Everything you need to know before visiting a German sauna

Germany loves nudity and German saunas are reliably naked places. If you’re confused about German sauna etiquette, here’s everything you need to know before visiting one. Nudity... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 15 hours ago

German scientists discover the secret to a perfect Cacio e Pepe

A group of German physicists at the Max Planck Institute have developed a fool-proof recipe for an infamously difficult pasta dish, Cacio e Pepe. German physicists develop fool-... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 1 day ago

Cash-in-hand work on the rise amid Germany’s economic woes

In 2025 more people in Germany are expected to work cash-in-hand jobs amid the country’s economic decline, according to a study by the Klinz University and the Institute for... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 2 days ago

Health commissioners call for mobile phone ban in Berlin schools

Three of Berlin’s Family and Health Commissioners have called on the city’s Senate to ban mobile phones in local schools on public health grounds. Public health officials call... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 2 days ago

Berlin theatre offers on-stage sleepover in eBay auction

Berliner Ensemble is auctioning off a one-night sleepover on its world-famous stage, in an attempt to cushion the blow of cultural funding cuts in the capital. Berliner Ensemble... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 2 days ago

German beef banned in UK as search continues for foot-and-mouth origin

Following a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Brandenburg on January 10, animal disease experts in Germany are searching for the source. In the meantime, the United Kingdom... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 3 days ago

Hamburg Welcome Centre leaves newcomers waiting 5 months for appointment

According to the dpa, newcomers in Hamburg are waiting five months for an appointment at the city’s Welcome Centre, which is responsible for issuing their first residence permit... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 3 days ago

Germany launches electronic patient files across three regions

People with statutory health insurance and living in Hamburg, Franconia or North Rhine-Westphalia can now access their patient files saved on an electronic database. Germany... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 3 days ago

Police investigate AfD for distributing “deportation tickets” for migrants

German police are investigating a local branch of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party after people from migrant communities in Karlsruhe found AfD-branded “deportation... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 4 days ago

Biodeutsch named German “non-word” of 2024

The term “Biodeutsch”, referring to Germans who do not have a recent migration background in their family, has been named the country’s “non-word” of the year for 2024. “... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 4 days ago

5 Berlin Bürgerämter close ahead of German federal elections

As Germany prepares for a snap federal election on February 23, Berlin has closed five Bürgerämter (citizens’ offices), citing limited staff capacity. Berlin closes five... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 4 days ago

Germany’s sick leave rates reach record high in 2024

Figures from Germany’s largest statutory health insurer have revealed record-high sick leave rates among the country’s working population in 2024. Sick leave rates soar in 2024... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 5 days ago

German passport falls to 3rd-most powerful in Henley Index 2025

The annual Henley & Partners Passport Index has named the German passport the third-best for visa-free travel in the world in 2025, after it claimed the top spot in 2024. The... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 5 days ago

Germany faces cold snap as -12C recorded in Dresden

A sea wind is bringing sub-zero temperatures and bright sunshine to Germany at the beginning of this week. Locals in Dresden have already felt lows of -12 degrees celsius. Sub-... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 6 days ago

UK to launch 10-pound entry fee for international travellers

Non-EU citizens now have to pay a 10-pound (11,95 euro) fee when they enter the United Kingdom. From April 2025, the fee will also apply to EU citizens. Here’s what you need to... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 6 days ago

The easy way to get a refund on your pension contributions in 2025

If you have lived and worked in Germany, you will have paid pension contributions to the German pension fund that amounts to 9,3 percent of your gross salary. But if you decide to... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 6 days ago

How many German-speaking countries are there around the world?

78,3 percent of the world’s 95 million native German speakers live in Germany, but what about the other 21,7 percent? We look at where German is spoken, in the DACH region and... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 7 days ago

German market town home to two of the world's best escape rooms

When the weather makes activities outside a cold and icy prospect, many head to escape rooms to test their mental mettle. Now, an unsuspecting German town has been named as having... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 8 days ago

Household solar panel installations break new record in Germany

At least 800.000 solar panels have now been installed in German households, according to new figures from the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur). 800.000 solar panels now... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 9 days ago

UVB argues Berliners should have fewer public holidays

The director of the Berlin-Brandenburg Association of Businesses (UVB) has called for the city-state to reduce the number of public holidays (Feiertage) it recognises, or move... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 9 days ago

Which German city had the worst traffic jams in 2024?

Inrix’s annual congestion report has revealed which German cities had the worst traffic jams in 2024. On average, drivers in Germany lost three more hours to congestion in 2024... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 10 days ago

DWD issues snow warning for northern Germany, rain in the south

The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued a level-two weather warning for snow across northern Germany in the coming days, while rain is expected in the south. Snow and rain... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 10 days ago

Over a third of Deutsche Bahn long-distance services delayed in 2024

Another year and even more delays. In 2024, over a third of Deutsche Bahn’s long-distance services didn’t arrive on time, more than in 2023. Just 62,5 percent of DB long-distance... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 10 days ago

New calculator finds 22.000 cases of rent exploitation in German cities

A new online rent calculator launched by Germany’s Left Party (die Linke) has found over 20.000 cases of rent exploitation across eight German cities. Rent exploitation on the... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 11 days ago

Train disruption continues in northern Germany following stormy weather

Following Monday's stormy weather across western and northern Germany, passengers should expect train service disruption into January 7. DB warns of train disruption in western... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 12 days ago

CSU would impose migrant salary requirements if elected, manifesto reveals

Leaked details of the Christian Social Union (CSU) manifesto have revealed that if elected, the party would impose a minimum salary threshold for foreign residents living in... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 12 days ago

Germany launches online portal for visa applications

Germany’s Foreign Office has announced that foreign citizens hoping to move to Germany can now submit their visa application documents online. German visa applications now... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 13 days ago

Risk of pensioner poverty increasing in Germany

Statistics from the European Union’s statistical office Eurostat have revealed that people over the age of 65 and living in Germany are increasingly at risk of falling into... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 13 days ago

Berliners to get extra May public holiday in 2025

May is one of the best public holiday seasons, and it’s only set to get better for Berliners in 2025! May 8 will be a one-off day off in the capital next year. Berliners, take... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 14 days ago

Last orders: Deutsche Bahn calls time on draught beer in trains

From 2025, passengers travelling with Deutsche Bahn will no longer be able to buy draught beer from the train operator’s onboard restaurants. Deutsche Bahn's Fassbier no more... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 15 days ago

New Berlin office naturalising 100 German citizens per day

A report by local public broadcaster rbb has found that Berlin’s new citizenship office has been naturalising 100 new German citizens per day. Berlin Einbürgerungsbehörde... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 16 days ago

Which European country has the cleanest homes?

A survey by YouGov has gathered information about European households’ cleaning habits. Who is most eager to get into those dusty nooks and crannies, and who is hanging around... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 17 days ago

Berlin Hbf faces two-month partial closure for construction

Berlin’s central station (Hauptbahnhof) will be partially closed for construction works for two months in early 2025, Tagesspiegel has reported. Berlin Hauptbahnhof to partially... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 18 days ago

Berlin pizzeria worker defrauds employer of 39.000 euros in cash

A little goes a long way. By pocketing incremental amounts every day, a pizzeria worker in Berlin apparently managed to steal nearly 40.000 euros from his employer. Berlin... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 19 days ago

New flight routes in and out of Germany in 2025

Certain airlines are expanding and minimising their routes offered in and out of German airports in 2025. Here are the changes you can expect in the new year. 2025 air and rail... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 20 days ago

2025 in Germany: All the changes you need to know about

2025 is just around the corner and it's shaping up to be an eventful year in German society and politics. From the Deutschlandticket and snap elections to health insurance... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 20 days ago

Bavaria named among Lonely Planet’s top destinations for 2025

Lonely Planet has named the German federal state of Bavaria as one of the hottest destinations for 2025. Already considering your holidays for next year? It’s just a train journey... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 21 days ago

Decathlon to open 60 new shops in Germany

Another New Year coming with a resolution to move more? French sports chain Decathlon has announced that it will open 60 additional shops in Germany by the end of 2027. Decathlon... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 22 days ago

Nearly every third car theft in Germany occurs in Berlin

Figures from the German Insurance Association have revealed that German drivers are more likely to have their car stolen if they park it in Berlin or Brandenburg. High number of... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 23 days ago

Berlin parents asked to rein in kids to avoid repeat of New Year's Eve unrest

Police in Berlin have sent out a letter to local parents, asking for their help to keep things calm in the capital on New Year’s Eve. Two years ago, major unrest in the city made... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 23 days ago

63 Berlin bridges in “poor condition”

An information request from the Berlin Greens has revealed that more than 60 of the city’s bridges are in an unsatisfactory condition. 63 Berlin bridges graded 3,0 or less A... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 24 days ago

5G coverage upgrade planned for Berlin-Hamburg train route

The German government and Deutsche Bahn have announced that the Berlin-Hamburg train route will be upgraded to improve 5G internet coverage. Deutsche Bahn announces 5G upgrade ... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 24 days ago

Young girl sleeps outside German Kita to "be there first”

A young girl in a small German town was found by a passerby after she snuck out of her parents’ house and slept outside her Kita to be the first there in the morning. Young child... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 25 days ago

Lidl, REWE, Penny and Edeka accused of selling “fake” honey in Germany

An investigation by public broadcaster ZDF has claimed that several German supermarkets are selling brands of “fake” honey to customers. ZDF accuses German supermarkets of... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 26 days ago

German health insurer TK to double additional contribution rates in 2025

German health insurance provider Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) has announced that its additional contribution rates (Zusatzbeiträge) will more than double in 2025. TK to increase... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 27 days ago

To rent or to buy in Germany: Which option is right for you?

Are you wondering if buying a home in Germany makes sense for you? In a country where so many people rent their whole lives, and one where you may not be certain how long you... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 27 days ago

German Integration Barometer: Positive attitudes to migrant integration on decline

A new “Integration Barometer” by Germany’s Expect Council on Integration and Migration has found that “positive attitudes” towards migrants’ integration are on the decline in the... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 27 days ago

Berlin announces autonomous buses by 2027

The BVG, Berlin’s local public transport association, has announced that it will launch self-driving buses in the city by 2027. Self-driving buses coming to Berlin Fully... | Continue reading


@iamexpat.de | 28 days ago