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- Identification documents and public deeds
- Do you want... to marry in Germany? to work in Germany? to present another type of document, issued in another country, to a German authority? The documents issued in your home country are recognised in Germany under certain conditions. Foreign documents are generally only accepted if they have been authenticated or bear an apostille, thereby certifying that they are genuine. Recognising foreign school and university certificates requires more than just proving their authenticity. Their equivalence to German courses of study also needs to be established. Foreign school or vocational qualifications are recognised as part of a separate procedure. Documents in languages other than German must also be provided with a translation. The translations must be performed by a publicly appointed, sworn translator. Freigabevermerk Based on the German version authorized by Sächsisches Staatsministerium des Innern. 2014-07-11 German version
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- Particular regulations according to Book XII Social Code and Asylum Seekers Benefits Act
- Medical care for recipients of benefits according to Book XII of the Social Code In the case of recipients of income support who have compulsory insurance in the statutory health insurance fund and in the case of some voluntarily insured benefit recipients, social services must assume the payment of health insurance contributions. Assumption of the contributions of other voluntarily insured persons is at the discretion of the social welfare agency; i.e. these can be assumed. Recipients of income support who are privately insured are entitled to the assumption of contributions which ensure the basic rate of benefits of the health insurance fund. The medical care of recipients of income support who were not covered by health insurance prior to the receipt of the benefit is assumed by the health insurance fund if they have been receiving income support for longer than a month . Persons entitled to receive benefits are to choose a health insurance fund for this purpose. If this does not take place, registration with a health insurance fund is undertaken by social services. The persons in question receive a health insurance card. However, they are not members of the health insurance fund; any costs of medical care are instead refunded to the health insurance fund by social services. Persons entitled to receive benefits who are not covered by health insurance and who have been receiving benefits for less than a month are granted benefits by social services within the context of medical assistance. All recipients of income support are subject to statutorily regulated additional payments for medicines, aids and resources as well as visits to doctors and hospital stays. Reference is made to the regulations in Book V of the Social Code. The maximum amount of total additional payments per year is 2% of the amount normally required by the head of a household and is 1% in the case of people with chronic diseases. Medical care under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act Asylum seekers and foreigners who have permission to reside or, because of a war in their homeland, have a residence permit in accordance with the Aufenthaltsgesetz (‘Residency Act‘) and foreigners with toleration of a stay as well as other people obliged to leave the country whose threat of deportation is still not or is no longer enforceable are entitled to medical care under the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. There are two groups of people entitled to benefits according to the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act : People entitled to benefits according to § 2 of the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act are insured with a health insurance fund of their choice, receive a health insurance card and are thus entitled to statutory health insurance benefits. The health insurance funds charge the social welfare agencies for the medical benefits. People entitled to benefits in accordance with § 2 of the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act are subject to the regulations governing additional payments. You have to make additional payments for medicines, aids and remedies as well as visits to doctors and hospital stays. The same maximum additional payment limits apply as in the case of benefit recipients according to Book XII of the Social Code. The hardship clauses also apply to them. Medical care for people entitled to benefits in accordance with § 3 of the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act is limited (cf. § 4 of the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act). Only in the case of acute illnesses and pain states are benefits allowed for medical care. There are particular restrictions in the case of dentures. Dentures can only be allowed in exceptionals cases caused by a lack ov chewing ability. This restriction does not apply to dental treatment such as caries and root treatment. Certain medical benefits are, however, granted to this group of people without restriction. These include benefits for screening examinations and for pregnant women. Pregnant women have an unlimited entitlement to screening examinations and services relating to childbirth and aftercare. Vaccinations for children and adults and certain other screening examinations can also be allowed without the existence of an acute disease. Asylum seekers are entitled to the following benefits: screening examinations during pregnancy, services during child-birth and aftercare; statutory screening examinations for children vaccinations for children and tetanus, diphtheria and polio vaccinations for adults. People entitled to benefits under § 3 of the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act receive a special medical treatment certificate from social services or the immigration authority and they present this to a doctor. The medical certificate is valid for one quarter of the particular calendar year. Recipients of benefits under § 3 of the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act do not have to make any additional payments. FreigabevermerkSource: Health Guide for Migrants in the Free State of Saxony, State Ministry for Social Affairs and Consumer Protection. 2014-01-20
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- Residency in Germany
- Germany is open to immigration. With foreigners making up around twelve percent of its population (2018), the Federal Republic is one of Europe’s highest ranked countries in this respect. The foreigners living in Germany are an economically and culturally important part of German society. Stays in Germany lasting longer than three months are generally only permitted for specific purposes. Legal residence in Germany requires a legally verified residence status. German law distinguishes between the foreigner’s origin and situation in this case. In just a few clicks, the interactive “Click the residence permit for clever minds” guide gives you an initial overview of the requirements for the residence purposes Employment, Studies or Vocational Training, Research, Family Reunification, or Job Search. Foreigners can also be naturalised in Germany under certain conditions. Find out about the most important principles of German residency entitlements below. Interactive guide Saxon State Ministry for the Interior Naturalisation and citizenship Amt24 information EU citizens, citizens of the EEA and Switzerland As an EU citizen, you can enjoy the right to travel and work freely in Saxony and the rest of Germany. You may stay in the country for up to three months, and only need your ID or passport. No work permit is required, either. Duty of registration If you stay in Germany for longer than two months and move into one or more residential properties during this time, you must register with your local municipality within two weeks of moving into the respective property. This duty of registration ceases to apply if your total stay in Germany is no longer than two months. If, however, you end up unexpectedly staying longer than two months, you are obliged to register within two weeks of this two-month period ending. When it comes to determining if you are required to register, it does not matter whether or not you have kept your place of residence abroad, or how long you have been living here at one single property. The total length of your stay in Germany is the only crucial factor. Stays of longer than three months EU citizens can stay in a member state for longer than three months if they are entitled to free movement. If they meet certain requirements, EU citizens are generally entitled to free movement. The same right also applies to their family members and partners, regardless of whether these are EU citizens or not. Family members and partners who are entitled to free movement, and who are not EU citizens, can be issued with a residence card valid for five years. Persons entitled to free movement under community law are: EU citizens wanting to stay in Germany as employees, to look for work or to undertake vocational training EU citizens, if they are entitled to be self-employed (this also applies for self-employed persons already settled in Germany) EU citizens, who, without settling in Germany, wish to render services as self-employed persons (if they are entitled to render the services) EU citizens receiving services Unemployed EU citizens, if they have adequate health insurance and funding Family members, if they have adequate health insurance and funding EU citizens and their families, who have been granted permanent residency Family members are the spouse, partner, or the descendants of EU citizens entitled to free movement, as well as their spouses or partners who are under 21 years of age, and Relatives (in ascending and descending order) of EU citizens entitled to free movement, their spouses or partners who are supported by these. Please note! If you are studying in Germany, only your spouse/partner and their children, who are granted support, can exercise the right of free movement. Note: Note that you may have to deregister in your home country even if you have registered in Saxony. Citizens of the European Economic Area and Switzerland Citizens of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) also enjoy the same rights as EU citizens. According to the agreement dated 1999-06-21 between the European Community and its member states, and with the Swiss Confederation, regarding free movement, Swiss citizens are exempt from the residence permit requirement. Please note! Citizens of the new EU member states Romania and Bulgaria require a work permit, which is issued by the Employment Agency. It checks whether there are German applicants or EU citizens entitled to work who are just as or more suitable for the position. Citizens of third-party countries also require a work permit and possibly a visa. For more information, contact the German embassy / consulate in your home country. information: Working in Germany Residency law for EU citizens Amt24 information Residing in Germany Federal Office for Migration and Refugees EU-wide labour market – free movement of workers European Commission Citizens from third-party countries If you are not a citizen of an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you always require a visa for Germany, though citizens of certain countries do not need this for visits of up to three months per half year. The website of the Federal Foreign Office contains an up-to-date list of countries requiring a visa. For visa applications, contact the competent German embassy / consulate in your place of residence. The Federal Foreign Office provides information on the specific visa requirements. Further information: List of states requiring a visa for entering Germany Federal Foreign Office All you need to know about the electronic residence permit Federal Office for Migration and Refugees Please note! The processing time for visa applications may vary. Visa applications for short-term stays are usually processed within ten working days. Applications for longer stays can take several months. If you hold a valid German visa, you can move freely within what is known as the Schengen Area. With a valid passport, you can travel to the other Schengen countries without a visa for up to three months per half year. The website of the Department of Foreign Affairs contains information on the Schengen Agreement and the countries in which this applies. More on the topic: Residing in Germany Federal Office for Migration and Refugees Visa regulations for entering Germany Schengen agreement Federal Foreign Office Residency for educational purposes Saxony is world renowned as a hub for science and research. If you wish to study or continue your education in Saxony, you have several options. If you require a visa to enter Germany, you must endeavour to get admitted to an educational institution before you arrive. Once admitted, you can then apply for the necessary visa from the German embassy / consulate at your place of residence. Foreigners can also be issued with a residence permit (for maximum nine months) for the purposes of applying for study. Non-EU citizens not requiring a visa can also try to get admitted to an educational institution during their stay in Germany. Note: In order to study in Germany as a non-EU citizen, you must be able to finance yourself and have adequate health insurance. Apart from studying, you can also engage in temporary employment. Further information: Request a visa for entering Germany Amt24 process description University studies in Germany Deutsche Welle German Academic Exchange Service Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst Residency for employment purposes As a high-tech hub, Saxony offers attractive jobs for well trained specialists. If you don’t come from an EU member country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you require a residence permit in order to pursue employment in Germany. Apply for this from the German embassy / consulate at your place of residence before arriving in Germany. Note: Citizens of Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the United States of America can also obtain the necessary residence permit from the competent Bureau for Foreigners in Germany on arrival. Employees with an income of approx. EUR 47,600 (as of 2014) per annum can obtain an EU Blue Card which makes it easier to travel within Europe and speeds up the process for obtaining permanent residency. Workers in so-called shortage occupations (scientists, mathematicians and engineers, doctors, as well as academic and equivalent specialists in information and communication technology) can receive an EU Blue Card if they earn a minimum annual income of approx. EUR 37,128 (as of 2014). Employees without academic qualification and who fall under the aforementioned income limits also have the possibility to work in Germany. In special cases, highly qualified workers can immediately be given a permanent residence permit in the form of a »Niederlassungserlaubnis« in Germany. Highly qualified workers include scientists with special technical knowledge, or teaching staff in prominent positions. Germany residency law also allows job-seekers to stay in Germany for six months. Foreigners from third-party countries generally require the prior consent of the labour administration in order to gain access to the employment market. In some cases, consent is not required, e.g. for highly qualified persons as stated above, EU Blue Card applicants (except for shortage occupations) or graduates from a German university. The Federal Employment Agency does not check priority rankings for certain occupational groups, i.e. it does not check whether there is a preferential German or European worker for the specific job. For example, the priority check is not performed for employees in shortage occupations who thus hold an EU Blue Card, graduates of a qualified vocational course in Germany, graduates from German schools abroad with recognised or comparable university degree, or spouses of foreign experts, managers or specialists. Freelancers or self-employed persons can obtain a residence permit to realise their business idea. This requires an economic interest or regional demand. Graduates from a German university, scientists and researchers do not have to meet these requirements in order to be self-employed in their field. More on the topic: Immigration Federal Ministry of the Interior Studying and Working in Germany Federal Foreign Office EURES – the European websitel for occupational mobility European Commission Freigabevermerk (Release note) Based on the German version authorized by Sächsisches Staatsministerium des Innern. 2014-07-11
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- Residency law for citizens of the European Union
- Article 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and the law on the general freedom of movement for EU citizens, govern the right of residence for EU citizens in EU member states. EU citizens only need to comply with Germany’s general registration requirement. Contact your local registry office about this. The registration authorities will forward your details to the relevant Bureau for Foreigners. Freedom of movement means that every EU citizen is entitled to move freely within the European Union, enter any other member state, and reside there. Entering the Federal Republic of Germany As an EU citizen, you do not need a visa or passport to enter the Federal Republic of Germany. An ID valid for the period of stay will suffice. Employment As an EU citizen, you have the option of earning a living in any member state. This means working or rendering services as an employee or self-employed person. The same applies for citizens of the European Economic Area. Some transitional rules regarding employee freedom of movement in some service sectors still apply for the new Central and Eastern European member states. According to these rules, a work permit issued by the Federal Employment Agency is required. Freedom of movement Freedom of movement applies to any EU citizen in the first three months of their stay, workers, settled self-employed persons, service providers, service recipients, non-workers (e.g. pensioners, students, other unemployed persons) and persons holding permanent residence permits, and their families. If you have maintained your legal, permanent place of residence in the Federal Republic of Germany for five years, you will be given an unlimited residence permit, which is not subject to the aforementioned requirements. Unemployed EU citizens are only entitled to free movement if they have health insurance and sufficient resources to finance themselves and their families for the entire duration of their stay. Sufficient funding means they do not need to claim social welfare. Family members Family members of EU citizens, who are not EU citizens themselves, must contact the local Bureau for Foreigners. They will be issued with a residence card, which is generally valid for 5 years. Loss of right of residence Residence permits may be revoked if an EU citizen seriously jeopardises public order and safety. In individual cases, a risk analysis must also be conducted to assess whether the EU citizen poses a future threat. EU citizens may similarly lose their right to enter and reside in Germany if they no longer meet the aforementioned requirements for free movement. Freigabevermerk Release note Based on the German version authorized by Sächsisches Staatsministerium der Justiz und für Europa. 2014-07-11 German version
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- The public health service in Saxony
- It is the task of the public health service in the Free State of Saxony to protect and promote the health of the population. Every independent town and every administrative district has a health authority. The latter contributes specifically towards health screening and help as well as the promotion and protection of the health of its citizens. Specific health promotion and advice services are also specifically provided for children and young people, disabled people and citizens who find themselves in difficult health and social situations. Officially recommended vaccinations are provided by the health authority. However, medical treatment is in principle not the responsibility of the health authority, but of GP practices and hospitals. Protection against infection One of the main tasks of the health authorities is to prevent and combat infectious diseases. It is important that transmissible diseases such as hospital-acquired infections, tuberculosis, hepatitis A, whooping cough, measles, infectious meningitis, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS as well as food-mediated infectious diseases are detected early so that their further spread can be prevented. For these reasons, health authorities monitor medical establishments and community facilities for observance of hygiene regulations and they provide advice about the prevention of infections. Prior to any trips abroad, citizens can inform themselves of the vaccinations which they require and, if necessary, have have themselves vaccinated. Initial instruction is provided prior to the commencement of activities in the area of food (in accordance with item 1 of paragraph 1 of § 43 of the Infektionsschutzgesetz (‘Protection against Infection Act‘). Such instruction is required by people who produce, handle or circulate food on a commercial basis and who thus touch food directly (with their hands) or indirectly (with the necessary utensils). Instruction is also required by people who work in the kitchens of eating-houses, restaurants, canteens, cafés and other catering establishments as well as establishments with catering facilities. The most important advice centres provided by the health authority are presented below: Paeadiatric services The health authority’s paediatricians would like to support you in your endeavour to raise your children in the healthiest possible way. However, they will particularly offer you advice and help if your child has health problems, displays developmental difficulties, is at risk of disability or has special needs. Doctors in the paediatric services often carry out regular medical examinations in nursery schools (in the 4th year of life) and schools (on starting school and in the 2nd or 3rd year as well as in the 6th year). They aim to ensure the early detection of developmental disorders, disabilities and diseases which might prevent your children from being successful at school and to introduce the necessary diagnostic, therapeutic and remedial teaching measures. Information about recommended vaccinations is also provided and vaccinations are occasionally also directly provided in these establishments. Advice is provided on all matters relating to the promotion of health:nutrition, promotion of exercise and language, help for children with psychiatric problems, etc. Paediatric dental services The health authority‘s dentists will help you to maintain or improve the dental health of your children. Early detection tests are offered in child daycare centres and schools from the appearance of the first teeth to the age of 14. This means that you and your children will receive information about whether teeth require treatment, whether there are misalignments of the teeth and jaws and whether gum disease is already visible. Recommendations with regard to treatment by dentists or maxillary orthopaedists are communicated to parents in writing. Social psychiatric services The social psychiatric services are often located in the premises of the health authority and they offer help and support: to people with chronic psychiatric conditions; to people with geriatric psychiatric conditions (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease); to relatives, friends and carers of people with psychiatric diseases. The social psychiatric services can also refer people about migration-specific matters which are related to psychiatric problems. Consultations are free of charge and can take place without the need for referral. They are conducted in the strictest of confidence. In emergencies, the advisers also make home visits or accompany people in the case of difficult journeys. The disabled advisory centre The health authority’s disabled advisory centre offers comprehensive advice to disabled people and people at risk of disability as well as their carers and relatives. Staff at this centre are familiar with the different community care providers and citizens receive assistance with arranging help in their everyday lives if they are not able to do this on account of their disability. The health authority – a neutral expert advice agency The health authority issues official certificates and documents and acts as an expert assessor. If e.g. asylum seekers apply for a change of accommodation or accommodation away from the city centre for health reasons or if they require particular medical measures, the health authority is usually brought in by social services to conduct a medical or psychological assessment. This is also the case if the immigration authority has an asylum seeker‘s ability to travel checked for health reasons or if there is an obstacle to deportation of an asylum seeker on health grounds. What is important is that the health authority’s doctor who is carrying out the assessment is not bound by instructions, has relevant qualifications and is experienced. FreigabevermerkSource: Health Guide for Migrants in the Free State of Saxony, State Ministry for Social Affairs and Consumer Protection. 2014-01-20
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- Tax liability (income tax)
- Germany charges a tax on the income earned by physical persons. The income tax is an annual tax applied to the income earned in a calendar year (assessment period) from: Agriculture and forestry Business operations Self-employment (as per §§ 18 f. EStG) Dependent employment (as per §§ 18 f. EStG) Capital assets Rentals and leases, and the other income stated in § 22 of the German Income Tax Act (EStG)(e.g. income from a pension drawn from the legal pension insurance fund or income from private sales) German income tax law distinguishes between two types of tax liability: full income tax liability and partial income tax exemption. Full liability to pay income tax in Germany If your primary place of residence is in Germany, you are fully liable to pay income tax here. This means that all your income, regardless of whether you earned this within Germany and/or abroad, must be taxed in Germany (principle of global income). Partial income tax exemption in Germany If your primary place of residence is not in Germany, you are entitled to partial income tax exemption if you earn a certain domestic income in Germany, i.e. you are only taxed in Germany for this particular income (e.g. from an employment contract). However, regardless of the place of residence, full income tax liability exists in Germany for German staff sent abroad, who are part of a public-law employment contract with a public domestic (German) legal entity, and who receive a wage from a public domestic (German) fund. For this to take effect, the person must only be liable to pay an income tax amount equivalent to a partial income tax exemption in their country of residence. This so-called "extended full income tax liability" also applies to family members in the same household, who are German citizens or earn no income, or who only earn an income exclusively liable to German income tax. your request, if you earn almost all your income in Germany For this to apply, at least 90 percent of your income must be subject to German income tax, or the income not liable to German income tax must not exceed the limit corresponding to the so-called basic exemption: 2013: EUR 8.130 2014: EUR 8.354 2015: EUR 8.472 2016: EUR 8.652 2017: EUR 8.820 ab 2018: EUR 9.000 The limit amount may be reduced to ¾, ½ or ¼ depending on the conditions in your country of residence. You must prove your foreign income by providing documentation from the relevant foreign tax authority. Foreign income / Income tax liability abroad If you earn foreign income and are fully liable to pay income tax in Germany, this income is included in the total income (if necessary offsetting the foreign taxes) or only included when calculating the progressive tax rate applied to the remaining income (progression clause) For example: Income considered tax-free in Germany according to a double taxation convention. If, on the other hand, you are not fully liable to pay income tax in Germany, nor are you eligible for partial income tax exemption, your entire income is not subject to German tax law. Find out which tax law applies in your foreign place of residence or work, and the extent to which your income is subject to this. The relevant embassies / consulates or finance ministries will provide information on this. More information: External Tax Relations Federal Ministry of Finance Double Taxation Convention Tax claims between the respective states are settled using the so-called Double Taxation Convention, which prevents any double taxation for the same income. You should enquire about any double taxation convention existing between Germany and your foreign place of residence or work. More information: Double taxation agreements Federal Ministry of Finance Income tax assessment / Income tax return Income tax in Germany is assessed at the end of the respective calendar year, based on the income earned by the taxpayer that year. The assessment process is usually started by the taxpayer declaring the income they have earned during the relevant year (income tax return). Note: In the event of partial tax exemption, the income tax on income which is subject to wage tax or capital gains tax, or which is subject to the tax deduction stated in § 50a of the German Income Tax Act (EStG), is considered as being covered by said tax deduction. Tax deduction for domestic income from dependent employment For employees, the income tax on their wage is charged throughout the calendar year by virtue of deductions from their wage (wage tax), insofar as the wage is paid by a registered, taxpaying employer (as per § 38 Abs.1 EStG) The wage tax is therefore a special type of income tax. The registered taxpaying employer must calculate the wage tax, withhold it from every wage payment, and pay it directly to the finance authority. The employee’s personal taxation criteria are definitive here. These are generally stored in a central database as part of the "Electronic Wage Tax Deduction Criteria" (ELStAM), and provided to the employer electronically. ELStAM retrieval When entering into an employment contract, you must advise your employer of certain details for the purposes of retrieving electronic wage tax deduction criteria (ELStAM). You will need to provide your tax ID number, date of birth, and information on whether it is your primary or an additional employment contract (in the case of the latter, you also need to advise whether a set exemption is to be applied, and if so, how much). Transition rule for 2013 Your employer can switch from the previous wage tax card / paper document to the electronic process during the course of 2013. Until this switch, you must provide them with all official wage tax documents stating your wage tax deduction criteria (2010 wage tax card or 2011/2012/2013 substitute document). Your employer will always need these documents in 2013, even in the ELStAM process, to ensure they can register themselves as your primary employer (primary employment contract with tax category I, II, III, IV or V). Certification for persons not needing to register themselves in Germany Are you a commuter from over the border with no permanent place of residence in Germany, but who earns a wage in Germany? If, as per this example, you are not fully liable to pay income tax in Germany according to § 1 Paragraph 1 of the German Income Tax Act (EStG), and have not been assigned a tax ID number, you cannot yet participate in the ELStAM process. You must instead ask the finance authority responsible for your employer’s establishment to issue you with a "Wage tax deduction document as per § 39 Paragraph 3 EStG", which you then provide to your employer. In future, the finance authority should be able to issue a tax ID number for persons not needing to register themselves in Germany. They will also be able to participate in the ELStAM process at a later date. Electronic recording of wage tax deduction criteria (electronic wage tax card) Subsidy for single parents Tax categories (wage tax) Amt 24 information Tax Information Centrecentre Bundeszentralamt für Steuern Tax Types Federal Ministry of Finance Legal bases Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG) , Einkommensteuerdurchführungsverordnung (EStDV) Abgabenordnung (AO) Freigabevermerk (Release note) Based on the German version authorized by Sächsisches Staatsministerium der Finanzen. 2014-07-11 German version
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- Tax categories (wage tax)
- Employees are classified into tax categories for the wage tax deduction. The tax category is particularly important when it comes to determining the wage tax deduction amount. It depends on your marital status and whether the wage tax deduction is for your primary or another employment contract. The information below will explain which (wage) tax category applies to you. The Amt24 process descriptions will tell you how to switch or change your tax category. Tax category I Applies to employees who are single, living in a registered civil partnership, divorced, widowed or married, unless they fall under tax category II, III or IV. Tax category II Applies to the employees mentioned in tax category I if they are entitled to the single parents allowance. Subsidy for single parents Amt 24 process description Tax category III Applies, upon request, to married employees and partners in a registered civil partnership if both spouses / partners reside in Germany, are not living permanently apart, and the employee’s spouse / partner does not earn a wage, or the other spouse/partner also earns a wage, but is classified under tax category V upon request by both spouses; and to widowed employees , for the calendar year following that of the spouse’s / partner’s death if both were residing in Germany, and were not living permanently apart, on the day of death. Tax category IV Applies to married employees and partners in a registered civil partnership if both spouses/partners earn a wage, reside in Germany, and are not living permanently apart. Tax category V Applies to one of the spouses/partners instead of tax category IV if, at both parties’ request, the other spouse / partner is classified under tax category III. Tax category VI Applies to employees receiving multiple wages from more than one employer, in order for wage tax to be withheld for the second and any additional employment contracts. Tip: For more information on wage tax categories, choosing tax categories for employee spouses, and on the factor process which has been available since 2010, consult the "Wage tax – A brief guide for wage taxpayers" information booklet and the "Leaflet on choosing tax categories for employee spouses" at www.steuern.sachsen.de Sächsisches Staatsministerium der Finanzen More information (german): Broschüre "Rund um die Einkommensteuererklärung" Sächsisches Staatsministerium der Finanzen Related topics: Change to wage tax category after permanent separation (or divorce or annulment of civil partnership Changes to the wage tax category upon marriage or establishment of a civil partnership¿ Change to wage tax category during marriage or civil partnership (for spouses or partners not permanently living apart) Amt24 process descriptions Freigabevermerk (Release note) Based on the German version authorized by Sächsisches Staatsministerium der Finanzen. 2014-07-11 German version
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- Naturalisation and citizenship
- If you are a foreigner whose principal residence is in Germany, or if you are a child born in Germany to foreign parents, you may want to think about obtaining German citizenship and thus participating actively in political life. You’ll become a German citizen through naturalisation, and will receive the rights of a full citizen, e.g. right to vote, free movement, the right to free occupational choice and protection against extradition and deportation. However, you are also subject to citizen duties and the obligation to engage in our society as a lay judge or electoral assistant. Naturalisation involves many legal rules, which we will present to you in a rough overview here. Your local citizenship authority will provide you with information on your specific case. If you live in an urban municipality, this is the city council; if you live in an administrative district, this is the Rural District Office. Naturalisation application Naturalisation is only performed on request. If you’re 16 or over, you can lodge a naturalisation application with your local citizenship authority. Naturalisation of children under 16 must be requested by a legal representative, generally his / her parents. A person is entitled to be naturalised in accordance with § 10 of the Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz (StAG - German Citizenship Act) if they meet all the necessary legal requirements for naturalisation. Your foreign spouse, who cannot claim naturalisation in their own right, and / or your underage children, can be naturalised along with you, giving the entire family the chance to obtain German citizenship. If you are the spouse or registered same-sex partner of a German citizen, your naturalisation is governed by § 9 of the German Citizenship Act (StAG). If you’re not yet entitled to be naturalised, the authorities may still agree to naturalise you in certain cases according to § 8 StAG. The requirements for the respective forms of naturalisation (and their respective exceptions) vary for individual cases. The following general requirements are, however, essentially the same for all forms of naturalisation: You must hold a permanent residence permit at the time of naturalisation. You must have had your legal place of residence in Germany for at least eight years. You must be able to support yourself (and any dependent family members) without social welfare benefits or Arbeitslosengeld II (unemployment benefits). You must be familiar with the legal and social order and living conditions in Germany (legal proof through the standardised national naturalisation test). You must have sufficient knowledge of the German language. You must not have been convicted of a criminal offence. You must lose or surrender your previous citizenship. There must be no evidence of anti-constitutional or extremist acts committed in the past or present, and you must commit to the free democratic basic order of the German Constitution. Note: The same requirements apply for co-naturalisation. Permanent residence permit The following are particularly entitled to receive a permanent residence permit Persons holding a “Niederlassungserlaubnis” (settlement permit) or a permit for permanent EU residence, and EU citizens entitled to free movement / equivalent citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, as well as their family members and partners. A temporary residence permit will only suffice if it has been issued for a purpose entitling permanent residence in Germany. A temporary residence permit issued for a temporary purpose (e.g. studies or humanitarian causes) is not sufficient, nor is it sufficient to merely hold a residence permit for specific purposes or have exceptional leave to remain in the country at the time of naturalisation. Residence period Legal residence in Germany for at least eight years is generally required, whereby this time frame can be reduced in certain cases, e.g. when spouses and underage children are being naturalised at the same time. Securing a livelihood You must be able to earn a living for yourself and any dependent family members without any Sozialhilfe (social welfare) or Arbeitslosengeld II (unemployment benefits) ("Hartz IV"). National naturalisation test Since 2008-09-01, knowledge of Germany’s legal and social order, as well as living conditions in Germany, is a pre-requisite for naturalisation. These are generally proven by passing the standardised national naturalisation test. In order to pass the test, 17 out of 33 questions must be answered correctly. Civic knowledge is also proven, rendering a naturalisation test unnecessary, if you can (exclusively) provide a completion certificate from a German secondary school (“Hauptschule”), or a comparable or higher completion certificate from a German school for general education (“allgemeinbildende Schule”). Children under 16 are exempted from the requirement and proof of civic knowledge. This also applies to persons who, due to a physical, intellectual or mental illness or disability, or due to their age, are not able to fulfil the civic knowledge requirement. The federal states offer naturalisation courses to prepare for the test. Language knowledge You must have adequate knowledge of the German language. This is the case if you meet the oral and written requirements for the Zertifikat Deutsch language examination (level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in all individual examination components). The ability to communicate in a simple, verbal manner will not suffice. The citizenship authority will determine whether or not your language knowledge is adequate. You can prove that your German knowledge is adequate by providing the following documents: “Zertifikat Deutsch” certificates or an equivalent or superior language certificate, Certification from the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) citing your successful participation in a language course as part of the integration course stipulated in the German Residency Act, German secondary school certificate or equivalent German school-leaving certificate, with a grade of at least “pass” in German, Admission to grade 10 of an upper secondary German school (Realschule, Gesamtschule, Gymnasium) with a grade of at least "pass" in German Successfully attending a German school for four years (promotion to the next level) with a grade of at least "pass" in German, Studies at a German university or university of applied sciences, or successful completion of a German vocational training course. Language certificates telc GmbH, provider of language testing procedures and subsidiary of the Deutsche Volkshochschulverband (German Adult Education Association) If you cannot provide any of these documents, the citizenship authority may call you for a language examination. The examination consists of a written and oral component. Special language courses will prepare you for this. More on the topic: telc GmbH Provider of language testing procedures and subsidiary of the Deutsche Volkshochschulverband (German Adult Education Association) Goethe-Institute Special aid is provided to minors under the age of 16 and persons who have permanently impaired hearing, reading, writing or speaking due to illness, disability or age. Exemption from punishment Criminal convictions, or hospital orders for persons not criminally liable for their actions, make naturalisation impossible. This also applies for foreign convictions in certain circumstances. Minor convictions are inconsequential. This is the case for: Monetary fines totalling up to 90 daily rates, Imprisonment of up to three months, if you have been granted parole, and the sentence was removed after the probation period, Corrective measures as per the Jugendgerichtsgesetz (German Youth Court Act). However, multiple convictions to monetary fines or prison sentences are added together, unless the court has established a lesser overall penalty. Surrendering previous citizenship Prior to being naturalised, you will generally be asked to surrender or lose your previous citizenship. “Multiple nationality” is only permitted in special exceptional cases, e.g. if it is not feasible or possible to give up your previous citizenship. A general exception applies to EU and Swiss citizens. You do not need to surrender your previous citizenship, though you may lose this based on the other country’s law if you become naturalised in Germany. The embassies or consulates of the EU countries will provide information on this. Note: If, after naturalisation, you hold another citizenship along with your German citizenship, this does not mean you have more or fewer rights than any other German citizen. You are wholly and solely viewed as a German citizen by German law. If, however, you reside in the country for which you also hold citizenship, you cannot claim the standard German consular protection. You will be viewed by that country as one of its citizens, rather than as a German citizen. Commitment to free democratic basic order You must commit, in writing, to free democratic basic order by acknowledging the principles, e.g. human rights, sovereignty of the people, constitutional state, separation of governmental authorities, right to parliamentary opposition, and declaring that you do not engage in or support unconstitutional activities, and have not engaged in or supported these in the past (declaration of loyalty). The citizenship authority lodges a request with the constitution protection authorities prior to any naturalisation. Minors under the age of 16 do not need to pledge any commitment. Naturalisation only takes effect upon presentation of the naturalisation certificate. Beforehand, you must solemnly verbally declare that you will adhere to the constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, and will refrain from undertaking anything which may harm the Federal Republic of Germany. You reinforce this with your written oath. You cannot be naturalised if you refuse to pledge your commitment verbally. Costs A fee of EUR 255.00 is generally charged for naturalisation, and for co-naturalisation of spouses or registered same-sex partners. The fee is reduced to EUR 51.00 for the co-naturalisation of under-aged children who do not earn their own income. If, however, under-aged children are naturalised without their parents, the fee is EUR 255.00. What effects does your naturalisation have on your children’s citizenship? If you are already a German citizen through naturalisation at the time your child is born, the principle of descent applies: Your child automatically acquires German citizenship at birth by virtue of descent. If you intent to obtain German citizenship through naturalisation, you can also request for your underage children to be naturalised with you . If you are not a German citizen at the time your child is born, but are living permanently in Germany, your child, who is born in Germany, automatically acquires German citizenship by virtue of the principle of birthplace (Ius soli) if you or the other parent meet certain criteria at the time of birth. Freigabevermerk Based on the German version authorized by Sächsisches Staatsministerium des Innern. 2014-07-11 German version
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- Medicines
- Prescription-only medicines Medicines are only available in pharmacies in Saxony. Many medicines are only available on prescription from a doctor. These are referred to as prescription-only medicines. The doctor writes a prescription. The prescription is taken to the pharmacy and the patient receives the medicine. At least one pharmacy in the vicinity will be operating an emergency service at any time during the day or night. Patients must pay a contribution towards the cost of prescription-only medicines. This amount is a maximum of 10 euros and a minimum of 5 euros, but it is not more than the actual cost of the medicine. Costs You pay for pharmacist-only medicines (medicines which are available in pharmacies without a prescription) yourself. E xception : Where non-prescription medicines are the standard treatment for serious illnesses, children up to the age of 12 receive them free of charge. From 2004, every insured person must contribute 2% of his annual gross income to the additional payment of medicines, aids and remedies as well as visits to doctors and hospital stays. Expection: Households with low incomes and chronically ill people can apply for exemption from the obligation of payment. This means that the limited additional payment per year is 1% of the total income. For this reason, it is important to collect all receipts and then to calculate when the relevant threshold is reached and to go to the appropriate health insurance fund and to exempt yourself from additional payments until the end of the year. A person is regarded as chronically ill if: the person is receiving permanent medical treatment (at least one visit to a doctor per quarter for the same disease) and is participating in an existing structured treatment programme for the treatment or there is a need for level 2 or 3 care or oder the degree of disability is at least 60% or there is at least a 60% reduction in the ability to be gainfully employed or constant medical care is required as there would otherwise be the risk of a worsening of the disease, a reduction in life expectancy or a permanent diminution in the quality of life in the view of a doctor and the chronically ill person regularly underwent statutory health examinations prior to the disease from 1 January 2008 onwards (only applies to people born after 1 April 1972); the chronically ill person, who suffers from a kind of cancer for which an examination for the early detection of cancer exists, underwent this examination regularly prior to the disease from 1 January 2008 onwards (this only applies only to women born after 1 April 1987 and men born after 1 April 1962); the doctor establishes that the insured person has behaved in a way which is appropriate to the treatment. FreigabevermerkSource: Health Guide for Migrants in the Free State of Saxony, State Ministry for Social Affairs and Consumer Protection. 2014-01-20
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- Advice and help for addicts
- The development of dependency is often the result of a long process which can take place in many small stages. Behaviour, life experience, living habits and personality change – often unnoticed at first. What is addiction? The World Health Organisation has replaced the term addiction with dependency and has defined it as: “A group of behavioural, cognitive and physical phenomena which develop after repeated substance use. Typically, there is a strong desire to take the substance, there are difficulties controlling consumption and there is persistent substance use despite harmful consequences. Substance use takes precedence over other activities and commitments.“ In addition to substance-related dependency on legal (e.g. alcohol) and illegal addictive substances (e.g. cannabis), non-substance-related diseases which are similar to addiction are often regarded as being addictive diseases. These e.g. include various problems such as eating disorders, pathological gambling and internet/media dependency.There are many advice and treatment options to ensure that affected individuals and their relatives receive help. What is assistance for addicts? A wide range of support is available to addicts, those at risk of addiction and their relatives. This includes advice, treatment and aftercare measures which are significantly increased by self-help provision. Other contact points apart from addiction advice and treatment centres are addiction-specific psychiatric establishments as well as GPs and psychiatrists. What are addiction advice and treatment centres? Addiction advice and treatment centres are open to everyone who has questions about addiction and dependency and particularly those affected and their relatives. Attendance at advisory sessions is voluntary and free of charge. Employees in advice centres are bound by an obligation of confidentiality in accordance with § 203 of the Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) (‘German Penal Code‘). Consequently, they must treat all information as confidential. In the event of the known consumption of illegal drugs, they also have the right to refuse to give testimony to the prosecuting authorities in accordance with § 53 of the Strafprozessordnung (StPO) (‘Criminal Procedural Code‘). The services provided by the addiction advice and treatment centres include individual and group discussions and, in some cases, also online advice and outpatient rehabilitation. Employees are not only concerned with the passing on of factual information, but are particularly concerned with the initiation of short-, medium- and long-term processes of help. Where necessary, the advice centres act as a place of referral with regard to other services which provide help with addiction. What are self-help groups? A self-help group is a community of people who have a common or a similar problem with addiction either as an addict or as a relative and who meet together regularly in order to cope and deal with this. Experiences, information and emotions can be shared in the community by talking about them. There is also the possibility of pursuing leisure activities together. Attendance of the groups is free of charge and is not subject to supervision. FreigabevermerkSource: Health Guide for Migrants in the Free State of Saxony, State Ministry for Social Affairs and Consumer Protection. 2014-01-20
