April 2026: 8 changes affecting expats in Germany

The month of sunshine and showers is here. In 2026, it’s bringing fuel price regulations and travel restrictions. Children will get chocolate, but no more laughing gas.

1. Fuel price rules take effect

From April 1, the German government will introduce new rules for fuel pricing. Fuel stations in the country will be permitted to raise fuel prices only once per day, but may reduce prices an unlimited number of times.

The policy is designed to mitigate soaring costs caused by US-Israeli attacks on Iran. The attacks have driven up prices because traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping pathway for one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, has been disrupted since February 28.

2. Pay rises for public sector workers

Starting April 1, 925.000 public sector employees will receive pay rises of at least 2,8 percent or 100 euros. The new terms will apply to public sector workers covered by collective bargaining agreements in all 16 German federal states, except Hesse.

The pay rise comes after negotiations between ver.di and public authorities, and nationwide public sector strikes in mid-February. 

3. Easter holidays are here!

Finally, some holidays again! Good Friday (Karfreitag) on April 3 and Easter Monday (Ostermontag) on April 6 mean that many people can look forward to a four-day weekend.

Remember, the Easter holidays mean supermarkets in Germany will be closed this Friday, Sunday and Monday! So if you want to fully relax, it's best to stock up on your chocolate and asparagus by Thursday.

School holidays vary from state to state, so check our school holiday calendar to make sure when the kids need to come down from their sugar frenzy and be back in the classroom.

4. Free cancer screening for smokers

From April 1, heavy smokers in Germany aged between 50 and 75 and covered by statutory health insurance will be eligible for a free, annual lung cancer screening. 

The programme considers someone a heavy smoker if they have been smoking for at least 25 years with no prolonged break and have smoked for at least 15 “pack years”. 

A “pack year” is calculated by multiplying the number of cigarette packs smoked each day by the number of years spent smoking.

5. ETA for UK will cost more from April 8

The cost of an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travel to the UK will increase from 16 pounds (18,45 euros) to 20 pounds (23 euros) from April 8, 2026. All EU and non-EU nationals are required to purchase an ETA for travel to the UK unless they are travelling on a UK or Irish passport. 

There is some confusion about what this means for dual nationals. Check our article What are the new rules for British dual nationals travelling to the UK? for an overview, and the UK House of Commons Library website for the most up-to-date advice.

6. EU’s new EES system to take full effect

That’s not all in travel news. From April 12, the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) will take full effect. The EES launched on October 12, 2025. Three months later, it was applied at half of the border crossings in each EU country. From April 12, it will apply at all border crossings.

Under the EES, on their first visit to any EU country, non-EU citizens will be required to log their passport details and biometric data in a dedicated booth before proceeding to passport control. You can find out more about what it means for travellers in our article What are the new entry and exit rules for the EU?

7. No more nitrous oxide for children

From April 12, minors in Germany will no longer be able to purchase or process nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas.

When inhaled, nitrous oxide can cause feelings of euphoria and hallucinations, but it is associated with health risks for both children and adults.

8. USB-C charging ports mandatory on laptops

From April 28, all new laptops produced and sold in the EU must have a USB-C charging port. The bloc-wide policy was also introduced for mobile phones in 2024 and intends to reduce waste by allowing consumers to use the same charger for multiple devices.