Our Methodology

1. How We Source Data

Every data point on ExpatNav comes from primary sources:

• Official provider websites — pricing pages, feature descriptions, T&Cs, and FAQ sections.
• Provider help centers — for eligibility details, processing times, and edge cases not on the main site.
• Direct provider communication — when public information is unclear or outdated, we contact providers directly.
• Regulatory sources — BaFin, German embassy websites, and government publications for legal requirements (blocked account amounts, insurance mandates).

We never rely on press releases, marketing materials, or third-party aggregators as primary sources.

2. Verification Schedule

All data is verified on a quarterly cycle. Critical data (pricing and eligibility) is checked more frequently:

• Pricing: Verified quarterly and whenever a provider announces changes. Price alerts notify users of recent changes.
• Eligibility rules: Verified quarterly. Changes to nationality or visa acceptance are updated within 48 hours of confirmation.
• Features: Verified quarterly. New features are added as providers launch them.
• Community reports: User-submitted data corrections are investigated and resolved within 48 hours.

3. How We Compare

For each service category, we define 8-10 comparison features selected for relevance to international users. Features are categorized as:

• Key differentiators — features that materially differ between providers and matter most to the decision (shown by default in comparison tables).
• Additional features — relevant but less decisive (available in expanded view and side-by-side comparison).

Feature types include:

• Price: Exact amounts in EUR, showing setup fees and monthly fees separately, plus total cost calculated over 12 months.
• Boolean:Yes/no features (e.g., "English support", "mobile app available").
• Text:Descriptive features (e.g., "3-5 business days", "Telekom network").

4. Eligibility Filtering

Our eligibility system is the core differentiator of ExpatNav. Each provider has rules for:

• Nationality: EU vs. non-EU, with specific country restrictions where applicable.
• Visa type: Student visa, job seeker visa, language course visa, work visa — each has different provider availability.
• Language: Whether the service is available without German language skills.
• Credit check:Whether a SCHUFA score is required (critical for new arrivals who don't have one yet).
• Age: Some services (like public health insurance) have age limits.

When you set filters, providers are marked as "eligible", "check required", or "not eligible" based on these rules. We never hide ineligible providers — we show them with clear labels so you understand the full market.

5. How Rankings Work

Default table order is determined by a weighted score across:

• Total cost (40%): 12-month total including all fees. Lower is better.
• Feature coverage (25%): How many key features the provider offers (English support, app, etc.).
• User ratings (20%): Average community rating from verified user reviews.
• Eligibility breadth (15%): How many nationalities and visa types the provider accepts.

Affiliate commission rates are never a factor in rankings. Period.

We include providers that have no affiliate program (like public health insurers TK, AOK, and Barmer). We rank providers with high commissions lower if their features, pricing, or reviews warrant it.

6. User Reviews

Reviews are subject to the following rules:

• All reviews are moderated before publication (checked for spam, abuse, and factual claims).
• IP addresses are hashed — we cannot identify reviewers, but we can detect duplicate submissions.
• Reviews include nationality and visa type to help readers find relevant experiences.
• We do not edit review content beyond removing personal information or abusive language.
• Providers cannot pay to remove negative reviews or add positive ones.

7. Corrections & Transparency

If you find incorrect data on ExpatNav, please report it. We verify and fix errors within 48 hours. Significant corrections are documented in our data changelog.

For questions about our methodology or affiliate relationships, email us at contact@expatnav.com. We believe full transparency is the only way to build trust.