200 opinion-german-school-grading-is-unfair-on-foreign-students-and-its-maddening The German dedication to 'Lüften' (ventilation) does not stop when the temperatures plummet. So how often should you do it in winter, and what are the techniques to know about? https://www.thelocal.com/20260120/reader-question-how-often-do-i-have-to-air-out-my-german-flat-in-winter Tue, 20 Jan 2026 12:12:31 +0100 reader-question-how-often-do-i-have-to-air-out-my-german-flat-in-winter Visiting home in the festive period when you live abroad in Germany is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with family and friends. But it also brings with it some reverse culture shocks, writes Rachel Loxton. https://www.thelocal.com/20241224/nine-reverse-culture-shocks-of-visiting-home-from-germany-at-christmas Tue, 24 Dec 2024 10:44:49 +0100 nine-reverse-culture-shocks-of-visiting-home-from-germany-at-christmas Finding a long-term apartment to rent in Berlin has become an infamously painful process. We spoke to two professionals about the best tips for securing a long-term rental contract in Germany. https://www.thelocal.com/20250403/always-be-vigilant-expert-tips-for-finding-an-apartment-in-berlin Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:59:22 +0200 always-be-vigilant-expert-tips-for-finding-an-apartment-in-berlin Germany’s diversity means there’s a perfect retirement destination for everyone – whether you’re seeking the cultural buzz of a mid-sized city or the serenity of a small town. https://www.thelocal.com/20251024/ten-of-the-best-german-cities-for-foreigners-to-retire Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:04:45 +0200 ten-of-the-best-german-cities-for-foreigners-to-retire Germany has once again been ranked as one of the worst countries in the world for international residents, according to a survey. We look at the challenges foreigners struggle with, as well as the positives. https://www.thelocal.com/20250905/the-biggest-challenges-foreigners-face-after-arriving-in-germany Fri, 05 Sep 2025 14:56:09 +0200 the-biggest-challenges-foreigners-face-after-arriving-in-germany Germany is a great country to live in but there are challenges. We look at some of the reasons foreign residents struggle and share some tips. https://www.thelocal.com/20240925/why-do-foreigners-find-germany-such-a-hard-country-to-settle-in Wed, 25 Sep 2024 12:30:14 +0200 why-do-foreigners-find-germany-such-a-hard-country-to-settle-in Germany's unemployment benefits are a hotly debated topic, with some suggesting that they are so generous that people don't seek work. But minimum-wage workers earn more disposable income, a new study shows. https://www.thelocal.com/20250814/minimum-wage-vs-burgergeld-how-much-do-you-get-in-germany Thu, 14 Aug 2025 14:39:19 +0200 minimum-wage-vs-burgergeld-how-much-do-you-get-in-germany