Are you planning a move to Germany? Whether you are moving to Frankfurt, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Munich, Berlin or a little village in Saxony, here’s everything you need to know about moving to Deutschland.
Moving abroad can be a daunting task, which is why it’s important to understand everything about the country you’re going to live in beforehand.
As one of the largest removal companies in the UK, we have the expertise and local knowledge to advise on the social, economic and environmental factors that could influence your decision. Read on to discover what moving to Germany entails and the requirements you will need to be aware of ahead of your move.
Germany is a popular choice for expats looking for a new and improved lifestyle, with 1.32 million immigrants living there in 2021. Many find themselves moving to Germany from the UK, be it for new job opportunities, a better quality of life or safer living standards. Germany has an extremely active economy, making it an attractive country to those around the world.
Not only is the country well known for its strong economy, but it is also infamous for its wild IPAs and various brews, which have been named some of the most classic beers in the world. Germany is home to some incredible architecture and is also rich in history and geography. There is an abundance of places to visit and explore in this country, with a wide range of beautiful neighbourhoods to find a home.
Germany is renowned for having a lengthy, illustrious past and for having led the world in politics and the arts for more than a thousand years. Germans are noted for their high levels of individualism and appreciation of people's political, economic, and social behaviour. Germans are frequently stereotyped as "perfectionists" who approach everything with care and precision. When you first move to Germany, it is always best practice to engage in social activities, whether that’s attending a hobby group or simply visiting a local pub. This will make your settling-in experience much more smooth running and will encourage you to learn key phrases in the language.
Germany is a very sociable country, with city-wide gatherings held annually to celebrate special occasions. Some of the most popular festivals include:
The German healthcare system is brilliant. Not only is healthcare free to all citizens (including expats), but public health insurance is also available, allowing inhabitants to use sickness funds. This is all funded through taxation and covers almost all medical treatments. Should you need to pay for a prescription, these are often cheap and affordable for most.
Should you be working in Germany, you would be pleased to know that finding a job is a relatively simple process. With a booming economy, there is a wide range of professional opportunities in the country across many industries. There are a number of things that you can do as an expat to ease the process and put you in good stead. These include:
The OECD’s Better Life Index ranks Germany highly for work-life balance. This is due to a number of factors, such as not encouraging ‘long’ working hours, generous annual leave and national holidays and good work benefits. Transport in Germany is at a brilliant standard, with buses, trams, the S-Bahn, the U-Bahn and regional trains serving the country. This makes transport into key cities easy and accessible.
Germany is a vast country, running from the Baltic seas in the north to the snowy Alps in the south. This can make narrowing down a place to live difficult. Your final decision will widely rely on your requirements and understanding of each area’s offerings in terms of culture, way of life and cost. To get you started, here are some popular locations for expats to live in Germany:
When it comes to moving to Germany from the UK, there are a number of requirements that you should be aware of. To move to Germany, you first must have a valid reason for doing so. This could be for employment, education or family, for example. Each immigration reason has a financial requirement that applicants must meet; you need to be able to prove that you can financially support yourself in Germany. You will also need to apply for German healthcare insurance, as you cannot be certain that the authorities will accept foreign insurance. The next step will be to find an appropriate visa. You can learn about your options on the official German Missions in the United Kingdom website.
If you are planning a move to Germany, it is important to select an accredited moving company such as Bishop’s Move to handle the process. With over 165 years in European Removals, we can provide you with a seamless service from start to finish. Find out more about removals to Germany or get a quote online today.
