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
31 articles
Leaving Germany: The Complete Departure Checklist (2026)
Everything to do before you leave Germany, the deregistration that anchors it all, cancelling contracts properly, reclaiming what's yours, and avoiding loose ends.
Apostille and Legalisation: Making Foreign Documents Valid in Germany (2026)
What the apostille and document legalisation actually do, when you need each, why it depends on your country, and how to get your documents accepted in Germany.
Translating Documents for German Authorities: The Certified Translation Rule (2026)
Why German authorities need certified translations, who can do them (the sworn translator rule), what documents need translating, and how to get it done right.
Having a Baby in Germany: Registering the Birth and the Steps After (2026)
How birth registration works for a baby born in Germany, the Standesamt and the documents you need, the parental benefits to claim, and the citizenship question.
Divorce in Germany as an Expat: The Process and What to Expect (2026)
How divorce works in Germany, the mandatory separation year, the court process, what it means for your residence permit, and why early legal advice matters.
Getting Married in Germany as a Foreigner: The Real Process (2026)
How foreigners marry in Germany, the central role of the Standesamt, the documents you must legalise and translate, the timeline, and what the marriage means for your status.
Lost Your Passport or Residence Permit in Germany? Do This (2026)
The exact steps if your passport or residence permit is lost or stolen in Germany, who to report to, how to get replacements, and how to stay legal meanwhile.
The Fiktionsbescheinigung Explained: Your Legal Bridge in Germany (2026)
What the Fiktionsbescheinigung is, why this bridging certificate keeps you legal while your permit is processed, what rights it preserves, and when you get one.
Extending Your German Residence Permit: Don't Leave It Late (2026)
Why you must start your residence permit extension well before it expires, what the Ausländerbehörde needs, the bridging certificate if it lapses, and how to avoid a gap.
From South Africa to Germany: The Move Guide (2026)
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 (2026)
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 (2026)
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 (2026)
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.
From Brazil to Germany: The Expat Setup Guide (2026)
How Brazilians move to Germany, the visa routes that fit, what changes versus Brazilian bureaucracy, and the first steps that get you settled.
Moving to Germany with Kids: Kita and School Enrolment (2026)
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 (2026)
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 (2026)
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 (2026)
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 (2026)
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) (2026)
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 (2026)
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 (2026)
How Familiennachzug works for Blue Card and skilled-worker holders, why spouses get immediate work rights, and the documents that decide your application.
Pet Import to Germany: EU and Non-EU Rules (2026)
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 (2026)
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.
More in Moving
- First 30 Days in Germany: A Day-by-Day Checklist (2026)
- Abmeldung Leaving Germany: The Process No One Explains (2026)
- Shipping Household Goods to Germany: Costs and Customs (2026)
- The Real Cost of Moving to Germany: €11,000 Breakdown
- Which German Visa Should You Apply For? A Decision Tree
- The Complete First-Year Document Checklist for Germany
- Why I Stopped Paying €68 a Page at the Berlin Standesamt