Moving to Germany
From the day you decide to move to the day you walk out of the Bürgeramt with your residence permit. Visas, relocation, and what to do before you leave.
- About being an Expat
- Going Home
- Relocation
- Visa & Immigration
- Where to Live
Latest in Moving
9 articles
Pet Import to Germany: EU and Non-EU Rules ({{YEAR}})
Microchip, rabies vaccine, EU pet passport, titer test, TRACES, and the 3-month waiting window for non-EU dogs and cats arriving in Germany.
Relocation Company vs DIY in Germany: The Real Math ({{YEAR}})
What a €3,000 to €8,000 relocation package buys, what DIY actually costs in hours, and when each makes sense for an expat move to Germany.
First 30 Days in Germany: A Day-by-Day Checklist ({{YEAR}})
The exact sequence of Anmeldung, bank, SIM, insurance, and Steuer-ID that gets you operational in a month without losing money to wrong-order moves.
Abmeldung Leaving Germany: The Process No One Explains ({{YEAR}})
Why your Abmeldung triggers tax, GKV, and pension changes the same day, and the documents you need before the Bürgeramt slot.
Shipping Household Goods to Germany: Costs and Customs ({{YEAR}})
What it costs to ship a 20ft container to Germany, how Form 0350 grants duty-free entry, and when air freight beats sea by the math.
The Real Cost of Moving to Germany: €11,000 Breakdown
Visa fees, blocked account, flights, Mietkaution, first month rent, GKV, mobile, Anmeldung extras, and the cash gap before your first German paycheck. A line-item budget of what moving to Germany actually costs in {{YEAR}}.
Which German Visa Should You Apply For? A Decision Tree
Seven main German visa paths in {{YEAR}}, mapped to your salary, nationality, profession, and goal. EU Blue Card €50,700, Chancenkarte points test, Skilled Worker route, and the five visas most expats overlook.
The Complete First-Year Document Checklist for Germany
Every official document, every appointment, every login you need in your first 365 days in Germany. Twenty-three items, in the exact order they have to happen, with cost and deadline for each.
Why I Stopped Paying €68 a Page at the Berlin Standesamt
Sworn translators charge €40 to €80 per page for documents the Standesamt asks for. There is a free workaround at most consulates and a faster path through the Apostille. The exact route my marriage paperwork took, and the seven months it almost took.