Updates & Changelog

Wave 4 – the final reference layer rollout: the Cross-Track has been populated with 9 overarching paragraphs and 14 verified figures. The initial reference layer architecture for bay.in is now complete.

New paragraphs: §5 (General Conditions), §9 (General Settlement Permit, most recently amended 30.01.2026), §9a (EU Long-Term Residence), §37 (Right of Return), §51 (Expiration of Residence Title), §§53–55 (Expulsion / Interest Balancing), §10 StAG (Standard Naturalization, reverse reform 30.10.2025), §9 StAG (Naturalization for spouses of Germans), §12 StAG (Multi-Nationality).

Key figures:

• General Settlement Permit: 5 years waiting time, B1, 60 months pension contributions, study periods only 50% creditable
• §9 Abs. 3a: spouses of §18c holders – Settlement Permit after just 3 years with at least 20 hours/week employment
• §51 expiration: standard after 6 months abroad, Blue Card and family titles after 12 months, certificate protection from 15+ years residence
• Standard naturalization: 5 years + B1 (reverse reform from 30.10.2025)
• Spouse naturalization: 3 years residence + 2 years marriage
• Multi-nationality generally permitted since 27.06.2024 – particularly valuable for Indian nationals (OCI card as follow-up solution)

Historical item: The 3-year naturalization fast-track (§10 Abs. 3 StAG former version with C1) is documented as a 'Historical' item – important for users who still find outdated information online.

Track extensions: Cross-cutting norms §5, §9, §51 and naturalization are assigned to all four tracks – they appear in every track view.

The reference layer is now initially complete: 37 legal references, 61 key figures (including 1 Historical, 1 Sunset, and 1 Preliminary for minimum wage 2027). 4 update log entries document the migration.

Sources: BMI, BMAS, BAMF, gesetze-im-internet.de, asyl.net, anwalt.org, Make-it-in-Germany.

Wave 3 of the reference layer rollout: the Family track has been populated with 9 new paragraphs and 13 verified figures.

New paragraphs: §27 (General provisions, most recently amended 02.04.2026), §28 (Reunification with German citizens), §29 (Reunification with foreigners), §30 (Spouse reunification), §31 (Independent residence rights including Blue Card special rule under Abs. 1a), §32 (Child reunification, most recently amended 03.02.2026), §33 (Birth in Germany), §36 (Parent reunification including new skilled worker privilege Abs. 3 since 01.03.2024), §36a (Subsidiary protection beneficiaries).

Key figures:

• Spouse reunification language requirement: A1 (with exceptions for Blue Card)
• Minimum age for both spouses: 18 years
• Independent residence right: 3 years of marital cohabitation (or Blue Card special rule 21/27 months)
• Child reunification: under 16 without language requirement, 16+ with language requirement; entitlement only for minor unmarried children
• Settlement Permit for spouses of Germans: 3 years
• §36 Abs. 3 parent reunification for skilled workers: cutoff date 01.03.2024, limited until 31.12.2028 (sunset item added as 'Preliminary')
• §36a monthly quota: max 1,000 persons/month

Track extensions: Visa fees (adults €75, minors €37.50), residence permit first-application fee (max €100) and travel health insurance minimum coverage (€30,000) from Wave 1 have been extended with Family track relevance.

Sources: gesetze-im-internet.de, Federal Foreign Office, Federal Constitutional Court case law, Make-it-in-Germany.

Wave 2 of the reference layer rollout: the Work track has been populated with 11 new paragraphs and 18 verified 2026 figures.

New paragraphs: §18, §18a, §18b (most recently amended 03.02.2026), §18c, §18g (EU Blue Card), §16d (Recognition Partnership), §20a (Opportunity Card, most recently amended 24.12.2025), §20b, §21 (Self-Employment), §81a (Fast-Track Procedure), §39 (Federal Employment Agency Approval).

Key 2026 figures:

• Minimum wage: €13.90/hour from 01.01.2026 (Source: BMAS)
• Minimum wage 2027: €14.60/hour already enacted, listed as 'Preliminary'
• EU Blue Card regular profession: €50,700/year (€4,225/month)
• EU Blue Card shortage occupation: €45,934.20/year (€3,827.85/month)
• Skilled worker 45+ years: €55,770/year
• Pension Insurance Contribution Ceiling: €101,400/year
• Mini-job threshold: €603/month
• Opportunity Card: minimum 6 points, 12 months search / 24 months follow-up
• §81a fee: €411
• Settlement Permit Blue Card with B1: 21 months

Track extensions: §20, §81 and §19c (Au-Pair) from Wave 1 have been extended with Work and Cross-Track relevance.

Sources: BMAS, Federal Foreign Office, Make-it-in-Germany, gesetze-im-internet.de, Destatis, Federal Government.

With the Premium CMS upgrade, the reference layer of bay.in has been introduced. Four new CMS collections now form the single source of truth for all recurring values and legal foundations used across the platform:

• Tracks – central management of the three main pathways (Study/Work/Family) and cross-track content
• Legal References – all relevant paragraphs with sources, status, and review timestamps
• Key Figures – all numerical values (fees, thresholds, deadlines) with sources and validity periods
• Update Log – this public changelog

For the Study track, 8 paragraphs and 16 values have been seeded with verified sources (Federal Foreign Office, BAMF, vdek, gesetze-im-internet.de, APS India). The goal: dramatically improve maintainability, eliminate duplicate content, and enable centralized updates whenever German immigration law changes.