Ukrainians in Germany: what changes to expect in December 2025

Germany is preparing a whole package of winter updates that will directly affect Ukrainians living in the country: from new railway routes and rules for unmanned transport to changes in pension payments, taxes, health insurance and consumer rights. In December 2025, dozens of important regulations will come into force that will affect travel, finances and everyday life. Find out what changes will take effect and how to prepare for them

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December in Germany traditionally transforms the country into a Christmas card: markets are filled with the aroma of mulled wine, cities shine with lights, and streets become a place for warm gatherings and atmospheric walks. But along with the festive mood comes a series of practical changes that will affect transport, healthcare, social benefits, taxes and everyday consumer rights. For Ukrainians living in Germany, it is important to understand in advance what will change with the start of the winter season in order to plan their trips, finances and documents correctly.

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New Deutsche Bahn winter timetable

From 14 December 2025, German Railways will launch an updated timetable, which will be the most extensive in recent years. Additional high-speed trains will appear on several key routes, significantly reducing travel time between major cities. For example, the journey between Stuttgart and Berlin will now take around four hours and forty-five minutes, and between Hamburg and Frankfurt around three and a half hours.

At the same time, international connections are being strengthened: dozens of flights to Poland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Switzerland and Belgium are being added. Trains will run every two hours on the Kiel–Stuttgart and Stralsund–Frankfurt routes, ensuring reliable service throughout the winter.

Holiday season: weekends, fairs and traditions

December in Germany is a time when the country lives to a special rhythm. Advent begins on 30 November, which means the start of Christmas markets and city festivals.

In southern Germany, Krampus traditionally appears on 5 December, and on 25–26 December, the country celebrates Christmas and Gift Day — these are official holidays when shops, offices and most companies are closed. New Year's Eve is also accompanied by a full day of rest on 1 January.

For families with children, it is important to note that winter school holidays in most federal states start on 22 December.

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Remotely controlled transport

From 1 December, new rules for testing remotely controlled transport will come into force. These include driverless taxis, driverless car sharing and other types of autonomous vehicles that are controlled remotely by operators.

The maximum speed of such vehicles is 80 km/h, and they can only be driven in specially designated areas. Operators are required to undergo training and be located in Germany, which increases the level of safety and responsibility of companies.

Health insurance: new contributions and the right to change funds

December is a key month for those insured by state Krankenkassen. It is at this time that insurance funds announce new additional contributions (Zusatzbeitrag) that will apply in 2026.

The increase will not be the same for all companies, so insured persons are given the right to change their insurance fund. This can be done within two months of the official announcement. For Ukrainians who are watching their expenses, this is an opportunity to find more favourable terms and reduce the monthly burden on their budget.

Your safety while abroad starts with a reliable insurance policy!

Visit Ukraine offers medical insurance for Ukrainians who are travelling or staying abroad. The policy guarantees coverage for treatment and emergency care in any country in the world, including protection in case of COVID-19 or other unforeseen situations.

You can take out insurance online in a few minutes and be sure that, if necessary, you will receive assistance in leading clinics at no additional cost.

New rules for consumers

On 19 December, an important change will come into force that will simplify online shopping: websites will be required to display a ‘Cancel order’ button. Now it will be possible to cancel a subscription, service or automatic renewal quickly and without having to search for hidden sections.

New rules on transparency of electricity and gas prices are also being introduced. German energy companies will be required to display their cost structure more clearly and simplify the process of changing suppliers.

Tax returns: last chance for 2021

Germany is leaving four years for voluntary tax returns, so 31 December 2025 is the last day to submit your Steuererklärung for 2021.

For many Ukrainians, this is a real chance to get back a lot of money — on average, we're talking about more than €1,000. This is especially true for those who worked in Germany for less than a year or had extra expenses that can be deducted.

Pensions: new rules for calculation and mandatory bank details

From 1 December, the procedure for calculating pension supplements will change. These payments will now be included in the basis for health insurance contributions, which may reduce the total pension amount for some categories, including widows and widowers.

Another important innovation is the complete abandonment of cash payments. All pensioners are required to provide their bank account details, otherwise payments will be suspended. The change is aimed at improving security and speeding up payments.

Reminder! The federal states of Germany continue to provide shelter and assistance to Ukrainian refugees. However, due to the large number of migrants, the list of camps in Germany that accept Ukrainian migrants is constantly being updated. Find out the latest information about ‘camps for displaced persons’ in Germany that will accept Ukrainians in December 2025.

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