Bundesligen, Süd and Nord became the second tier of German Football and the Regionalligen ceased existing for the next 20 years.

In October 2010, yet another reform of the Regionalligen was decided upon, with the number of leagues expanding to five and beginning play in the 2012–13 season.

[3] The five league champions and the runners-up of the Regionalliga Südwest play-off for the three promotion spots in a home-and-away series.

In regards to reserve teams, initially only seven were permitted per league, however, this rule may be subject to change under certain circumstances.

These were caused by a lack of media interest in the leagues combined with large expenses and infrastructure demands.

The five Regionalligen from 2012 are:[4] Some regional football associations also made changes to the league system below the Regionalliga in their area.

From the 2012–13 season, the Bavarian Football Association split the Bayernliga into a northern and a southern division, and increased the number of Landesligen from three to five.

[5] At the end of March 2023, the Western German Football Association (WDFV) confirmed the Regionalliga West's status as a professional league for the first time with regard to the 2023–24 season's licensing procedure.

North Rhine-Westphalia had already classified the league as such in the 2020–21 season to enable the "numerous professional footballers" to continue practicing their profession.

[6] At the 96th DFB-Bundestag in December 2017, delegates decided to change the promotion rules and, without success, reduce the number of leagues to four.

The remaining two regional league champions of the 2018–19 season faced off in a two-legged playoff determining the fourth promotion place.

[7] At the 97th DFB-Bundestag in 2019, a working group under DFB vice-president Peter Frymuth unsuccessfully proposed a system involving four rather than five regional leagues.

Another direct promotion place is assigned according to a rotation principle among the Regionalligen Nord, Nordost and Bayern champions.

A short playoff circle omg the three winners of each division at the end of the season (played as home and away games) determines the team to move up to the Erste Liga (second tier).

This license is granted if the club can prove that they are financially sound, that their stadium conforms to the security regulations, and that they have a working youth section.