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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]
2 clusters · 5 sources · 2 days · First seen · Last updated
Categories: POLITICS
Germany public office appointment systems
Entities: Erfurt · Erfurt Ausländerbehörde · ELSTER · City of Erfurt · Bavaria
Overview
In July 2026 the Regensburg Tax Office began requiring taxpayers to schedule in‑person consultations through an online appointment system, extending a Bavarian‑wide rollout that started in 2024 and was praised for cutting waiting times. The office kept regular opening hours and retained walk‑in slots on Thursdays, while also urging use of the ELSTER electronic portal.
A day later, the Erfurt Foreigners Office announced it would continue assigning appointments manually via e‑mail, citing past problems with an online system, staff shortages and budget limits. The city said a broader digitalisation programme is nearing completion, but an online booking portal is not expected soon. This contrast highlights uneven adoption of digital appointment tools across German municipalities.
Timeline
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2 days ago
[POLITICS] 2 sourcesErfurt Foreigners Office Keeps Manual Appointment SchedulingErfurt's foreigner office retains manual e‑mail appointment scheduling, citing past misuse and staff shortages, while promising broader digital services but no online booking yet.
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3 days ago
[POLITICS] 3 sourcesRegensburg Tax Office Implements Mandatory Appointment SystemFrom 1 Sept 2026, Regensburg Tax Office requires pre‑booked appointments online or by phone, aiming to cut wait times; Thursday walk‑ins remain, and ELSTER use is promoted.
Sources
altenthann.de · bach-donau.de · iww.de · m.thueringer-allgemeine.de · tlz.de