Reaz A.
Founder, ExpatNav · Marketing technologist
Reaz is the founder of ExpatNav and moved to Germany as a working student, going through the Anmeldung, visa, health-insurance and banking maze first-hand. He works in marketing technology and started ExpatNav to turn that hard-won, real-world experience into clear, practical guides for other internationals settling in Germany. Every guide is grounded in lived experience and checked against official German sources.
Experience: Lived expat experience in Germany (relocated as a working student and completed the full setup process personally), plus a professional background in marketing technology.
Areas of expertise
- Moving to Germany
- Anmeldung and city registration
- German visas and residence permits
- German health insurance (GKV and PKV)
- Banking and taxes for expats in Germany
- Renting and housing in Germany
Articles by Reaz A.(60)
Living with a Chronic Illness in Germany: Coverage and Care ({{YEAR}})
How German insurance covers ongoing conditions, the co-payment cap that protects you, disease-management programmes, and what to sort when you arrive with a condition.
Travel Health Insurance for Expats in Germany: When You Need It ({{YEAR}})
When your German insurance covers you abroad, when it does not, why the EHIC is not enough, and the cheap travel cover that fills the gaps for expats.
Switching Health Insurance in Germany: How and When ({{YEAR}})
How to switch between public health insurers in Germany, why the Zusatzbeitrag makes it worth it, the notice rules, and the easy process most people never bother with.
Specialist Wait Times in Germany: How to Get Seen Faster ({{YEAR}})
Why getting a specialist appointment in Germany can take weeks or months, the 116117 service that is meant to help, and the tactics that genuinely shorten the wait.
Glasses and Opticians in Germany: What You Actually Pay ({{YEAR}})
Why German public insurance barely covers glasses for adults, how an eye test at the optician works, real costs, and where to save on frames and lenses.
Physiotherapy in Germany: Prescriptions, Costs, and Booking ({{YEAR}})
How to actually get physiotherapy in Germany, why you need a prescription first, the small co-payment, the booking scramble, and when you must start treatment.
The German Emergency Room (Notaufnahme): When and How to Use It ({{YEAR}})
What counts as a real emergency in Germany, the difference between 112, 116117, and the Notaufnahme, and how to get urgent care without a costly mistake.
Private vs Public Patients at the German Doctor: The Real Difference ({{YEAR}})
Why private patients get appointments faster in Germany, what actually differs in the waiting room, and whether being privately insured is worth it for care.
Ausbildung in Germany: Paid Vocational Training for Expats ({{YEAR}})
How the German dual-training Ausbildung works, why it pays you while you learn a trade, the visa route for foreigners, and how to land a training place.
Recognised vs Non-Recognised Universities in Germany ({{YEAR}})
Why your degree's recognition status decides your visa, your job prospects, and whether your studies even count, and how to check before you enrol.
Internships in Germany (Praktikum): The Rules for Students ({{YEAR}})
How internships work in Germany, when a Praktikum must be paid, what mandatory versus voluntary means for minimum wage, and how it affects your student visa.
Student Tax Returns in Germany: Get Your Werkstudent Money Back ({{YEAR}})
Why working students in Germany usually get a full tax refund, how the tax-free allowance works, what you can deduct, and how to actually file and claim it.
Dropping Out of University in Germany: What Happens to Your Visa ({{YEAR}})
What really happens to your residence permit if you leave your studies in Germany, the routes that keep you in the country, and how to avoid losing your status.
Changing Your Degree Program in Germany: How to Switch ({{YEAR}})
How to switch subjects or universities mid-studies in Germany, what it does to your visa and funding, the credit and semester rules, and how to do it cleanly.
Student Health Insurance in Germany: What You Must Have ({{YEAR}})
Why no German university will enrol you without health insurance, the cheap public student rate, when you must switch off it, and the trap private plans set.
Doing a PhD in Germany: How the Funding Actually Works ({{YEAR}})
Why a German PhD can pay you a salary, the difference between a position and a scholarship, the structured-versus-individual routes, and how to find funding.
A Semester Abroad in Germany: Erasmus and Exchange ({{YEAR}})
How a semester or two in Germany works through Erasmus and exchange programmes, the funding, the lighter visa path, and how it differs from a full degree.
TestDaF vs DSH: Which German Exam Gets You Into Uni ({{YEAR}})
The two German exams that unlock a German-taught degree, how they differ, which one to sit, and what level you actually need to pass.
English-Taught Master's in Germany: How to Find and Apply ({{YEAR}})
How to find English-taught master's programmes in Germany, why tuition is often free, the application route, and whether you still need German.
Master's vs Ausbildung in Germany: Which Path Fits You ({{YEAR}})
The real difference between a German master's degree and a vocational Ausbildung, who each suits, the money and visa implications, and how to choose.
Kiel and Lübeck for Expats: Living on the Baltic Coast ({{YEAR}})
What expat life is like in Kiel and Lübeck, the maritime north, the affordable coastal quality of life, the smaller job markets, and how to settle by the Baltic.
Mainz and Wiesbaden for Expats: The Twin Capitals ({{YEAR}})
What expat life is like in Mainz and Wiesbaden, the two state capitals facing each other on the Rhine, the Frankfurt-commuter appeal, and how to choose between them.
Aachen for Expats: The Border City and Tech University Hub ({{YEAR}})
What expat life in Aachen offers, the RWTH engineering powerhouse, the three-country border location, affordable living, and how to settle in Germany's far west.
Munich vs Berlin for Expats: Which City to Choose ({{YEAR}})
The honest comparison of Germany's two expat magnets, jobs, cost, English-friendliness, lifestyle, and which one fits which kind of person.
Mannheim for Expats: The Grid City and Pop Culture Hub ({{YEAR}})
What expat life in Mannheim offers, the industrial and creative economy, the unique grid layout, affordable-versus-Heidelberg costs, and how to settle in.
Living in Freiburg: Germany's Green and Sunny City ({{YEAR}})
Why Freiburg draws expats with sunshine, sustainability, and the Black Forest on the doorstep, the job and study scene, the pricey housing, and how to settle.
Heidelberg for Academic Expats: The University City ({{YEAR}})
Why Heidelberg draws researchers and academics, the university and science cluster, the romantic but pricey reality, the tight housing market, and how to settle.
Karlsruhe for Tech Expats: Germany's IT and Research City ({{YEAR}})
Why Karlsruhe punches above its weight for tech and research expats, the KIT and IT cluster, the relaxed quality of life, and how to settle in the southwest.
Living in Essen: The Ruhr's Corporate Heart ({{YEAR}})
What expat life in Essen offers, the surprising corporate-HQ economy, the green south versus industrial north divide, affordable rents, and how to settle.
Dortmund for Expats: Living in the Ruhr Region ({{YEAR}})
What expat life in Dortmund is like, the post-industrial reinvention into tech and logistics, very affordable rents, football culture, and how to settle.
Living in Hannover as an Expat: The Trade-Fair City ({{YEAR}})
What expat life in Hannover offers, the central location and trade-fair economy, affordable rents, the neighbourhoods, and how to settle in Lower Saxony's capital.
Nuremberg for Expats: Living in Franconia's Capital ({{YEAR}})
What expat life in Nuremberg is like, the Bavarian-but-cheaper appeal, the job market, the neighbourhoods, and how it compares to Munich up the road.
Moving to Bremen: The Hanseatic Arrival Guide ({{YEAR}})
What expats need to know about Bremen, the aerospace and maritime jobs, affordable northern living, the neighbourhoods, and how to settle in the city-state.
Living in Dresden as an Expat: The Saxony Capital Guide ({{YEAR}})
What life in Dresden is really like for expats, the tech and research jobs, affordable rents, the neighbourhoods, and what to weigh before moving to Saxony.
Leipzig: Germany's Affordable Expat City ({{YEAR}})
Why Leipzig draws expats with low rents and a creative scene, what the job market and neighbourhoods are really like, and how to settle in eastern Germany's boomtown.
From South Africa to Germany: The Move Guide ({{YEAR}})
How South Africans move to Germany for work or study, the visa routes, document apostille, and the practical first steps to get settled.
UK Citizens in Germany After Brexit: The New Rules ({{YEAR}})
How Brexit changed life for Britons in Germany, the difference between pre-Brexit residents and new arrivals, the visa routes now needed, and what to do.
Ukrainians in Germany: Residence, Protection, and Settling ({{YEAR}})
How temporary protection works for Ukrainians in Germany, the right to work and study, access to benefits and healthcare, and the practical steps to settle.
From Indonesia to Germany: The Expat Setup Guide ({{YEAR}})
How Indonesians move to Germany for study or work, the visa routes, document legalisation, and the first steps that get you settled in a new system.
Iranians in Germany: Banking and Money Under Sanctions ({{YEAR}})
Why opening accounts and moving money is harder for Iranians in Germany, how sanctions affect transfers, and the practical workarounds that stay compliant.
Egypt to Germany: The Skilled Worker Route ({{YEAR}})
How Egyptian professionals move to Germany under the skilled-worker rules, the Blue Card and Chancenkarte options, degree recognition, and the document steps.
Nigeria to Germany Student Visa: The Full Path ({{YEAR}})
How Nigerian students get a German student visa, the document and proof requirements, the appointment scramble, and the timeline that protects your intake.
Indian IT Professionals in Germany: The Blue Card Route ({{YEAR}})
How Indian software and IT professionals get to Germany on the EU Blue Card, the salary thresholds, the IT shortage-occupation advantage, and bringing family.
From Brazil to Germany: The Expat Setup Guide ({{YEAR}})
How Brazilians move to Germany, the visa routes that fit, what changes versus Brazilian bureaucracy, and the first steps that get you settled.
US Citizens in Germany: Tax, FATCA, and Double Filing ({{YEAR}})
Why Americans in Germany file taxes twice, how FATCA affects your bank account, and the treaty mechanisms that stop you actually paying tax in both countries.
China to Germany: The APS Interview and Student Visa ({{YEAR}})
How Chinese students get to Germany, why APS China includes an interview, the document verification, and the timeline that protects your intake.
Filipino Nurses in Germany: Recognition and the Path to Work ({{YEAR}})
How Filipino nurses get licensed to work in Germany, the Anerkennung process, the German-language bar, and the adaptation route that closes the gap.
Vietnam to Germany Student Visa: The APS-Gated Path ({{YEAR}})
How Vietnamese students get to Germany, why APS Vietnam comes first, the blocked-account proof, and the timeline that decides whether you make your intake.
Sending Money from Germany to Pakistan ({{YEAR}})
The cheapest ways to send money to Pakistan from Germany, why the Roshan and remittance channels matter, real costs, and the bank checks large sends trigger.
Sending Money from Germany to the Philippines ({{YEAR}})
The cheapest ways to send money home to the Philippines from Germany, real costs compared, peso delivery options, and the bank checks large remittances trigger.
Moving to Germany with Kids: Kita and School Enrolment ({{YEAR}})
How German childcare and school work for expat families, why the Kita waiting list starts before you arrive, and the system that decides your child's school path.
German Citizenship: The 2024 Reform and the New Timeline ({{YEAR}})
How the 2024 citizenship reform cut the wait, allowed dual nationality, and the requirements you now need to naturalise as German faster than before.
Niederlassungserlaubnis: German Permanent Residence ({{YEAR}})
How to get German permanent residence, the pension-contribution and language requirements, and why a Blue Card can cut the wait to as little as 21 months.
Your First Week in Germany: The Right Order to Do Things ({{YEAR}})
The dependency chain nobody explains, address, then registration, then bank, then tax ID, and how doing the steps out of order traps you in circular delays.
Booking a German Visa Appointment: Tactics That Work ({{YEAR}})
Why German visa and embassy appointments are so hard to get, the refresh and timing tactics that surface slots, and how to avoid the scam booking sites.
Recognising Your Foreign Degree in Germany (Anerkennung) ({{YEAR}})
When you must have your qualification recognised in Germany, the difference between regulated and unregulated professions, and how anabin and the Anerkennung process work.
Bringing a Car to Germany: Import and Registration ({{YEAR}})
Whether importing your car to Germany is worth it, the TÜV and registration steps, what EU vs non-EU import triggers, and the costs that add up fast.
Family Reunion on a Blue Card: Bringing Your Family to Germany ({{YEAR}})
How Familiennachzug works for Blue Card and skilled-worker holders, why spouses get immediate work rights, and the documents that decide your application.
Stuttgart for Expats: Banking and Money in the Auto Hub ({{YEAR}})
Why Stuttgart's economy shapes expat money differently, what its high salaries meet in high rents, and how to set up banking in Germany's engineering capital.
Sending Money TO Germany: Inbound Transfers Done Right ({{YEAR}})
How to move money into Germany without losing a chunk to fees and bad exchange rates, what banks flag, and the cheapest routes for funding your life here.