Moving to Germany is appealing to a lot of people. It’s Europe’s leading economic power and the 4th largest economy in the world. This grants a flourishing economy and an interesting job market for many profiles.
Also, the country offers a high quality of life, comfortable cities, a great variety of leisure activities, soft travel opportunities, and natural spaces. With all these advantages, many people ask themselves: “how can I move to Germany?”.
If you are one of them, you will find useful information here.
How Can I Move to Germany?
The European agreements contribute to simplifying considerably the process of moving to Germany. Entering and moving within the country does not require any particular steps, except for having a valid identity document.
On the other hand, to expatriate in Germany, you must still respect an obligation: registration, or Anmeldung. It is done at the town hall of your residence district within 15 days of settling.
This document allows you to obtain a tax number (Steueridentifikations-Nr). It is mandatory to work and for many other procedures, such as the subscription of telephone or energy contracts.
This registration must be repeated each time you change your place of residence. And it is mandatory to “unregister” at the end of your expatriation in Germany. This will provide you with a certificate allowing you to cancel all your German contracts.
Consular registration, although not mandatory, is highly recommended if you move to Germany. It will facilitate certain administrative procedures. For example, the registration of civil status documents or the renewal of official documents.
Is Moving to Berlin (Germany) A Must for Any Expat?
Berlin enjoys a very good reputation among foreigners. It’s young, dynamic, and cosmopolitan. It combines a pleasant living environment, historical heritage, and diversified leisure activities. As well as many professional opportunities.
Around 44.000 foreigners are living in this city. However, moving to Berlin (Germany) is not always the best choice for all expats.
The country is very decentralized. And many other large cities offer equally interesting opportunities. No matter if you are a young single person or a family with children.
To make your choice, you must take into account the job market, which differs greatly from one city to another. If you work in new technology, it is better to choose:
- Bonn
- Munich
- Hamburg.
Frankfurt, as Europe’s third-largest business city, is the best choice for employees in finance. And if you work in industry, you would rather choose:
- Stuttgart
- Cologne
- Munich.
If the cost of living is an important factor for you, note that the most expensive cities in the country are:
- Düsseldorf
- Frankfurt
- Munich.
On the other hand, the least expensive cities are:
- Bochum
- Leipzig
- Kiel.
Choosing Berlin for your expatriation in Germany is therefore primarily a matter of personal choice and is not an obligation. Plus, it is important to take into account that the city is a victim of its success: the competition for housing and jobs is fierce.
Important Things to Know Before Moving to Germany
Moving to Germany is not very difficult. But you still need to take some precautions before leaving.
The first is to be able to speak at least a little German. English may seem sufficient to work in a large international company and to settle in a big city with a lot of expats.
But not mastering the basics of the local language will quickly become an obstacle to integration.
It is possible to take intensive courses in any city, but the best solution is to start learning before leaving. Speaking German will be a crucial asset for:
- Dealing with administrative procedures
- Finding a job
- Facilitate daily life
- Integrate with your neighbors and colleagues.
One of the most important things to know before moving to Germany is that you will need health insurance. It is mandatory for all residents in the country, whether they are employees, students, or self-employed.
The German system is quite complex. It’s divided between the private and public sectors, and the level of coverage offered by compulsory insurance is insufficient. It has high out-of-pocket expenses and co-payments. In particular for dental care.
Besides this, supplementary insurances are expensive in the local market. So, the most popular option among the expats is to take out international private insurance. It will allow you to benefit from:
- More interesting reimbursements
- Management of the procedures in English
- International protection.
Just take in mind that having private health insurance doesn’t exempt you from being a member of the compulsory insurance scheme.
To find out which type of policy is better for your needs, you can use an online insurance comparator.
