How will Germany's life change in 2024? Details are provided in this article.
Changes in taxes and benefits
The tax-exempt income threshold will increase by almost 700 euros, and the child tax exemption will rise by over 350 euros. Fewer people will pay the so-called "solidarity tax," with the exemption threshold increasing by almost 600 euros.
Following criticism, the total amount of Elterngeld (parental allowance) received by parents on parental leave will decrease to 200,000 euros in 2024 and another 25,000 euros the following year, reaching 175,000 euros.
By the beginning of 2024, the price cap on electricity will also be lifted.
For more detailed information, you can refer to our article on finances and taxes.
Real estate challenges
The prospects for the German real estate market in 2024 don't look very promising: rent is increasing, and there's a shortage of properties for purchase. According to analysts, the market may recover, but not before the last quarter of the year.
Dual citizenship for non-EU citizens naturalizing as Germans
After a lengthy process with several delays, it is expected that in 2024, Germany will adopt a new citizenship law. The new law was discussed in the Bundestag in late November, and two more readings are planned before the vote. If the law is passed, it is expected to come into effect around April.
According to the new legislation, dual citizenship will be allowed by the German government for everyone, not just EU citizens.
Foreign citizens will be allowed to apply for German citizenship after five years, significantly less than the current eight years.
Significant legislative changes
Germany's revised two-stage plan to legalize recreational cannabis missed the deadline for discussion in the Bundestag in 2023. This raises questions about the adoption of the bill on April 1, 2024, but there is still a chance it will be voted on and accepted by the government next year.
According to the proposed revised legislation, adults will be allowed to possess up to 25 grams of cannabis for recreational use and grow three plants.
As for immigration legislation, after easing restrictions on obtaining permits in 2023, in addition to the "Blue Card," qualified workers from non-EU countries will be able to obtain a "Opportunities Card," allowing them to seek employment in Germany for a year, provided they can financially support themselves.
Euro 2024 in Germany
Almost six years after the UEFA vote in Nyon, Switzerland, Germany will host the UEFA Euro 2024 football championship, taking place from June 14 to July 14.
Matches are scheduled to be held in Berlin, Cologne, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart at ten venues across the country.
The new round of ticket sales for EURO 2024 started on December 4, and we will keep you updated on events related to the final seat allocation early next year.
Expansion of bottle deposit system
Starting January 1, the bottle deposit system, or Pfand, will also apply to previously non-deposit milk, mixed milk drinks, and drinkable dairy products offered in one-way plastic bottles.
If the beverages participate in the scheme, they will bear the "Pfand" logo. The goal is to encourage supermarkets and discounters to stop selling drinks in non-returnable bottles or cans without a deposit.
You can return the bottle to the store and redeem it for recycling to get back the deposit and not lose money.
VAT increase in cafes and restaurants
The cost of dishes in cafes and restaurants may change in 2024.
This is because the German government has decided to raise VAT from 7% to 19%.
The tax was lowered as a measure against rising inflation caused by the energy crisis.
The cost of dining in restaurants has already significantly increased, so this will be another hit to people's wallets and will also impact restaurant owners.
New train and plane routes
Travelers rejoice: in 2024, several new routes connecting Germany with neighboring countries will be introduced, and some of them will include sleeper options. Several European railway providers have invested in this concept, offering a solution to the issue of carbon-intensive short-distance flights. New routes will cover cities in Poland (Warsaw and Krakow), Austria (Graz), the Netherlands (Amsterdam), and Hungary (Budapest).
European Sleeper also plans to expand the existing Brussels-Berlin route, including Dresden and Prague.
For those who want to venture further abroad, additional flights from Germany will be available in 2024. New routes from Frankfurt to Calgary (Canada) and San Antonio (the USA) will be opened through Condor. Lufthansa will also increase the number of offerings from Munich and Frankfurt to US cities like Tampa.
Eurowings will also fly to Erbil in Iraq and Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. More information can be found here.
Public holidays
Finally, in 2024, Germany will have numerous public holidays. We found that if you want more days off, consider moving to Bavaria – particularly the charming city of Augsburg. This German city has the most planned holidays, both religious and secular.
Related topics:
The tax-exempt income threshold will increase by almost 700 euros, and the child tax exemption will rise by over 350 euros, containing the words "700 euros" and "350 euros".
Following criticism, the total amount of Elterngeld (parental allowance) received by parents on parental leave will decrease to 200,000 euros in 2024, containing the word "200,000 euros".
