The Ultimate Checklist For Moving To Germany

The Ultimate Checklist For Moving To Germany
Patrick Ott
Patrick Ott
Expert for insurance and finance
15. June 2022

A good amount of organization and planning are involved when moving to another country, especially to Germany. That's why, we compiled this, easy-to-follow, ultimate checklist for moving to Germany to ease your transition and integration there as fast as possible.

For many international workers, Germany has become an appealing destination to work. Germany's tech industry is booming, and if you have the skills to fill one of the many open positions, you might want to consider moving there. Fortunately, relocation is becoming routine, and Germany, mainly, is well-known for welcoming foreigners.

The legal criteria for residing in Germany may vary depending on your nationality, the reason for your income, and more. It is pretty simple for EU residents and their family members to get legal residency in Germany. For non-EU citizens, though, things can get a lot more complicated.

The steps for relocating will be the same regardless of your job. Everything covered in this tutorial will apply irrespective of which company you choose to deal with.

Requesting a Work Permit and Visa

Applying for a work permit and a visa, which will allow you to enter Germany as a contributing and employed part of society, is perhaps the most significant step before relocating to Germany. Often, the company that hires you will offer help with this phase.

apply for visa germany
Applying for a German visa as an Expat.

A work visa is not required for every foreigner who wishes to work in Germany. Nationals of the EU, non-EU, and Switzerland, for example, have different requirements than nationals of other third nations. The following section reveals more details.

As an EU citizen working in Germany

You do not need a visa or a work permit to work in Germany if you are a European Union citizen. You have the freedom to travel and work. All you'll need is your identification or passport. There is also no need for a work permit. If you want to remain for an extended time, the only thing you need to do is register your stay.

Working as a non-EU citizen in Germany

In most cases, you'll apply for a work permit simultaneously as your travel visa. Typically, you will undertake this process from afar by visiting the nearest German Embassy or Consulate to apply in person. However, if you are from a few countries (such as the United States or Canada), you can submit your application from within Germany.

In Germany, there are various sorts of residence and work licenses. To apply for this type of permission, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Ability to integrate into German society
  • Have enough money to live comfortably
  • Have an employment contract
  • Have documentation demonstrating your professional expertise and experience.

You can also apply for an EU Blue Card.

What is the EU Blue Card?

The EU Blue Card is a certificate that proves a third-country national's legal residence in the EU for gainful employment. It allows foreigners with an academic or equivalent qualification to work in Germany as non-self-employed workers, provided they have better professional credentials.

what is the EU Blue Card
The EU Blue Card Network.

Credentials such as a university degree and a binding job offer with a higher income than the average in the EU nation where the job is located, making it easier to enter the German labor market.

In addition to being a non-EU citizen and a competent worker, it would be advantageous if you matched the following criteria:

  • Hold an internationally recognized German or foreign higher education qualification
  • In Germany, your gross wage must be greater than EUR 49,000.

The following is the procedure for applying in person at your local embassy:

  • To apply in person, come to the office.
  • Bring one copy of your passport and a valid passport.
  • Provide numerous photos.
  • Pay all fees that are due.
  • Supporting documents include a certificate of good behavior, degrees, references, and your employment contract.

Your nation of origin will influence what you need to supply and how long you'll have to wait.

Recognition and translation of all diplomas

Every country has its educational standards, and not all certificates acquired in your native country will be automatically recognized in Germany.

Certain professions, such as doctors and lawyers, demand the recognition of credentials earned. This is also true if you want to apply for an EU Blue Card.

To begin with, determine whether the university where you studied is recognized in Germany. It must be classified as H+ on Cabin. If the university where you studied does not appear on the list or is rated H-, you can submit a request for re-recognition to ZAB, the German authority in charge of this process. Please remember that it will be at your own expense.

For non-qualified, non-EU citizens: Consider a German Apprenticeship

It isn't easy to go to Germany without a university degree if you are a non-EU citizen.

You can apply if you have at least five years of professional experience. You can apply for the EU Blue Card (equivalent to a German higher education qualification).

You can try to obtain a degree from one of Germany's recognized universities and then apply for an EU Blue Card.

German apprenticeship
A German apprenticeship usually lasts between three and four years.

If all goes well, you'll be eligible to apply for a specialist professional residency permit.

You can quickly move to Germany without a university degree if you are a legal citizen of an EU member state and do not require a work permit.

Search for a rent

Once you've finished making all the essential preparations, the next item on your to-do list is to find housing near your new workplace.

When looking for a rental flat in Germany, you usually don't have to pay estate agent fees because they are the person's responsibility.

Due to increasing demand and rising costs, finding a flat in Germany's cities is difficult. However, the most pressing issue for you as a foreigner relocating to Germany is the issue of paperwork!

To formally rent an apartment, you must have a bank account, but to get one, you must first prove your registration (your actual address in Germany). This is an important consideration to make before moving to Germany.

Hiring an agent to help you discover a house might ease the burden of searching for a home on your own, but it comes at a cost.

Your workplace is likely to offer you some assistance with this aspect of the transition. While looking for a long-term housing option, some firms provide temporary accommodation.

Register your address

After moving to Germany, one of the most important things, you should register your address with your local authority (Bürgeramt or Einwohnermeldeamt). Within the first two weeks of settling in, you must bring your identification document and rental contract and register your address.

Anmeldebescheinigung or Registration Certificate in Germany
Anmeldebescheinigung (or Registration Certificate) is a crucial document.

This is something that the Germans take very seriously. Anmeldebescheinigung (Registration Certificate) is a crucial document. It is required for practically all formal transactions, such as opening a bank account, obtaining a residence permit, and looking for work.

Depending on your local authorities, you may have to wait a long time to register your address. you may have to wait three hours at most. The Berlin office was constantly crowded.

Move your belongings

Knowing how you'll carry your stuff to your new house in Germany is critical if you're preparing to relocate there. Because this may be a complex procedure, many expats hire relocation consultants to assist them. There are a variety of solutions accessible, ranging from full-service relocation brokers to digital logistics platforms, allowing you to assess the international shipping market quickly.

Relocation professionals can assist you with every aspect of your relocation to Germany, from packing your stuff to locating the ideal new residence. On the other hand, some expats opt to use a worldwide logistics business to transport their things to Germany.

Getting a German driving license

You may be considering getting a driver's license once you've moved into your new house. Some parts of your citizenship will be restricted as an expat; however, you can apply for a driver's license.

German driving license
If you are from a non-EU country, you will have to start from the beginning with the driving license.

Are you from the United States or Europe? You've hit the jackpot. This implies that if you bring your US driver's license and a few additional documents to a local office in Germany, you will be issued a German driver's license without testing.

You will now have "partial reciprocity" in Germany if you arrive from another ten states (plus Washington, DC). This means you'll only need to pass the German written exam to earn your driver's license, Keep in mind, though, that it is much more. challenging than the regular US written exam.

If you are from a non-EU country, you will have to start from the beginning. After six months, you'll have to attend a German traffic school, which might cost €1,500 (or more) and require 20 to 40 hours of instruction. With that in mind, public transit may be sounding increasingly appealing!

Solving with public transport

Public transportation in Germany is at the moment not free; therefore, if you do not have a driver's license and solely wish to travel by public transit, you will need to subscribe to one of the public transport services.

In some cities, this will not be necessary (or recommended), as public transportation may be the most efficient mode of mobility. Germany has incredibly efficient public transit systems that operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in almost every part of the city where you will be staying.

However, the government is exploring making it so as a means of combating air pollution. However, it is substantially subsidized, and the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses in large cities are pretty inexpensive compared to London, Paris, and Zurich.

The public transportation systems in most German cities and municipalities are well-functioning. Larger cities like Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich, are typically operated by a transportation association that combines several modes of public transit into a single network.

Open a German bank account

One of the first things that you need to do when moving to Germany is to open a German bank account.

opening an account to a bank in Germany
Card payments are widely accepted in Germany.

Most businesses, restaurants and shops are taking cards as a payment, but you’ll have to consider that cash was king in Germany not long ago, so you’ll have to have a Germany Bank account to withdraw money. A German bank account is also needed when registering your address at the town hall.

The Euro is used in Germany, as it is in many other European nations. However, unlike other European countries, the Germans frequently prefer to use the old-fashioned way - with cash!

So make sure you have a German credit or debit card and not to run out of cash in most circumstances.

Sign up to language and integration course

True, English will get you across Germany almost nearly without issues. However, learning German is required if you plan to remain in Germany for a lengthy time. Even though many Germans understand English, you will need to utilize German in many official situations, such as interacting with the government, banks, and insurance companies.

My advice is to learn as much German as possible before traveling to Germany and continue learning it.

Once you are in Germany, you can enroll in German classes and take advantage of any possibilities to converse in German. Unfortunately, many individuals find German to be a complex language to learn.

You should begin studying German as soon as possible, even if you have not yet moved to Germany. You can, for example, use an app like Duolingo or Babel to strengthen your German skills.

Resolve with insurances

When migrating to a new nation, one of the essential issues is insurance. When it comes to insurance in Germany, you'll need to consider what sorts of coverage you'll need and search around for the lowest prices.

Resolve with insurances
Having health insurance is a requirement for residing in Germany.

Germans are known for taking insurance very seriously. There are several sorts of insurance available. to cover almost any risk you can think of. As a result, determining how much insurance to purchase might be challenging for newcomers to the nation.

Shopping around for German insurance is essential. You'll discover the best option for your specific circumstance in that scenario. There are several insurance companies to pick from, each with its own set of benefits.

In Germany, some necessary insurances are:

  • Health insurance
  • Third party liability insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Car insurance
  • House insurance

Having health insurance is a requirement for residing in Germany, including the visa application procedure whether you're on a Working Holiday Visa, a Freelance Visa, or a Working Visa.

Important facts to know about the German health system before coming here

Germany is well-known for its excellent health system and a high percentage of insured citizens. In reality, all German citizens, even self-employed persons, and students, are required by law to carry health insurance, and you cannot obtain a residence card without it. If you're moving to Germany, it's one of the first things you should check into.

There are two types of health insurance systems: public and private. The first is public health insurance, which covers most of Germany's covered citizens if you're an employee with a low gross income. In contrast, Private health insurance, on the other hand, is only available as a primary kind of insurance if your gross income is higher.

Private insurance is frequently more costly than public insurance, and it does not cover your entire family. Your plan's cost is determined by your risk profile rather than your income. Older individuals, for example, tend to pay more prices than younger people.

Lastly, you must obtain German health insurance to stay in Germany longer than three months. However, different criteria and restrictions apply to travel for tourists and expatriates in Germany, depending on the individual's purpose of visit, duration of stay, or citizenship nation.

Not many insurances in Germany are offering support or translations in English, and some workers (for example, freelancers) have even fewer alternatives for health insurance. That’s the part where our Cr&Cie team come into your help by making your movement to Germany as smooth as possible without too many hassles.

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