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MOVING TO GERMANY:
A COFFEE BREAK GUIDE
Author: James Meads
© 2019 James Meads Media & Consulting Ltd.
No part of this publication may be distributed, copied,
published or reprinted without the author’s explicit,
written consent.
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Why Germany?
Visas
Getting a Visa
EU Blue Card
Standard Residence Permit (German:
Aufenthaltserlaubnis)
Freelancer / Self Employment Visa
The Job Seeker Visa
Who does this visa benefit?
Who does this visa not benefit?
Jobs, Income and Costs:
Can I do this?
Cost of Living
Applying for Jobs in Germany
English Speaking Jobs
Work Environment
Finding An Apartment
Where To Live
Types of Accommodation
What to Expect from German Accommodation
German Bureaucracy: Your First 100 Days
Anmeldung (Registration)
Beware of Church Tax!
Health Insurance
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Bank Accounts
Germany's Most Hated “Tax”
Buying a German SIM card
Personal Liability Insurance
Registering with a Doctor
Driving Licenses
Learning German
Settling In
Making Friends
Grocery Shopping
Cultural Differences
Rules and Order
Directness
German “Angst” and Risk Aversion
Birthdays
Dating
Punctuality
Myths & Misconceptions
The trains all run on time
All German wine is sweet
Germans are humourless
The Hoff is hero-worshipped
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Why Germany?
Germany is a great place to live with plentiful
employment, a vibrant economy, safe cities, and the
great outdoors easily accessible from most major
metropolitan areas.
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United States, with very few no-go areas.
As Europe’s largest economy, virtually every international
company has a presence in Germany, many eager to
recruit native English speakers into internationally facing
roles or hire international talent to fill skills shortages in
key occupations.
All in all, this is a great time to consider a move to
Germany.
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Visas
Let's jump straight in to the first and most essential
consideration before you plan a move to Germany:
Getting a Visa
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Or:
EU Blue Card
The Blue Card is a pan-European scheme which offers a
fast track for those who meet the criteria. In Germany
visa requirements for the EU Blue Card are as follows:
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This is relaxed to a minimum of €41,808 (in 2019) for
professions where there are recognised worker
shortages, such as IT professionals, scientists,
mathematicians, engineers and healthcare professionals.
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To be offered employment you will almost certainly be
required to have a good working knowledge of the
German language. That said, certain specific jobs are
difficult to hire Germans into, due to the nature of what
the position entails or a shortage of available qualified
workers.
Other professions may require your potential employer to
submit proof that they have made reasonable efforts to
hire an EU citizen into the position before you will get
your residence permit. Be aware that this can take 3-4
months in some cases and during this time, you’re not
legally permitted to work.
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Freelancer / Self Employment Visa
Perhaps you’re not so keen on finding a job in the regular
German economy, looking instead to freelance or run a
small business.
● Business plan
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● Proof of income already gained in this capacity
● Client references
● Portfolio of work
● Evidence of prior experience
● Proof of funds to independently support yourself
Please note that this is the minimum required when
applying for a freelance / self-employment residence
permit. There is no uniform requirement across all cities /
regions in Germany or diplomatic missions abroad.
The Job Seeker Visa
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Who does this visa benefit?
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different consulates across the world.
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Jobs, Income and Costs: Can I do
this?
Cost of Living
An important consideration when planning a move is
whether or not it's financially viable. Here at Live Work
Germany, one question we're asked all the time is “what
does it cost to live in Germany?”. While it's hard to give a
definitive answer in an area with so many variables,
there are a few rules of thumb to help you assess the
potential cost.
First, let's look at housing. Most people in Germany live
in apartments. Demand on accommodation in the most
popular cities is high, and as such so are the prices.
However, these high costs are usually reflected in a good
quality of accommodation.
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Utility costs are relatively high. Expect to spend about
€2.50 per square metre in addition to your basic rent on
hot water, heating, municipal charges and management
costs. These are paid to your landlord together with your
rent and you will receive an annual credit / debit
statement based on your usage.
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scene, following a long dispute with the taxi lobby.
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Surviving on less is possible but will likely mean renting a
studio apartment or sharing, especially if you want to
afford a few luxuries.
There are some major differences between applying for
jobs in Germany, and doing so in other countries. These
are important to bear in mind, so you don't miss out on a
dream opportunity just because you made a cultural faux
pas, or didn't do the things “the German way”.
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rules. Complaining about it is a zero-return investment.
Though they may be keen to see your face, German
employers tend not to care about your private life and
hobbies. The “About me” section in German job
applications is only really asking about activities that
might demonstrate professional skills, like charity work
or sports club membership. You won't impress anyone
by listing travel and socialising here.
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from school certificates to any minor awards or courses
you attended years ago.
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possible to find E
nglish speaking jobs in Germany!
You will have to put in a lot of extra effort to find them,
especially if you’re a non-EU citizen and are not a native
English speaker. You’ll need a clear and focused strategy.
That said, there are plenty of ways you can optimize your
chances of success.
It's important to be realistic here. If you work in a field
that's heavy on communication, then you're going to
need some German language skills to perform your job
role.
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speakers better.
Work Environment
German work culture tends to be quite formal. This
depends, however, to a large extent on the company and
industry.
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For example, tech start-ups tend to be more resemblant
of their counterparts in Silicon Valley rather than
traditional German companies.
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Finding An Apartment
Where To Live
Germany is a diverse country with many regional
differences. One of the first things you'll need to work
out is where exactly in Germany you want to live. If
you're moving for work reasons (including starting a
business), then you will need to be somewhere fairly well
connected.
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bush.
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decision for you, where you choose to live really depends
on what you want to get out of your Germany
experience:
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Types of Accommodation
Once you've got a location in mind, you'll need to
understand the different types of accommodation
available in Germany.
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Also, with a standard German apartment, be sure to
have a professional such as your local tenants’
association (Mieterschützverein), or at least someone
who understands basic rental contract law, look through
your contract.
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afford to rent their own place, so sharers are more often
students or those living an alternative lifestyle, rather
than ambitious, young working professionals. Sharing
does, however, represent a great value option.
For sharers, the best places to look are WG Gesucht or
WG Suche (also in English), as well as the many
Facebook Groups in different cities.
Germans love their rules and regulations, so be sure to
check for any obscure or unreasonable expectations
before you move into your new place. Ask for a copy of
the rules governing the block or housing unit
(Hausordnung in German) before you sign anything, just
to make sure these rules aren't too draconian.
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pull your weight before agreeing to a house-share.
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German Bureaucracy: Your First 100
Days
Germany may be famed for efficiency, but when it comes
to bureaucracy, this couldn't be further from the truth!
With that in mind, let's tackle the basics of the dreaded
bureaucracy, and arm you as best we can against this
monumental pile of administrative hassle…
The list below is in rough chronological order (first to
last) of when you need to tackle it.
Anmeldung (Registration)
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Anmeldung should be the very first thing you should do
upon moving into your new place. It's a legal requirement
to register your address within 14 days of moving into
your new accommodation. This is done at your local
Bürgerbüro / Bürgeramt - rough translation: residents’
office. In Bavaria, this is known as the
Kreisverwaltungsrat or K
WR f or short.
Registering is fairly simple if you're an EU citizen, and
shouldn't take much over half an hour. If you're not, you'll
have to visit the Ausländerbehörde (administrative office
for foreigners) in your place of residence as well. They
are also the office that deals with all things visa and
residence permit related.
Either way, you'll need to have your passport and proof
of your new address with you.
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Note that you still need to register, even if you're living
with a friend or family member who is already resident.
The same goes for if you’re subletting. You don’t need to
register, however, if you’re staying in tourist
accommodation short-term such as a hotel or Airbnb.
German Church Tax (Kirchensteuer) is almost as
controversial as the much-hated Rundfunkbeitrag that
we cover later in this section.
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of church tax. You do so during registration
(Anmeldung), where it is crucial that you do not declare
your religious denomination.
If you missed this step at registration, you can still opt
out at a later date by rescinding your denomination. Be
warned though that this will require another trip to
whichever office you visited for your Anmeldung, and
will also require a fair amount of additional admin
legwork.
At the end of the process, you’ll receive an official piece
of paper declaring your exit from the
church (Kirchenaustritt). Be sure to keep hold of this as
proof.
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Health Insurance
Your payroll department at work won't be able to pay
you without details of your insurance scheme. This is
because your employer is obliged to pay contributions
towards your statutory healthcare costs. This one
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catches expats out all the time because it’s one of the
most complex topics to tackle. Nonetheless, it requires
action as one of the first things you must accomplish
upon securing a job.
If you're self employed, it's your choice whether to opt
out and take a private health insurance policy, or pay into
the public health system.
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requirements like dental care, cosmetic surgery or
physiotherapy. It may come at a price, but in general the
quality of healthcare in Germany is extremely high.
Bank Accounts
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N26, especially because their App interface is also in
English.
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number of publicly-funded bodies.
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are definitely highly recommended, even if that means
paying a little more.
For best value for money and ease of signing up, we
recommend winSIM which runs off the O2 network, or if
you require better network coverage nationwide then go
for Freenet, which runs off the Vodafone network.
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An example of why this insurance is important:
It's not a necessity to register with a German doctor, but
it is highly advisable, especially if you want the
reassurance of a medical professional who knows your
medical history.
If you go to see a specialist or are admitted to hospital,
the first question you will usually be asked is who is
your Hausarzt (General Practitioner, or GP).
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in advance, whereas others have a “walk-in” policy but
these can mean long waits in busy urban areas. Most GP
surgeries are open Monday to Friday but close for at
least one afternoon a week (usually Wednesdays).
You will need to present your health insurance card to
the receptionist. This is credit-card sized and contains a
chip with your details on it. If you're seeing the doctor for
the first time, you may have to fill out a questionnaire
detailing your medical history.
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Driving Licenses
Regardless of where you're from, the basic application
process to change your license to a German one is much
the same:
For non-EU citizens, your license is valid during the first
6 months of your residence in Germany, although some
countries may require an international driving permit as
well. After 6 months, to continue driving legally you’ll
need to visit your local driving license office, or
Führerscheinstelle, to get a German license.
Be advised that before you go, you'll need to have a quite
a few things ready to bring with you, some of which
might be surprising. Here's a list of the essentials:
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● Proof of how long you've had your current
license (if this isn't on the licence itself).
● Recent proof that you've had your vision tested.
● Proof that you've completed a first aid course.
● Confirmation of your registration as a resident of
Germany (Anmeldung).
● A base fee of EUR 40.
The exact details of the application process will differ,
depending on your country of origin.
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Learning German
Now we've navigated the gauntlet of German
bureaucracy, it's time for the final hurdle: Learning
German.
To step up a notch and go for personal 1-on-1 tuition,
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the tutoring marketplace i talki is a fantastic place to start.
Both of the above are cheaper and, in my opinion, much
more effective than classes at your local adult education
centre (Volkshochschule in German). These typically cost
around €100 - €150 per semester.
Germans tend to be pretty forgiving when it comes to
grammar because they know it’s tough, especially for
native English speakers! However, they are less tolerant
of mistakes in pronunciation.
The other biggie here is that Germans tend to be quite
rigid when using Du and Sie, the familiar and polite
forms of “you”. Figuring this out can take some time. Play
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it safe at the start and use “Sie”. Better to sound stiff
than come across as rude.
Settling In
Once you've dealt with the basics and are settling in to
life in Germany, there are a number of other things you'll
find coming up. In this section we'll tackle concerns that
aren't exactly pressing upon arrival, but are still great tips
for your quality of life.
Making Friends
If you’ve just moved to Germany, making friends and
meeting people is no doubt going to be high on your
priority list. Here are some tips and services to help you
get a head start with your new German social life.
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free, but to access most of their website requires
premium membership at €6.95 per month. If you’re not a
premium member, you pay a one-time fee each time you
wish to attend an organised event. These events are
usually professionally organised, popular and well
attended.
A good tip to find expat or international groups is to
search for “new in”, “expats in” or “international” plus the
name of the city. Then click on the category “groups” to
narrow down the search. For all major German cities you
will find something!
Sports clubs are a good idea for meeting locals, as are
volunteer associations and charitable organisations.
Doing something physical that transcends the language
barrier is a great way to meet friends before you perfect
your German.
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Another option, that could kill two birds with one stone,
is to consider a language learning tandem partner. You'll
both help each other learn a new language, and you'll be
making a potential German friend at the same time. You
can find a language partner through matching websites
such as Tandem Partner. Or, if you prefer a more social
setting while improving your German skills, language
exchanges can often be found on M
eetUp.com.
Grocery Shopping
A huge plus of living in Germany is that grocery
shopping will almost definitely be cheaper than in your
homeland.
Do you really need 10 different types of ketchup or 5
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varieties of peanut butter?
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sprouts and curry powder, for example.
Cultural Differences
Rules and Order
German society is built on a respect for rules and order.
On the positive side, this manifests as a sense of civic
pride, spotless market squares and virtually no litter on
the streets. It also results in fewer instances of anti-social
behavior. You’ll definitely see far fewer disobedient
children (and dogs!) in Germany.
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something wrong or if you’re breaking a specific rule e.g.
walking in a cycle lane, crossing the street on red.
There's much truth in the saying “there's a policeman
hiding inside every German”.
Directness
People who don’t know you are happy to speak their
mind and point out your faults. The brutal matter-of-fact
honesty is a breath of fresh air in many ways. It certainly
makes it easier to determine whether a German likes you
or not! To newcomers, however, this can be hard to not
take personally!
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Angst is a German word we have borrowed in English (it
translates as “fear”) and tends to manifest itself in a
glass half-empty attitude or a negative spin on events.
Linked to the concept of failure is the whole different
attitude Germans have towards debt. The German word
for debt - Schuld - translates literally as “fault”. Debt is a
dirty word here and is seen as precarious and risky.
Birthdays
Isn’t the whole point of birthdays that people treat you?
Not in Germany. It’s the norm here for the person
celebrating their birthday to buy a round of drinks for
everyone on a night out or at a meal. It’s also considered
bad luck and a cultural faux-pas to celebrate a birthday
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before their actual day.
Dating
Dating in Germany can take a while to get used to. Apps
and websites for dating are very popular here, although
you’ll need to know some basic German to complete a
profile in most cases.
“Going Dutch” and splitting the bill is usually the norm,
although on the first date it’s reasonable for the man to
offer to pay. Germans are generally less spontaneous
and a date will usually be planned, rather than a
spontaneous “hey, let’s meet for coffee tomorrow”.
Punctuality
Germans are known for being organised, methodical and
rigorous in their planning. This extends to a high value
being placed on punctuality.
At work, it’s normal for German colleagues to arrive 5-10
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minutes early for meetings.
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Myths & Misconceptions
Before signing off, I thought we should have a bit of fun
and look at some of the most popular myths and
misconceptions held about Germany and the Germans. I
hope you enjoy these and that this guide has helped you
with your relocation to Germany.
“It must be nice to live somewhere where the trains
actually run on time". It's a comment I frequently hear
from friends back in the UK. “I don’t live in Japan” is
usually my answer.
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All German wine is sweet
I can see where this one comes from. Work culture here
is more formal, and jokes and banter are not an integral
part of an office working environment like they are in the
UK.
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The Hoff is hero-worshipped
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HIRING MANAGERS & HR PROFESSIONALS:
If you’d like to use this guide together with our virtual
relocation services for your expat employees as part of
their onboarding process, please contact James at
info@liveworkgermany.com. I would be delighted to
discuss how we could assist you further.
Disclosure:
Some links contained in this publication are affiliate links to our
partners. This means we earn a modest commission through sales
made. This helps to keep this guide free and without any banner
ads.
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