Abstract Researchers in Germany have nowadays access to confidential micro data compiled from offi-cial statistics in a way that could not have been dreamt of just a few years ago. This paper describes the new institutions that grant data access - most importantly the research data cen-ters located inside the data producing agencies – and how to access the micro data, and presents information about selected recently released data sets with a high potential for scienti-fic research and policy evaluation. Furthermore, we contrast the German situation with the Danish way of handling research access to confidential micro data. Finally, we take a look at ongoing projects that will further improve data access in Germany. Anmerkungen Fur hilfreiche Hinweise danken wir Stefan Bender, Bernhard Bookmann, Michael Fritsch, Katrin Hussinger, Johann Moritz Kuhn, Timm Korting, Anja Munch, Ramona Pohl, Nadine Riedel, Martin Rosemann, Andreas Stephan, Sylvia Zuhlke, Markus Zwick und Thomas Zwick. Die Beschreibung der danischen Daten hat von aktueller und fruherer Zusammenarbeit mit Helle Mansson und Rasmus Jorgensen profitiert. Alle verbleibenden Fehler in diesem Aufsatz ver-antworten wir ganz allein.