https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The EU has moved to tighten rules on pet passports, closing a loophole that has been used by many British second-home owners since Brexit. https://www.thelocal.de/20260422/eu-tightens-rules-for-brits-travelling-to-europe-with-pets Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:29:35 +0200 eu-tightens-rules-for-brits-travelling-to-europe-with-pets The UK and European Union said they have signed the legal texts allowing Britain to rejoin the bloc's Erasmus student exchange scheme, five years after Brexit forced its departure. https://www.thelocal.de/20260416/uk-signs-deal-to-rejoin-eus-erasmus-student-exchange-scheme Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:52:47 +0200 uk-signs-deal-to-rejoin-eus-erasmus-student-exchange-scheme Brits who were in Germany before the Brexit cut-off date are facing hurdles trying to get their permanent residence documents. We look at what's going on across Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20260213/confusion-why-are-some-brits-in-germany-struggling-to-get-permanent-residence Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:40:17 +0100 confusion-why-are-some-brits-in-germany-struggling-to-get-permanent-residence Ten years after the referendum that led to Brexit, Britain and the European Union must close ranks in an increasingly unstable world, their leaders said on Saturday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260214/europe-uk-seek-closer-ties-a-decade-after-brexit Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:33:53 +0100 europe-uk-seek-closer-ties-a-decade-after-brexit British people who were living in Germany by the end of 2020 have their residence rights protected under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. Here's how they can get permanent residency according to an immigration expert. https://www.thelocal.de/20260204/how-brits-who-arrived-in-germany-before-brexit-can-get-permanent-residency Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:33:34 +0100 how-brits-who-arrived-in-germany-before-brexit-can-get-permanent-residency The European Commission has announced it will look into allowing certain non-EU professionals to stay in the EU beyond the current 90/180-day rule, as part of a future overhaul of its visa system. It also asked EU countries to make visa access "simpler and faster" for skilled workers. https://www.thelocal.de/20260129/eu-announces-plan-to-extend-90-day-rule-for-certain-non-eu-workers Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:52:25 +0100 eu-announces-plan-to-extend-90-day-rule-for-certain-non-eu-workers It’s been five years since the end of the post-Brexit transition period and for many British citizens living in the EU this means 2026 will be the time to upgrade to a permanent residence card. But what happens if you forget or leave it late to apply? https://www.thelocal.de/20260102/dont-miss-out-why-brits-in-europe-should-upgrade-their-post-brexit-residence-permits Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:23:16 +0100 dont-miss-out-why-brits-in-europe-should-upgrade-their-post-brexit-residence-permits Five years on from the end of free movement, Britons living throughout Europe are still dealing with the consequences of Brexit. Fiona Godfrey, from British in Europe, tells The Local the battle to secure rights is still ongoing and that things could get more complicated. https://www.thelocal.de/20251230/brexit-is-not-done-how-britons-in-europe-are-still-fighting-for-their-rights Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:49:11 +0100 brexit-is-not-done-how-britons-in-europe-are-still-fighting-for-their-rights Britain is set to rejoin the European Union's Erasmus student exchange programme, which it left almost five years ago following Brexit, UK media reported late Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20251217/uk-to-rejoin-eu-erasmus-scheme-from-2027 Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:46:26 +0100 uk-to-rejoin-eu-erasmus-scheme-from-2027 German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier heads to the UK on Wednesday at a time when a deepening security alliance has helped rebuild ties frayed in the turbulent post-Brexit years. https://www.thelocal.de/20251203/german-president-begins-state-visit-to-uk-as-security-ties-deepen Wed, 03 Dec 2025 10:35:57 +0100 german-president-begins-state-visit-to-uk-as-security-ties-deepen If you live in Germany on a non-EU passport, you may well be sick of waiting in endless queues at border control whenever you re-enter the country. Luckily, the automated e-gates could be a solution for some. Here's who can use them. https://www.thelocal.de/20231026/reader-question-can-foreigners-in-germany-use-the-e-gates-at-the-airport Thu, 26 Oct 2023 16:52:46 +0200 reader-question-can-foreigners-in-germany-use-the-e-gates-at-the-airport From October 12th, Germany will begin rolling out the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) at external borders, starting with Düsseldorf airport. British residents in Germany are exempt, providing they produce the right documents at the border. https://www.thelocal.de/20251009/can-british-residents-in-germany-avoid-registering-for-ees Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:27:42 +0200 can-british-residents-in-germany-avoid-registering-for-ees Nine years after the Brexit referendum, public opinion in Germany and across Europe has shifted dramatically on the question of whether the UK should rejoin the European Union, according to new data. https://www.thelocal.de/20250715/majority-of-germans-would-support-the-uk-re-joining-the-eu Tue, 15 Jul 2025 10:57:04 +0200 majority-of-germans-would-support-the-uk-re-joining-the-eu British motorists caught speeding in Europe – and European drivers caught in the UK – may soon receive an unwelcome surprise on their return home following the recent "reset deal" between the EU and the UK. https://www.thelocal.de/20250521/cross-border-driving-fines-set-for-return-after-eu-uk-reset Wed, 21 May 2025 15:44:11 +0200 cross-border-driving-fines-set-for-return-after-eu-uk-reset From allowing Britons travelling to Europe to use e-gates at passport control, and an agreement to allow pets to travel more easily, plus a promise to rejoin Erasmus, the new EU-UK deal had many elements that will affect both Britons and Europeans. https://www.thelocal.de/20250519/from-egates-to-erasmus-what-was-agreed-in-new-post-brexit-eu-uk-deal Mon, 19 May 2025 17:35:52 +0200 from-egates-to-erasmus-what-was-agreed-in-new-post-brexit-eu-uk-deal UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hosting EU chiefs at a summit on Monday, the first of its kind since Brexit, as he tries to deepen relations with the bloc. https://www.thelocal.de/20250516/after-brexit-whats-at-stake-in-the-landmark-uk-eu-summit Fri, 16 May 2025 12:51:12 +0200 after-brexit-whats-at-stake-in-the-landmark-uk-eu-summit More than 120,000 Britons were naturalised in European countries since the 2016 Brexit referendum, according to the latest data on citizenship acquisition published by Eurostat. https://www.thelocal.de/20250307/more-than-120000-brits-naturalised-in-european-countries-since-brexit-vote Fri, 07 Mar 2025 14:31:09 +0100 more-than-120000-brits-naturalised-in-european-countries-since-brexit-vote The bombshell Brexit vote left Brits in Germany scrambling to gain dual nationality before the cut-off date on December 31st 2020. Five years on, here's how Brexit has impacted the number of British citizens becoming German. https://www.thelocal.de/20250131/five-years-since-brexit-how-thousands-of-brits-have-gained-german-citizenship Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:06:59 +0100 five-years-since-brexit-how-thousands-of-brits-have-gained-german-citizenship January 31st 2025 marks five years since Britain officially left the European Union. While many issues have been resolved for Britons living throughout Europe, there are still hurdles and headaches ahead, explains Claudia Delpero. https://www.thelocal.de/20250131/its-five-years-since-brexit-but-problems-lie-ahead-for-brits-in-the-eu Fri, 31 Jan 2025 12:28:42 +0100 its-five-years-since-brexit-but-problems-lie-ahead-for-brits-in-the-eu More than eight years after the UK's Brexit vote, a majority of EU citizens would like a closer relationship with Britain and many Brits are now prepared to ditch their Brexit red lines, a new survey has revealed. https://www.thelocal.de/20241212/brexit-reset-why-majority-of-eu-citizens-want-closer-ties-with-the-uk Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:02:13 +0100 brexit-reset-why-majority-of-eu-citizens-want-closer-ties-with-the-uk