Travel expenses

The Bundestag meets the cost of Members’ official travel, just like employers who send their staff on business trips. Journeys undertaken in the exercise of a Member’s mandate, on the other hand, such as travel within his or her constituency, are paid for out of the Member’s expense allowance. Journeys made in trains operated by Deutsche Bahn are an exception. For these journeys, the Bundestag provides Members with a travel pass, which they may use for rail travel connected with the fulfilment of their mandate but not for private trips. If a Member travelling within Germany in the exercise of his or her mandate uses an aircraft, a sleeping car or any form of rail transport other than local public passenger services, such costs are reimbursed on a case-by-case basis on presentation of receipts.