Since 2019, the discussions about permanently switching to winter time have been heating up. The people in Germany, as well as the political parties have been voting positively for this change. On Sunday the 28th of October, people in Germany as well as other European countries that follow the Central European Summer Time (CEST) got an extra hour to sleep as clocks switched back an hour at 3 a.m The process of switching back the clocks was started in Germany in 1980 soon after the global oil crisis. The idea was to save energy by gaining an extra hour of sunlight. Since then the act has been followed by Germans by changing their clocks twice a year in October and March. EU parliament drafted a law to scrap the DST On March 26, 2019, the European Parliament voted in to support the EU Committee draft order to stop changing the clocks in the European Union. While the draft law was opposed by 192 members, 410 members voted in favor of it. The aim was initially to implement the law by 2021. However, Europe, like the rest of the world, was affected by Covid-19 and the leaders were busy handling the pandemic. Since Germany, like other European countries, switched to the winter time, the discussions have been heated up once again. The negotiations as well as the final decision is yet to be made, the likelihood of the EU to scrap daylight saving in 2021 is very narrow.

People who live and work in Germany contribute to the German Sozialversicherungssystem or social security. This is a collectively-financed system and it is designed to protect the livelihood of the people who need additional support. The system is mainly designed to support people with low income with various allowances and benefits to overcome their struggle in maintaining their livelihood although most of the unforeseen events in life are covered by the insurance. Social security ID (Sozialversicherungsausweis) Once you start making contributions to a statutory insurance scheme, you will get a social security ID (Sozialversicherungsausweis) to prove that you are a contributor to the system. The Social security ID is necessary to start a new job, claim benefits, or to start drawing pension. Benefits from German social security The German social security system facilitates various benefits and allowances as well as statutory health insurance, pension insurance, unemployment insurance, etc. The benefits are available to anyone who are in need to cover their basic subsistence costs such as rent and raising children: Maternity benefit (Mutterschaftsgeld) You are entitled to maternity benefit for six weeks before and at least eight weeks after the delivery if you are a member of a statutory health insurance scheme. You may claim benefits from the Federal Insurance Office if you are not covered by a statutory insurance scheme. Parental allowance Elterngeld or parental allowance is provided to both father and mother to support them during the first months of the delivery. The benefit covers the loss of income and helps both the parents to spend time with their new baby. Child benefits Child benefits or kindergeld supports parents for raising their children and providing them with basic things like food, clothing, education, etc. Child benefit is available to almost all parents in Germany. Child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld) If your child is sick, you are entitled to take time off from work to take care of the child. While some employers pay your salary during this period, the public health insurance provider will support you otherwise. The Kinderkrankengeld also reimburses the loss of earnings partially. Sickness benefit (Krankengeld) You are automatically qualified for sickness benefit if you contribute to a statutory health insurance scheme. If you are unable to work due to illness, you will be covered for up to 78 weeks, either by your employer or by your health insurance provider. Housing benefit (Wohngeld) German social security provides housing benefits to those who have lower incomes to ensure everybody has adequate, family-friendly housing. You may apply for the housing benefit if you need support for rent (Mietzuschuss), or mortgage and home support (Lastenzuschuss), if you own a house. German statutory insurance system You are obliged to contribute to social security if you are employed in Germany. However, the contribution is split evenly between the employer and the employee. The average total social security contribution is around 20 - 22% of your salary. The monthly deducted social security contribution cover the following aspects: Statutory Health Insurance Unless you are self-employed or your annual income is more than 64000€, almost everyone is required to contribute to statutory health insurance. You can also choose to get private health insurance or voluntarily contribute to statutory health insurance if you are self-employed or your annual income is more than 64000€. Pension insurance (Rentenversicherung) You are obliged to participate in a pension insurance scheme if you work in Germany. Over time, your contributions build up to provide you with a basic provision for your retirement. However, you have a chance to choose whether to opt into the statutory pension insurance scheme or start a private pension plan if you are self-employed. Unemployment insurance (Arbeitlosenversicherung) Employees in Germany are required to contribute to arbeitlosenversicherung unemployment insurance. These contributions are used to provide unemployment benefits to anyone who is out of work. Occupational accident insurance (Unfallversicherung) Occupational accident insurance offers protection and assistance in the event of accidents or job-related illnesses happening at your workplace. If you are employed or in occupational training, you are automatically covered, no matter how much you earn. The insurance scheme also covers school-age children and students. If you are self-employed or run your own business, you can get voluntary insurance for yourself On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

Before you begin your ride in Germany, there are certain rules you need to know before driving or taking a taxi with the children. When expats or tourists arrive in Germany, they may not be well informed about the rules. Especially when it comes to children or babies. What to consider when driving with children in Germany The German law specifies children up to 12 years of age and are less than 1.5 meters in height must only ride in an approved car seat or booster seat whether in a personal car or in a taxi. The child may ride in the back seat with a seat belt on if all other restraints are being used by other children. Children under three years of age must not be in a moving vehicle without an appropriate car seat. German law also states that rearward facing infant seats are not allowed in the front seat of a vehicle which has an airbag. What to do if I don’t have a child seat? Both personal vehicles as well as taxis are subject to the child seat regulations. Generally, Germany's taxis have child seats that are suitable for your child; however, airport taxis might not have infant car seats. Therefore, you may either bring your own car seat or rent one if you are here for a vacation. There are a number of websites that offer the rental of children's products, such as toddgo or mami-poppins. With toddgo, you can place orders online and receive the items on arrival in the airport. When you leave Germany, you can leave the items at the airport with a toddgo personal free of charge. On your way to Germany Find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com.

Families with low incomes and single parents are supported by the child supplement program. You can submit the application online. Working parents who earn just enough to meet their family's needs may benefit from the child allowance as an additional support. Since July 1, 2022, the child supplement has been raised up to 229€ per month, which covers a child's needs in conjunction with the child benefit. Those who receive the child supplement are also entitled to benefits for education and participation and can be exempted from day-care center fees. How do I apply for a child allowance? If you meet the following requirements, you can receive the child supplement for each unmarried child up to the age of 25: Your child lives in your household and receives child benefits. Your income must not exceed a certain minimum limit. For couples, the minimum income limit is EUR 900 gross, and for single parents, it is EUR 600 gross. In addition to the child allowance, the child benefit, and any housing benefit you are entitled to, you can provide enough income to support your family. Your income, along with the child allowance, is not so high that the child allowance is reduced to zero. You can also receive the child allowance if your income from work, the child allowance and the housing benefit is no more than 100 euros below the SGB II entitlement. You can submit the online application on the website of the Family Benefits Office. You can use the KiZ-Lotsen of the Familienkasse to check whether you are eligible for a claim. If you have questions about the child supplement, your local family benefits office will help you. How does the education and participation package work? Anyone who receives child supplement or housing benefit is also entitled to benefits for education and participation. The education and participation package consists of cash and non-cash benefits. Providing benefits in kind ensures that these benefits also reach children and young people as individual support. Education and participation benefits include: One-day excursions from school, Kita or day care, Multi-day class trips from school, Kita or day care, 156 euros for the provision of school supplies per school year, Assumption of costs for public transport tickets for school children - even if the tickets can be used for other journeys, Assumption of costs for appropriate learning support for school children - regardless of an immediate risk of being promoted, Free communal lunches in schools, daycare centers, or after-school care centers, 15 euros per month for social and cultural activities like sports clubs and music schools. Many cities or municipalities also offer vouchers or special discounts. An overview from the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs shows which contact points can be used to apply for benefits for education and participation. Checkout the official website of Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend here for more info. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

No Matter where you are, an emergency situation is never a cool thing to pass by. Thankfully, Germany has a great emergency service system you can rely on anytime. 112 & 110 These are the two emergency numbers you need to remember always. Just like many European countries, dial in 112 if you want to connect to the Fire Brigade and Ambulance services. Remember, 112 is the Single European union emergency number. You can dial this number anywhere within the European Union if you are in a medical emergency and need an ambulance or fire brigade. Polizei (Police) in Germany Police in Germany will help you with many services. Enforcement of law being their main objective, they also protect the German border, investigation on cases, and a number of other services too. You can always reach out to police on 110 while in Germany unless it is not an emergency. Instructions: Dial the number and wait until an operator picks up the call. Usually the call will be answered within 3 - 5 rings Explain the incident You need to tell them your location and how they can reach you If possible, keep your phone not busy after ending the call, as they might have to call you back. Bonus; set up the emergency number on your phone. Therefore, if you are not in a position to dial the number, you can press the power button rapidly 5 times and a call will be placed to the emergency number. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

Although there are many scholarship options you may see on the internet to pursue a degree in Germany, the DAAD funding opportunity is the most popular among them. DAAD scholarship is the largest funding opportunity for international students from the developing countries in the world. Founded in 1925, DAAD helped millions of students to study in Germany. There are a wide range of degree programmes offered by the DAAD and are available in both German and English. Why should I choose a German University? With a large number of internationally recognized universities, a wide variety of course options, and an affordable living cost, Germany is a great place for students. Degrees from German universities are highly valued worldwide, and German universities offer students enormous professional and personal benefits. Furthermore, the German job market is always seeking talented individuals who can contribute to the growth of the country. Despite having free tuition fees, there are costs involved in studying here. Scholarships are therefore necessary for students from the majority of developing countries. Compared to other European countries, Germany is not particularly expensive. However, to be able to study here successfully, you must correctly estimate the costs and be able to cover them. Do I need to learn German to pursue a degree in Germany? It depends on the course you choose. If you choose a course where German language proficiency is necessary, you may need a certain level of German language knowledge and might also need to submit the corresponding certificate during the application. DAAD scholarship requirements Students who want to pursue a full-time course in Germany may apply for DAAD scholarships. Students who qualify for the scholarship will receive a monthly stipend to cover their expenses during their studies. The applicant must, however, have completed their Bachelor degree within the last six years in their country of residence. There may be additional requirements, such as a German proficiency certificate or English proficiency, depending on the course you choose. At the time of application, you must have lived in your country of residence for at least one year if the length of your course is up to six months. For a stay of more than six months, you must have completed your last degree in your home country. Preparing your DAAD application form The application has to be submitted online. To start with, you need to register on the DAAD website. During the course of filling out the application form, you may need to upload the documents that prove your nationality, the course you completed in your home country, language proficiency, work experience, etc. There are clear guidelines about the supporting documents in the application form. Furthermore, you must submit a letter of motivation when applying for a Study Scholarship. In order to qualify for a Research Grant, you must submit a detailed proposal. Also, you may need to submit a letter of recommendation from a professor from the university where you earned your degree. Please make sure to check DAAD’s website for information that might have changed. How much is the DAAD scholarship stipend? Students enrolled in doctoral degree courses will receive 1,200 euros. The stipend for postgraduate students is 850 euros per month. DAAD scholarships also include free accommodation in university dorms. In addition, DAAD covers the health insurance of Postgraduate and Doctoral students. They might also get a travel grant. Basically, your monthly stipend covers your living expenses, health insurance, and some travel expenses. An additional benefit of DAAD scholarship is that you may also get the opportunity to take your spouse and children along with you if your course duration is more than 6 months. Unlike most universities in Germany, some might have a tuition fee. However, the DAAD scholarship does not cover tuition fees. While on your scholarship, if you wish to work part-time, you must first request approval from the DAAD. You should also get the consent of your supervisor or from the course coordinator. Make sure, however, that the part-time employment does not interfere with your scholarship. The income that exceeds € 450 gross per month will be deducted from the monthly stipend. Preparing the documents for your DAAD scholarship Apart from the duly filled online application form, your academic and work experience certificates, you also need a couple of additional documents to support a successful DAAD scholarship. How to prepare the letter of motivation for DAAD scholarship In less than three pages, explain why you want to study in Germany for personal and professional reasons. Additionally, it may include information about your academic background, skills and work experience (if any). Information about your degree, how many semesters you completed, your professional experience, your language skills, and any recognitions you have won. You may also include the reasons why you want to pursue the course you have chosen, the university you prefer, and your academic and personal expectations. How to prepare the testimonial for DAAD scholarship The letter of reference or testimony must be written by a professor in your university. It may include a professor's view about you as a scholar, your academic achievements, the significance of the scholarship for your career, etc. How to prepare the project proposal for DAAD scholarship Applicants should submit a detailed project proposal when applying for a Research Grant. Details about the project you will be working on should be included in the proposal. Your research field, your research in the past about the chosen topic, the theories, etc., and the reasons for using them. Additionally, if you anticipate any difficulties related to data collection or any obstacles you may come across during the execution of the research, etc. Basically, your detailed project proposal should include all the information you have currently available. Application Once you have the documentation ready, you may apply for the scholarship on the DAAD website. Both the quality of the project and the applicant's academic achievements determine whether you get the scholarship. Don't worry if you didn't pass the assessment. The application has no maximum limit. Improve your proposal, testimonial, and motivation letter, gain more experience, and reapply! The DAAD website has a very comprehensive FAQ section. Make sure to check it for more detailed and up-to-date infomration. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

If you wish to search for a job in Germany, you can apply for a job seeker visa which is valid for up to six months and the possibility to convert to a residence permit. Germany is the fourth largest economy in the world with a strong 4 trillion dollars growth. The country is also home for many international brands such as Allianz, Adidas, Volkswagen group, Mercedes, Hugo Boss, etc. How do I get a job seeker visa in Germany? For you to be able to work in Germany, your degree or professional certificate must be recognized according to the German system. You can do this at Anerkennung in Deutschland or simply Recognition in Germany. It is the central information portal of the Federal Government for recognizing foreign professional qualifications in Germany. You must also prove that you will be able to support yourself and meet all financial requirements during your stay in Germany. In addition you must provide proof of German language skills that correspond to your intended occupation. In our experience, IT and related areas don't tend to emphasize having German certification. However, if your area of interest requires you to know German such as marketing, medicine, consulting, etc. or work with German regulations you might need to have a language certification before you can apply. Can I work in Germany with a job seeker visa? When you receive a residence permit for the purpose of searching for a job, you are not allowed to work in Germany. However, it is still possible to work on a trial basis for up to 10 hours per week if you have the qualifications for the job. These days, part-time jobs aren't hard to find in Germany. There are many delivery services such as Getir, Flink, and Lieferando you can approach. Part-time employees are also accepted at McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, and other restaurants and pay well. At times, organizations like Allianz, Microsoft, IBM, etc. hire part-time employees and often appoint them permanently. Permanently relocating to Germany You can apply for a German visa and residence permit if you have already completed your studies. However, you must have a valid offer of employment from a company in Germany. For the nationals of third countries ( non EU / EEA countries ) it is required to apply for a residence permit / Aufenthaltstitel to live or work in Germany. How can I get my degree recognized in Germany? To determine whether your foreign vocational qualification is comparable with a corresponding German degree, you must go through the recognition process. This may indicate that you need additional qualification measures to achieve comparability. In this case, you can come to Germany for up to 18 months in order to acquire these additional qualifications. You should contact the "Working and Living in Germany Hotline" for individual advice since procedures and requirements vary by occupation. Furthermore, you may also take up some limited employment during your stay in Germany. Upon obtaining your qualifications, you will be able to seek employment in Germany for up to one year. How can the German residence permit application be processed faster? The Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz (Immigration act for skilled personnel in Germany) is expected to streamline the visa process for companies and skilled workers from third countries from 1 March 2020. An employer can apply for the accelerated procedure for skilled workers if they have a confirmed job offer and corresponding authorization from the skilled worker. For this procedure, there is an additional fee of 411€. In this way, the process of recognizing foreign qualifications can also be accelerated. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

One question that often comes to people's minds when they consider moving to a different country for work would be, "How good is my offer?"? So you've been offered a job in Germany but you're wondering what a good salary in Germany is? Well, you are not the only one! This article should provide you with all the information you need to make a final decision. The salary you earn in Germany should allow you to afford your desired lifestyle in the country. According to I am expat, you will be in the above-average income class in Germany if your gross income exceeds 47.700 euros a year. How Much Does A Good Salary In Germany Look Like? Germany offers a wide range of salaries for different professions, and they depend on different cities. It is common for different people to have different opinions about what a good salary should be. There are some cities where you will make more money, but there may also be a higher cost of living. How Good Is A Salary Of 60.000 Euros In Germany? As you do your research, you may see in different forums that 60.000 euros gross a year in Germany is considered to be a good gross salary. It is well above the average salary of 47.700 euros per year and slightly above the national average. Approximately 18% of the national population earns this amount or more. Having a gross annual salary of 60,000 euros, and assuming you are in tax class 1, you will receive about 5,000 euros, or 2,969 euros after taxes each month. A single person can make a good living with this income What is the salary Requirement For Blue Card In Germany Your German employer is entitled to pay you the same salary as your German coworkers. To prevent workplace exploitation, the German Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) checks your salary before approving your work permit. As per the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge - BAMF) you must earn at least 56,400 euros a year in order to qualify for an EU Blue Card. For employees in the occupational fields of mathematics, computer science, physics, engineering, the natural sciences, and human medicine (not including dentistry), a reduced annual gross salary of 43,992 Euros applies (as of 2022 - the salary thresholds are readjusted for each calendar year). Minimum Wage in Germany? Deutsche Welle - a German public, state-owned international broadcaster reported that German lawmakers have approved raising the minimum wage from 9,82 euros per hour to 12 euros per hour by October, 2022. After this change in October, 2022, the government has stated that the minimum wage will remain unchanged at least for the next 15 months, and it will only be reevaluated in January, 2024. In general, a full-time employee would be paid 1.610,48 euros a month for working 41 hours a week. While a part-time employee earns an average of 765,96 euros per week for 19,5 hours of work. Lastly, it is ultimately up to you to decide whether the salary offered to you is right for you. Take into account your take home pay, the cost of living in the city in which you intend to live, quality of life, and other expenditures such as loans and rent. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

In Germany, drinking water is considered to be the number one food item. As part of its most basic provisions, drinking water must not only be free of harmful substances and pathogens, but it must also be 'pure and wholesome' too. Germany's tap water is perfectly safe to drink! It is rated as one of the cleanest tap waters in the world. The tap water is strictly regulated by the Federal ministry of health as well as the Federal Environment Agency. Drinking water quality in Germany In Germany, a high standard is set when it comes to drinking water quality, for the simple reason that if pathogens contaminate the supply, countless people could become ill; therefore, this risk must be reduced to zero. Across the entire drinking water process chain, including abstraction, purification, and distribution, a higher level of anti-contamination safeguards are used. Building, maintaining and operating drinking water distribution systems in accordance with applicable technical standards entails no risk of contamination from active ingredients or legionella growth. It is the responsibility of system operators, such as water utilities and building owners and operators, to accomplish this. Throughout Germany, the authorities responsible for public health monitor the quality of drinking water. In Germany, drinking water quality is regulated by a law known as the Trinkwasserverordnung, along with additional guidelines, recommendations, and rules. What is the source of tap water in Germany? As you know, drinking water is a natural product. 70 percent of it comes from wells and groundwater, 13 percent from reservoirs and rivers, and 17 percent originates from surface water, but is nearly identical to groundwater due to soil passage and bank filtration. In spite of the fact that the taste of drinking water varies from one location to another depending on the minerals dissolved in it beneath the ground, drinking water should be clear, cool, color and odorless. Is bottled water and tap water in Germany different in quality? In spite of the high quality of tap water in Germany, the love for bottled water is very surprising. It is not uncommon to find hundreds of different mineral water brands in German supermarkets. The price per liter ranges from 0.25 to 0.70 euros regardless of the minerals it contains. People prefer bottled water over tap water due to its taste, advertised quality, and added minerals. However, even the expensive bottled water contains a similar amount of minerals compared to the cheapest one. Despite not being advertised, the government regulates that tap water must contain all basic minerals. Another reason could be that sparkling water is more in demand than normal water or otherwise called still water. Is it safe for pregnant women to drink tap water? In Germany, some people are concerned about drinking tap water with lead. A pregnant woman or a child who is exposed to lead could particularly be at risk. Everyone in Germany has the right to have high-quality water at home. If you have concerns about metals in your drinking water, your local health department can provide you with the information. Pregnant women, infants, and children up to the age of six should never drink water from lead pipes. Avoid using tap water for drinking or food preparation if you feel it has been contaminated with lead. It is recommended to use bottled water marked "Suitable for preparing infant formula" in such cases. It is not logical and safe to use filters to remove lead. It is not recommended to drink water from the tap if it has not been opened for some time, regardless of the possibility of lead exposure. Let the stagnant water run out of the line until it is cool and comes without color. Water filters in Germany In our experience, water from any taps or many public fountains out there in Germany is drinkable. At a few public fountains, we've noticed signs indicating that the water is not drinkable. Unless otherwise stated, you can trust the water and drink it safely. You might consider getting a water filter if you feel the water from the tap isn't up to par. Brita Brita is one of the popular water filters in Germany. You can either buy it from Amazon.de or you’ll find different types of Brita water filters in super markets. Brita water filter costs around 35-40 Euros depending on where you purchase it from. It often comes on deals on Amazon.de. It comes with one filter cartridge included when you purchase the can. Otherwise one set (4 pieces) of filter cartridge costs around 19,99 Euros. There are also deals on Amazon.de for the filter cartridge set. AmazonBasics water filter An alternative to the expensive Brita water filter is the filter made by Amazon’s own brand AmazonBasics. It is the same size, shape and design as Brita water filter. However, it costs much less than Brita. While Brita costs 38.00 Euros on average, AmazonBasics water filter costs only 17,99 Euros. A three piece AmazonBasics Water Filter Cartridge set cost only 14,00 Euros only which is still 5 euros cheaper than Brita. We’ve used both AmazonBasics water filter as well as Brita water filter at home and in our experience, the expensive Brita has the quality for the extra amount. The quality, usability, maintainability and more over the taste of the water is much better than the cheaper AmazonBasics water filter. Conclusion We know that pure drinking water is very difficult to obtain in some countries including India where I am from. We are very fortunate to live in a country where drinking water is of the highest quality and we are thankful to the government for that. In my opinion, tap water tastes great and there’s no need to buy bottled water. By not buying plastic bottled water, you are also helping nature.

It doesn’t matter if your old passport has expired and a new one has been issued; your settlement permit or EU permanent residence permit remains valid in Germany. There are different websites publishing conflicting information on whether to apply for a new residence permit when you receive a new passport or not. However, we ask you to check with your local citizen’s office for a more concrete answer. In general, your settlement permit or EU permanent residence permit is still valid in Germany even if your previous passport has expired and you have already received a new passport. For re-entering Germany, you just need to show your old and new passport together and your previous settlement permit at the border control. Before traveling to another country, however, we recommend you to check with your respective local authorities or the embassy/consulate of your country about the entry formalities in good time before you leave Germany. Your temporary residence permit ends at the latest with the validity of your passport. If you have not yet received the extension of your residence permit, you need a fictional certificate. When traveling abroad, carry all documents proving your right of residence in Germany with you. This also applies to trips to another Schengen country. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

The German tax system is known for its high income taxes and complexity. If you're an expat living in Germany or intending to relocate, you must have an understanding of the German tax system and how you can take advantage of it. You must pay tax on your income if you earn money in Germany. As taxable income increases, the German tax system uses a progressive tax rate. Your Tax ID - Steuer Identifikationsnummer in Germany You will get your Tax ID within a couple of weeks after registering in Germany in the post. This tax ID must be provided to your employer. If you haven't received your tax ID, within 4 - 6 weeks after you register your address, you may need to contact the tax department / Finanzamt to know what happened in your specific case. How does Finanzamt assign me to a tax class? You will be assigned a tax class based on the marital status you provide to the Standesamt when you register. As well as sending you the tax ID via post, the Finanzamt will also inform our employer in a couple of weeks. The deductions from your salary will be calculated correctly based on the tax class sent to your employer from the Finanzamt. In the meantime, you will be taxed at the highest rate in the German tax system. Therefore, check your payslip as soon as you receive them to make sure that you are assigned to the right tax class. The Tax Classes In Germany In Germany, there are six tax classes or Steuerklassen If you are a registered couple and both live in Germany and earn, the person who earns the most money can choose the lowest taxed class, and the other person can choose either tax class 1 or 5. Can I change my tax class in Germany? While it is not mandatory in Germany, you can change your tax class if you change your marital status. The registry office will inform the Finanzamt if you record your marriage or file your divorce in Germany. The Finanzamt needs to be informed when an expat’s spouse joins them in Germany and get their tax class changed. While this may change your tax class from tax class 1 to 3 and give you relatively more income monthly, the amount of tax you pay by the end of the year could be the same. In case you would like to switch to a different tax class, you will have to request the change via a form. While you need to be physically present in the Finanzamt in some towns to submit the tax class change form, you also have the possibility to send it to the Finanzamt by post in most of the cities in Germany. It was only possible to change the tax class once a year. However, this has been changed in 2020 and married couples can request a change in tax class multiple times a year. Is it possible to reduce your German tax? Before you read This article does not qualify me to give any tax advice under German law, despite the fact that I wrote the article. As a media platform, Expatova cannot offer any tax services as well. Before making any decisions regarding the following points, we strongly advise you to consult your professional tax consultant. As I wrote in the beginning of this article, You need to pay tax on the income you earn. As taxable income increases, the German tax system uses a progressive tax rate. Therefore basically, the tax will be reduced if your income is lower. But, that's not how you want it, is it? As I know of, you cannot effectively reduce the tax you pay in Germany. However you can reclaim a portion of the amount you paid for the last year at the beginning of every year. As a resident in Germany regardless of whether you are a citizen or an expat, you have all the right to file a tax return. As per Taxfix, one of the leading tax declaration portals in Germany, France, Italy and Spain, the average tax return in Germany is 1.051 euros. Therefore, we’d strongly recommend you to file the tax return every year without fail. If you haven't already done so, you can also file your tax return for the previous years. Your tax consultant will be able to help you with the process.

Nowadays, it’s not mandatory to learn German to live in Germany. However, investing your time to learn the language can make your life in Germany much easier. But, do you really have to join a school to learn German? As soon as you make your way to start living in Germany, one of the major challenges you may face is the language barrier. Even though it may not seem so common these days and you find people accept you as an expat and try to help you in English, you may still face challenges at certain scenarios such as socializing or attending your driving license exam or permanent residency interview, etc. Therefore, it's better to develop your German language skills while you live here. Where to start with learning German? Once you made up your mind to move to Germany, you must start learning German as soon as you can. You can sign up for a course either in your home country or choose the best suits you once you arrive here in Germany. Nowadays, many apps are offering German language training along with many other languages at different prices ranging from 49€ per course to 5,99€ monthly subscription! Conventional learning There are many institutions offering Deutschkurs (German language courses) in Germany as well as internationally. Few internationally recognized German language institutes are : Goethe-Institut The Goethe-Institut is a non-profit German cultural association operating worldwide with 159 institutes, promoting the study of the German language abroad and encouraging international cultural exchange and relations. Goethe-Institut offers both classroom as well as online courses from A1 up to C2. Courses are concluded with an examination and the certificate you receive on successful completion is valid all over Germany for any type of requirements. Head over to Goethe-Institute’s website to find more. Volkshochschule Volkshochschule is an institution for adult education that generally does not grant academic degrees, though certain courses are being conducted which are leading to that goal. They are most commonly found in Nordic countries and in Germany, Switzerland and Austria Along with other professional courses and certifications, Volkshochschule offers high quality paid German classes from A1 to C2. The courses are offered both classroom as well as online and are handled by academic professionals. Take a look at the courses offered by Volkshochschule. Online learning If you still find it difficult to choose one or you are not in a position to spend such an amount to learn German, you may try the below options for free. Duolingo Duolingo is an American language-learning website and mobile app, as well as a digital language proficiency assessment exam. The company uses a freemium model: the app and the website are accessible without charge, although Duolingo also offers a premium service for a fee Use Duolingo’s free plan to learn German in a fun way. The course starts from the very basics progressing through some real life usages. Click here to start learning German free with Duolingo Deutsche Welle Deutsche Welle or DW is a German public state-owned international broadcaster funded by the German federal tax budget. Along with other publications, DW offers a free German learning program from the basic A1 to advanced B2. The courses are structured in a way that it helps you in real time scenarios from saying hello to a friend in German through ordering food in a restaurant to picking up basic business conversations with your colleagues in the office. DW also offers apps for both iOS and Android to help you keep up with your progress. Here you can find an overview about the course and materials. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

Allowances for children make the subsistence level of children tax-free in Germany. The allowances for children are more valuable to some parents than the child benefit. Parents either receive child benefit or the child allowance for income tax. During the annual income tax assessment, the tax office determines whether the allowances for children or child benefit paid out are more favorable to the parents. There is no need to apply for this check since it is automatic. Allowance for children has been increased In 2021 and 2022, the child allowance will be 5460 euros (2730 euros per parent). There is also an allowance of EUR 2,928 (EUR 1,464 per parent) for childcare and education. Both allowances are combined when assessing income tax. Tax allowances for children in the individual years are taken into account with the following total if the parents are married and assessed jointly: 2020: 7812 Euro 2021 and 2022: 8388 euros When spouses are assessed separately, each parent is assessed half the amount. Children up to the age of 18 are generally considered during the assessment. In addition, children under 21 who are unemployed and registered as looking for work in Germany are also considered. Adult children under the age of 25 will be considered if they be trained for a profession (apprenticeship, study), are in a transitional period of no more than four months between two training phases, cannot start or continue vocational training due to a lack of training places, do a voluntary social year, a voluntary ecological year, a federal voluntary service or an international youth voluntary service. Children who are physically, mentally, or emotionally incapable of supporting themselves, if the disability occurred before the age of 25, are also considered. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

The maintenance advance is a special aid for children of single parents. Maintenance advances can be obtained by single parents who are not receiving child support or don't receive it regularly from the other parent. It is usually difficult for single parents to raise their children alone. It is exacerbated if the child does not receive maintenance from the other parent, or does not receive it on time. Under the Maintenance Advance Payment Act, the maintenance payment should ease this special life situation. Who receives an advance on alimony? Children who live with a single parent and receive no or no regular maintenance from the other parent are entitled to an advance maintenance payment. There is no income limit for the single parent. It is not necessary to obtain a court order for maintenance against the other parent. In case the other parent is unable to pay the child maintenance, the state will claim the payment made as a maintenance advance. Here are the details: Children up to the age of 12 (until the 12th birthday) can receive maintenance advances without time restrictions. Children between the ages of 12 and 18 (until the 18th birthday) can also receive maintenance advances. The prerequisite for this is that they are not dependent on benefits under the second book of the Social Security Code (SGB II) or that the single parent earns at least 600 euros gross in SGB II. Amount of maintenance advance Maintenance advances are based on the age of the children and have been monthly since January 1, 2022: for children from 0 to 5 years up to 177 euros, for children from 6 to 11 years up to 236 euros, for children from 12 to 17 years up to 314 euros. Please check the family portal for the current information on Unterhaltsvorschuss. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

There are some important details to consider when you are looking to rent a place to live in Germany. Finding a place Real estate portals (Immobilien portals) The best and most popular way to find a place to live in Germany is to make use of the many real estate portals listing apartments, rooms and single houses. All of them operate in a freemium way by providing the best service with a free account and exclusive services like early notification of a new listing and direct contact to the landlord, etc on a paid account. To start with, you can depend on the free account. See if the listing satisfies your requirements and you are getting feedback from the advertisers. You can think about upgrading to a paid version if necessary at a later point in time. On some websites, the paid version offers additional services like free Schufa or priority contact to the advertiser or landlord. Meanwhile, if you are looking for how to get Schufa, check it here. Wunderflats Wunderflats is a modern, spam-free portal with a familiar layout. Wunderflats has quickly grown into one of the most trusted apartment finder services in Germany despite just being founded a couple of years ago. Spotahome If you are looking for a short to mid term rental, a vacation home, or even a weekend stay, Spotahome is the Airbnb for you. Listed on Spotahome, you will be able to book a property the same way as you would on Airbnb Immobilienscout24 Being one of the largest real estate platforms in Germany, Immobilienscout24 has a variety of listings from single room apartments to big houses. Their program offers you both free as well as paid accounts with different services. Immobilienscout24 also lists properties to sell. If you are looking to buy an apartment or house, you can use the platform to find the right one for you. Mrlodge While portals like Immobilienscout24 lists both furnished and unfurnished properties, Mrlodge offers furnished apartments. If your stay in Germany is not for a longer period, Mrlodge would be your best choice to find quality furnished properties at a reasonable cost. Relocation agencies When real estate portals come handy and flexible, you can still consider the old fashioned way. There are several relocation agencies in Germany that will help you not only to find a property, but they also offer other services like help you get your residence permit, driving license, find a school for your German training, etc. Unlike real estate portals, their service comes with a fee. However, you’ll get service from trained professionals. TM-Relocation In the last 25 years TM Relocation Services GmbH has successfully established itself in the world of relocation. The company was founded in 1996 and initially concentrated its efforts on and around Munich. More and more locations were added eventually. TM Relocation is currently present in the following cities and their surrounding areas: Munich, Berlin, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Nuremberg, Mannheim and Stuttgart. If you are moving to Munich or Bavaria, check out this list of relocation services published by muenchen.de; the official citizen’s portal in Munich. Scammers Unfortunately, there are a lot of scammers in this area in Germany. Therefore, if you feel something is not right, you might be right. Scammers usually ask you to transfer a deposit or caution deposit or initial amount to block the apartment or visiting slot for you before you make a visit to the apartment, you should avoid it. Documents required Once you found your dream property and made an appointment with the advertiser, generally you don't have to bring any documents while visiting the apartment. However, we prefer you to keep the below documents with you just in case the landlord / agent asks you for. Copy of the passport (you + the persons moving in) Salary slip for last three months (if available) Bank statement for last three months (if available) Schufa (if available) Most of the time, the person inviting you to view the apartment would have a form which you need to fill in. They may have invited other parties like you for a viewing. They’ll collect the documents and select the most satisfying party for them. Don't worry if you missed the apartment you liked a lot. There are plenty of options out there and a better one will come for you. Contract We hate to read the terms and conditions for any purpose, whether to install a software or to apply for a loan. However, you need to make sure that the below listed points are correctly included in the contract. Correct address including house number and a description about the property The owners name and contact address Tenure of the tenancy Deposit amount, monthly rent and the date of payment How much and on what frequency the rent will increase What are included or excluded from the rent (nebenkosten / additional costs) Notice period when leaving the apartment In case of furnished apartments, what furnitures, appliances, etc are in the property Any damages in the property such as break on the wall, damaged floor or appliances, etc. Information about the garage (if available) House rules such as how many additional people can stay or whether smoking or pets are allowed, etc. Additionally, if you want to add any points in the contract, please make sure that your points are added before you sign the contract. Packing and moving You need to think about packing and moving from the time you look for a place. How far is the new apartment from where you currently live, how do you move your stuff to the new place, how much does the move cost, etc. According to how much stuff you’ve got to move and how far is your new property, you need to decide whether you need to seek help from a relocation agency or you can simply move the stuff by yourselves. If you need help from a moving company, below are some popular ones. Sanelo Sanelo has been helping people relocate locally as well as internationally for more than 130 years. With their experience and expertise they can help your relocation smoothly. They have 69 offices in 38 countries around the world! Movinga Thanks to modern technology combined with experienced moving experts and optimized workflows, Movinga offers great moving experiences. As Europe's leading moving provider, Movinga can take care of the planning while one of their local moving partners will take care of your move. Insurance House insurance is nice to have if you are living in a rental apartment / house that is furnished; which is a common scenario for expats in Germany. This covers damages to the properties in your house such as fire, water damages, theft, etc. Maintenance When you rent a property in Germany, you are not responsible for the maintenance of the property. The maintenance is the headache for the landlord. However, you are responsible for maintaining the property at its original state when you terminate the contract or move out. Even though it is not regulated by law, you are obliged to return the property in its original state when moving out. Most of the contracts would contain a clause stating that you need to clean, repair and repaint the property when terminating the contract if you live there for a certain period of time. The landlord will use a portion of your caution deposit to return the property to its original state otherwise. Subletting Being expats, many of us would want to visit our home country, parents and friends at least once a year. You may want to sublet your property while you are away and make a bit of a side income. It is also a nice idea to keep the apartment clean. If you plan to sublet your property to a third person, make sure that your clearly state the rules for subletting. While most of the landlords don't let you do it, you can still negotiate a term with your landlord and include a clause in the contract. Leaving When it's time to leave the apartment, make sure to inform the landlord well in advance to avoid any confusions or clashes. Make sure that you clean the apartment, repair any damages and repaint if that's stated in your contract. You can do all these stuff by yourself with the help of your friends or family. Otherwise, hire a cleaning agency who can do it for you. There are many cleaning services out there offering their services at a cheaper cost. Most of them have customized plans for move out cleaning as a package. The whole process may seem tiring and overwhelming. However, we hope our tips help you make it organize in a better way. Good luck with your house hunt! On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

Germany offers two types of unemployment benefits; unemployment benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I / ALG 1) and unemployment benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld II / ALG 2). Depending on your individual situation, you can decide which one to apply to. Anybody could become jobless at any point in time due to any reason. However in Germany, you are covered if you become unemployed. Germany offers two types of unemployment benefits; unemployment benefit I (Arbeitslosengeld I / ALG 1) and unemployment benefit II (Arbeitslosengeld II / ALG 2). Depending on your individual situation, you can decide which one to apply to. Arbeitslosengeld I (Unemployment benefit I) Unemployment benefit I is financed by unemployment insurance. Id at all or how long you receive the unemployment benefit usually depends on how long you have contributed to the unemployment insurance; compulsorily or voluntarily. In general, you are insured for unemployment insurance as an employee. However, people who do mini jobs (up to 450€ PM ) and self-employed can voluntarily insure themselves. When you are entitled to unemployment benefit Entitlement to unemployment benefit is essentially subject to the following conditions: You meet the qualifying period. This usually means that you were employed for at least 12 months within the last 30 months before registering as unemployed (several occupations can be added together). You are registered as unemployed at your local employment agency (Arbeitsamt). You are not employed, but you can take up employment which is subject to compulsory insurance (at least 15 hours per week). You are looking for employment which is subject to compulsory insurance and work together and registered at the Employment Agency (Arbeitsamt). To avail the unemployment benefits, you must have a valid settlement permit or temporary residence permit in Germany. Entitlement in special cases In addition to the employment which is subject to compulsory insurance, there are other points that can be included for the entitlement to the unemployment benefit. For instance: You are voluntarily on unemployment insurance, for example during self-employment. You have raised a child (up to the age of 3). You have received Krankengeld (Sickness benefit). In these cases, too, you must have contributed to the unemployment insurance for a duration of at least 12 months within the last 30 months before registering as unemployed. If you have often been employed on a fixed-term basis, a shorter qualifying period applies under certain conditions: then at least 6 months of employment subject to compulsory insurance contribution in the 30 months prior to the registration as unemployed would be sufficient. How much unemployment benefit do I get? Here’s a simplified explanation of how the unemployment benefit is calculated. The calculation is based on your gross salary of the past 12 months. This amount is divided by the number of days of a year, i.e. 365. The result is your gross salary per day. From this, the wage tax, the solidarity surcharge and a lump sum for social security of 20 percent are deducted. (These deductions are for calculation purposes only and are not actually paid.) The result is your net salary per day. 60 percent of this net salary is the amount you receive as unemployment benefit per day. It increases to 67 percent if you or your spouse/partner have one or more children. Unemployment benefit calculator Calculate the amount of unemployment benefit individually with the unemployment benefit calculator of the Federal Employment Agency (ArbeitsAmt). To do this, you first select the year in which the claim arises or has arisen, for example 2020. How long you will receive unemployment benefits The duration for which you receive unemployment benefit depends on 2 factors: How long have you contributed to compulsory insurance, for example in the form of employment with contribution to the compulsory unemployment insurance. How old are you.. As a rule, the periods subject to compulsory insurance must be within the past 5 years. Different jobs can be added together. Duration of receipt for unemployed persons up to 50 years If you are under the age of 50, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum period of 12 months – provided you have previously contributed to compulsory insurance for 24 months or more. If you have contributed to compulsory insurance for the minimum period of 12 months, you can receive unemployment benefit for up to 6 months. Duration of receipt for unemployed persons aged 50 and over From the age of 50, the duration of the subscription increases in several steps to up to 24 months. This maximum duration applies to unemployed persons who are 58 years of age or older. As a prerequisite, you have contributed to compulsory insurance for 48 months or more. Duration of receipt for fixed-term employment If you meet the requirements for the shorter qualifying period, the following applies: For example, if you have 8 months contributions to the compulsory insurance, you can receive up to 4 months of unemployment benefit. How to apply for unemployment benefit I If you wish to apply for unemployment benefits, follow the below procedure as soon as possible to get the unemployment benefits without delay. Register at ArbeitsAmt Register in arbeitsagentur.de as soon as you resign. You need to register at least three months before the end of your employment contract. If you become unemployed unexpectedly, you need to register within three days of receiving the official confirmation from your employer. You can also reach out to their toll free number 0800 4 5555 00 or walk into the office and register in person. Please note that the officials may not always speak English. Therefore, it's better to bring a translator with you when you go there. Documents required to register You may bring the following documents with you: Valid passport Your Registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung) Your residence permit Relieving letter from your employer A resume Fill out and submit the application You get the application form at ArbeitsAmt during your appointment. You already download and fill out the form from arbeitsagentur.de before you go. Alternatively, you can do this online at the arbeitsagentur.de In two to three weeks, you will get a letter by post on the decision on your application. You may be invited for a meeting with a counsellor at arbeitsamt. The counselor will inform you further about the processes, aspects and expectations about the program. Hartz IV (Unemployment benefit II) Hartz IV / is the colloquial term for unemployment benefit II. This benefit of the Federal Employment Agency serves to secure your livelihood. Unemployment benefit II is intended to guarantee a dignified life. You can receive unemployment benefit II if You are able to work at least 3 hours a day, You are at least 15 years old and have not yet reached the statutory retirement age, You have your habitual residence in Germany You cannot or not sufficiently secure your livelihood (and that of your family) yourself or You live with an employable person entitled to benefits in a community of need. Unemployment benefit II is only paid to persons in need of assistance. Therefore, they must first use their own funds before receiving financial aid. If you have income or assets, you must first secure your livelihood if allowances are exceeded. You may receive the Sozialgeld (social benefits) if you are not capable of earning due to any health or other reasons, but if you live in a joint household with someone who is entitled to the unemployment benefit II. Unemployment benefit II: payment and duration Unemployment benefit II is usually granted for 12 months. However, unemployment benefit II is only granted for 6 months under certain conditions. If your income fluctuates, If you are self-employed or If the cost of your accommodation and its heating is unreasonable. The normal requirement globally covers the costs of food, clothing, household energy (without heating and warm water generation), personal hygiene, household effects, needs of everyday life, as well as to a reasonable extent also relates to the environment and participation in cultural life. Singles, single parents, as well as adults with a minor partner are entitled to the full amount of normal requirement. Since 1 January 2016, this is EUR 404 for all of Germany. The normal requirement for adult partners is EUR 364. Children younger than 6 years receive EUR 237. Between 6 and including 13 years of age this is EUR 270. Children and young persons between 14 and 17 years receive EUR 306. For young adults from 15 years on and below 25 years who live with their parents or who moved without the positive assertion of the municipal authority, this is EUR 324. Young adults who are 25 years and older must file their own application for (ALG II), regardless of the fact whether they live in their own flat or with their parents. Persons living in their own household form a separate benefit community (BG) if they are at least 15 years old. The official portal of arbeitsagentur has documented the concept well in detail. How to apply for unemployment benefit II Unemployment benefit II is only granted when you use up all other benefits such as Child benefits, Housing benefits, Parental allowance etc. If you cannot meet your basic living needs even after using all the other benefits, you may apply for the unemployment benefit II Register at your local Jobcentre You have to visit your local Jobcenter in person and register. Documents required to register at the local Jobcenter Valid passport Social security ID (Sozialversicherungsnummer / ID) Your residence permit (if required) During your appointment, the counselor who’s attending you will discuss your individual situation and detail the processes and features about the program. Fill out and submit your application for Unemployment Benefit II Your counselor will provide you with the relevant forms and documentation at your initial appointment. You may also apply online on the official arbeitsagentur portal. Please note that you may have to provide additional documents such as bank statements or salary slips, etc. Once the application is submitted, the agency will consider it at the earliest chance. You will receive a notification by post if you are eligible to receive the benefit. The notification will include the schedule of payments as well as the immediate next steps you need to do; such as applying for jobs, taking training, etc. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

You can apply for your Schufa report on meineschufa.de. It explains your creditworthiness In general, the Schufa score values ​​indicate the probability of how you meet the payment obligations in the future. With the so-called base score , an industry-independent assessment of your creditworthiness is carried out. Your probability of fulfillment is shown as a percentage - i.e. an assessment of how likely it is that you will make the payments as contractually agreed. This percentage is always recalculated on a quarterly basis - with numbers close to 100 corresponding to a great position and optimal creditworthiness. The Schufa reference value In addition to the base score, there is something called the Schufa reference value / Schufa Orientierungswert. This value range shows how good your credit rating is. It is calculated at the time the Schufa credit report is generated. The respective numbers in detail: 100-190 : There is no payment history information about you. So you have a low risk of payment difficulties. 200-299: There is no information on payment problems here either, but you have a slightly increased risk of payment problems. 300-499: There is no information on payment problems here either, but your risk of payment problems is rated as greatly increased. 500: Information about payment disruptions is available here. 600: Information from public registers of debtors is available here, e.g. in insolvency proceedings. The Schufa reference value is created from the weighted average of the Schufa industry score. Schufa has developed different scoring models for different industries. It was taken into account that your payment probability when buying a car can be different than when buying on account by mail order. Here for example the bank score or the mail order/eCommerce score. The value ranges from 9999 (rating level A, here there is the lowest risk of non-payment) to 0 (rating level P, highest risk of non-payment). Can I delete a Schufa entry? There could be chances that negative entries are stored in your Schufa record. In that case, you should first apply for your free self-disclosure from Schufa and check the data that has been stored about you. Check this article to see how you can get a free Schufa report. If you notice some incorrect entries, you have the right to have it corrected. These entries must be blocked by Schufa while the information is being checked. However, this does not actually delete the affected entry immediately. You can only have them corrected. They are then automatically deleted 3 years after completion. In the long term try to improve your credit rating by not overdrawing your overdraft facility as often and make sure that your expenses are not higher than your monthly income. Maybe it's high time you should seriously think about your financial habits too! By the way, if you are looking for an apartment, did you know that most furnished apartments in Germany ( listed in Spotahome, Wunderflats) do not ask for a Schufa? If you are looking for your first apartment, this can be an effective method. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

The process of getting your pension back may seem difficult. Nevertheless, if you follow the rules correctly, you could potentially receive thousands of euros from your German pension. There are a number of factors that should be considered for claiming your pension refund. It depends on your : Nationality Place of current residence How long did you work in Germany? What was your gross salary? To find out how much you can claim back, check out the many German Pension Refund calculators available online. Alternatively, you can check out Allabout Berlin’s pension refund calculator. Documents required for German pension refund Completed application form Your pension insurance number Personal ID (identity card, passport, birth certificate or family register in copy) Your insurance history (of all insurances you had while in Germany) Income tax certificates for each financial year you worked in Germany. Your tax identification number Your international account number IBAN and the international bank code BIC A power of attorney if you are applying on behalf of someone Meldebescheinigung zur Sozialversicherung It is important that you fill out the additional form V0105 if you answer "yes" to the question regarding gaps in insurance in section 5. Just for you to note, you may be required to submit supporting documents when applying for a pension refund. That may include some of the documents listed below Your insurance period completion documents. Birth certificates of your children Proof of professional training A written authorization is required if there are an authorized representative A determination sheet from the corresponding agency is required if civil servant times are available Evidence of training periods Evidence of periods of unemployment and illness Your birth certificate and, if applicable, the birth certificates of your children Even if the apprenticeship was terminated or you failed the exam, you should have your apprenticeship contract and journeyman or commercial assistant certificate. What is the process for claiming my German pension? Wait 24 months after your last pension payment You must wait 24 months before applying for a pension refund after your last mandatory payment. The documents can, however, still be prepared while you wait. Preparing the documents while you are in Germany makes the whole process easier for you. Download the application form and fill it out To complete the form, visit deutsche-rentenversicherung.de and download the package of forms You can book an appointment with the deutsche rentenversicherung if you need help filling out the forms. Alternatively, you can also call them. The telephone support is, however, only available in German. Application Though the application form is available in different languages including English, we recommend you fill out the German version (V0900) to make the process smoother. Bank details You need to fill Zahlungserklärung (the payment information form). Please note that the refund process will take approximately two months longer if you use a bank in another country. If your bank account is in Germany use the form A1310. Otherwise, fill the form A1313. Alternatively, we recommend you not to close your Wise - formally TransferWise or N26 accounts even if you leave Germany. Having a German bank account will get your refund much faster. If you don't have a Wise or N26 account yet, we recommend you create one while already in Germany. Sending your application Once you complete all the applications and you’ve waited 24 months after leaving Germany, you are ready to post everything to deutsche rentenversicherung. Please note that you cannot send the documents before the end of the 2nd year. Sending your documents too early may result in them being returned to you. Await an answer. The Deutsche Rentenversicherung will review your case as soon as they receive your application. In case of a need for supporting documents or additional information, they will contact you. In order to contact you, they will only use the postal service, that too in German. To prove that you live in the country you stated in the application, you might need to visit the German embassy or consulate. Finally, it all depends on the person who’s processing your application at DRV. Each person wants different information. It is important to be patient. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

Whether you have to follow the end to end process towards the driving license exam or you just have to attend the practical exam, or even you just need to convert your driving license to a German one without doing any of these steps, it depends on your home country's bilateral agreement with Germany. If you already own a driver’s license from another country, check out how you can convert your driving license in Germany. Below we list down the process of applying for a driving license and the process of learning to drive in Germany for the first time. Register at a Fahrschule (driving school) The driving schools or Fahrschule conducts the theoretical and practical exams in Germany. Therefore, you must register at a driving school to take these tests even if you have enough driving experience. If you don't know how to drive, it is mandatory that you enroll in a driving school. You cannot be taught by a friend or family member. As it is regulated by law, a new driving student must attend a Sonderfahrten (special training) which consists of a minimum of 14 theory classes and 12 practical classes. All of these sessions must be completed before you can apply for a theory or practical exams. An experienced driver may not have to start from these steps. Even though you may have to attend a couple of practical sessions, a theory lesson in the classroom may not be mandatory for you. Which can save you a good amount of money as well as time! Therefore, please check with the Fahrschule if you need a classroom theory session or not. Experienced drivers Even though you may not have to attend the classroom theoretical sessions, you have to prepare for the theory exam. There are several apps out there in AppStore and PlayStore. Simply search for “fahren lernen” and you’ll get many suggestions. You need to have an account and an activation / license key to use most of the apps; which the Fahrschule will provide you with a fee. It usually costs around 60€ - 80€ for a three months license. You can always extend it with an additional fee. Eye test for the driver’s license You must pass an eye test for most of the categories of driving licenses. The test can be done at an eye specialist or even at an opticals. You need to tell them that the test is for a driving license application. The test costs around 10€ - 30€. However, this cost is usually covered by your health insurance if you submit the invoice. Erste Hilfe Kurs / First aid training All driving license applicants must complete an Erste Hilfe Kurs / First aid training before they can attend the theory exam. While ADAC and the German Red Cross are popular ones, there are many agencies out there conducting this course. It is usually a full day (7-8 hrs) course at a training center detailing how to handle an emergency when you are out there driving. It costs around 40€ - 50€. Even though the course is for the driver’s license applicants, anybody interested can join the course and we really recommend taking this course if you are not planning to get a driving license. Apply for a learner’s driving license Once you complete all of the above steps, it's time to apply for a learner’s driving license. Make an appointment at your respective driving license authority and submit your request in a prescribed form. You only need to do this if you don’t have a driving license neither German nor foreign issued. The learner’s driving license will cover you while you are taking your practical classes or learning to drive in general. Theorieprüfung or Theoretical exam As mentioned above, if you are a new driver, you need to complete 14 theoretical classroom sessions before you can apply for the theoretical exam. If you are an experienced driver, you must have completed all goals in the fahren lernen app and you have the green light in the app (you’ll get to know about it as soon as you register and open the app). When you feel ready, your driving school will book an exam appointment for you at the driving license authority. In Germany, Tüf conducts the tests in many cities. The theoretical exam can be attended in German, English as well as in French. There would be 30 multi choice questions, a total of 110 points. You need to score 100 points minimum. Or, you can only make 10 minus points. It could be one question of 10 points or two questions with 5 points or three questions with 3 points each. The test costs around 22,50€. The cost may vary depending on the city you are attending the exam. Praktische Prüfung or Practical test You can attend the practical exam or praktische Prüfung only when you pass the theory exam. The practical test is arranged by your driving school. You must attend the practical test within a year of passing the theory exam. During the test, your driving instructor takes the passenger seat beside you and the examiner gets into the back side of the car id you are applying for the category B driving license. For two wheeler exams, you have to ride the bike and the instructor and the examiner will follow you in a car. The instructions will be handed over to you though a wireless communication device fixed on your helmet. The exam is only conducted in German. Therefore, consider attending a German language training before the driving exam. Otherwise, make sure you learn the basic words from your instructure. The Fahrschule usually provides you with a list of potential questions which you can learn before the practical exam. During the exam, The examiner will ask you a couple of questions about the vehicle you are going to drive. Some examiners will not let you drive until you answer these basic questions correctly. Then you’ll be asked to drive in different real life scenarios including city traffic, 30 zone, autobahn, emergency braking, etc. After the test, the examiner will inform you about the result. If you pass, a document with the result will be handed over to you. Note that, this is not the diving license and you should not drive before you get the original driving license. You can then collect your driving license from the licensing authority. Nowadays, your driving license should already be printed and ready to collect on the same day. However, it may take upto four weeks before you can collect it depending on the rush. Important before you start driving with your new driver’s license: Even if you are an experienced driver who just converted your driving license to a German one, you have to undergo a probation period of 6 months. The person in the driving license authority will inform you about this while collecting your license. If you are a new driver, you are under probation for the first two years of passing the German driving license exam. Which means, if you commit any violations especially drunk and drive (even in small amounts) during this period you may lose your license.

It is regulated by law from 2015 that anybody who is taking up a rental living place in Germany and wants to register in the local citizen’s office must present a valid Wohnunggeberbestätigung / proof of residence form signed by the landlord. What is Wohnungsgeberbestätigung Wohnungsgeberbestätigung or proof of residence is a form that has to be filled and signed by the landlord. It confirms that you are renting their apartment / living place. You need to present this form while registering in the local citizen’s office (Bürgerbüro). How to get Wohnungsgeberbestätigung? Your landlord must provide you with the proof of residence while signing the contract or soon after you move in. The landlord could be fined for up to 1000€ if not ready to provide the proof of residence. The Wohnungsgeberbestätigung certificate is a form that can be downloaded from your local citizen’s office’s website. Either you or your landlord or your rental agency can fill it and can be signed by your landlord or the rental agency. Once you get the signed form, you can take it along with other supporting documents for your appointment at the Bürgerbüro to register. Only then you receive the registration certificate. If you are living in Munich, you may use this template shared by muenchen.de. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

If your child is sick, you are allowed to take time off from work to care for your child in Germany. This will not be counted against your annual leave or your salary. If you cannot present at work due to the sickness of your child, your employer should continue to pay your salary for up to five working days. However, you need to present a doctor certificate to your employer. In certain cases, your employer will continue to pay your salary if it is in your contract. Otherwise, the statutory health insurance will pay the Kinderkrankengeld (child sickness benefit) during this period. If your contract does not cover the children's sick pay, you can still take off to care for your child. However, the statutory health insurance system will be paying your benefit out of the child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld). How many children's sick days are parents entitled to? Parents with statutory health insurance can apply for child sick pay for 30 working days (single parents for 60 working days) per child in 2021 and also in 2022. In the case of several children, the entitlement per parent is not more than 65 working days and for single parents for no more than 130 working days. The special scheme for children's sick pay from the year has been extended to 2022. Kinderkrankengeld Requirements If you or your child are covered by private health insurance, you are not entitled to the child sickness benefit. You must be a salaried employee entitled for sickness benefit Your child is insured as a dependent to you Your child cannot go to the school or childcare due to the sickness A doctor has certified that your child needs care Your child’s age is 12 years or less You are covered by a statutory health insurance How much Kinderkrankengeld can I get? The amount of child sickness benefit you can get depends on your salary. Statutory health insurance companies will pay up to 90 percent of your lost net salary. Up to 100 percent may be paid if you received one-off payments such as holiday or Christmas bonuses in the 12 months before drawing the benefit. How to apply for Kinderkrankengeld in Germany To apply for child sickness benefits, first, you need to get a doctor certificate. The doctor will also provide you with the “medical certificate for receipt of sickness benefit in the event of a child’s illness” (Ärztliche Bescheinigung für den Bezug von Krankengeld bei Erkrankung eines Kindes). You need to fill out the specified area in the form to apply for the sickness benefit about your employer details as well as your bank details, etc. You should send both the doctor’s certificate and your signed application form to your employer as well as your health insurance company. Your health insurance company may ask for a certificate of earnings from your employer to calculate how much Kinderkrankengeld you should receive. The benefit will then be paid directly into your bank account. How long can I avail Kinderkrankengeld in Germany? In every year each parent may claim up to 10 days of Kinderkrankengeld per child, up to a maximum of 25 days in total. Single parents can claim up to 20 days per child - or a maximum of 50 days per year. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

It is always sparky when thinking about the holidays and planning the vacation. Unfortunately, 2021 was not so favorable in terms of holidays as most of them came to pass by the weekend. Most commonly, a German employee gets 30 paid leaves annually. If you fall under this category, you might be able to get some 50+ holidays this year if you plan ahead! Jan 06 - Epiphany For the people who work in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt got a chance to have 17 days of holidays from December 24 2021 (Friday), to January 9 2022 (Sunday) if you spend 10 paid leaves. Mar 08 - International Women’s day (only for Berliners) The next public holiday comes after 61 long days in March! However, only for Berliners. In January 2019, Berlin's parliament approved a bill to make International Women's Day, observed annually on 8th March, a public holiday. Apr 15 - Good Friday For the rest of the people in Germany, it's a 99 days long wait until April 14 for Good Friday. Since Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays, you get a long weekend. A clever marking of 4 days off before Good Friday or after Easter Monday would give you a relaxing 10 days off! May 26 - Ascension Day Since Labour Day (May 01) comes on a Sunday in 2022, the Ascension Day is on Thursday (like always). Take a day off on Friday and enjoy a long weekend! One of the well liked options is to bridge between Ascension Day and Whit Monday (June 6). If you manage to take off for 6 days (from May 27 to Jun 3), you can avail 12 days of vacation with probably nice sunny days. Jun 16 - Corpus Christi People in western Germany (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland)get the Corpus Christi on a Thursday. Therefore, marking Out of Office on Jun 17 would give you a 4 days weekend. Aug 08 - Peace Festival (Only for Augsburgers) The Peace festival in Augsburg gives the people living there an opportunity to take the Friday before off or the Tuesday after off and get a 4 days long weekend. Aug 15 - Assumption day (Only Bavaria and Saarland) The Assumption of Mary is only celebrated in Bavaria and Saarland. Since it is a Monday, make a day off on the Friday before or the Tuesday after and get a 4 days weekend As we head into July, August and September, there aren’t many bridge days to make use of, unless you’re lucky enough to live in one of the three states with regional holidays. Assumption of Mary, for example, is only celebrated in Catholic areas of Bavaria and Saarland. Sep 20 - World Children’s Day (Only Thuringia) Thuringia celebrates the World Children’s Day on September 20. Its a Tuesday. Therefore, an off on Monday gets you a long weekend to enjoy! Oct 03 - German Unity Day German Unity day is a national holiday and this time thankfully on a Monday. Choose between Friday before or Tuesday after and get a long weekend. Oct 31 - Reformation Day (regional holiday) This regional Public holiday on a Monday gives the people in Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Lower Saxony and Bremen gives the opportunity to get a long weekend! Nov 1 - All Saints' Day (regional holiday) Public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. Mark the Monday off and there’s a chance to get a 4 day weekend. Dec 26 - Boxing Day It's a Monday and therefore, a Friday before or a Tuesday after gives you a 4 day weekend. For the most part, 2022 is neither a bad year nor a good year for holidays. The best part is, it isn't as bad as 20212 either! Anyway, depending on which state in Germany you live in, it's possible to avail more than 50 holidays in 2022 if you combine your 26 annual vacation days with the public holidays cleverly!

As soon as you get your German citizenship, you can apply for a German passport (deutscher Reisepass). You’d require a passport to travel outside of the EU Being one of the strongest passports in the world, you’d be able to travel up to 170 countries without having a visa prior to your travel if you have a German passport. How do I apply for a German passport You need to make an appointment at the Bürgeramt (Local citizen’s office) where you are registered. Please note that you have to be present at the appointment in person and nobody else can apply on your behalf. You may also apply at the local citizens’ offices in other municipalities. However, additional fees may be charged. Documents required for a German passport application When you make the appointment, you need to bring the below mentioned supporting documents along with you. Documents to prove your German nationality as well as your identity. (it could be your old passport or any type of photo ID card) Two identical biometric recent passport photos with respect to the guidelines issued by the Federal government. Your German naturalisation certificate, (optional). Completed application form Other supporting documents if required Biometric details such as the fingerprints of your left index fingers will be collected at the time of your appointment. German passport application cost The cost depends on the location you apply for, urgency, your age, pages required, etc. Information as per the German mission in the USA The German passport of an adult is valid for up to 10 years. The passports of people under 24 years old are valid for six years. The child passport (Kinderpass) is also valid for six years or until the child reaches 12 years of age. Processing time for a German passport application In general a German passport application could take from three to six weeks. Once ready, you’ll get a notification and then you can pick it up from your local citizens' office. You may also authorize someone else to collect it on behalf of you. However, you need to provide a signed authorization letter to the person representing you. You can also speed up the process if you need the passport quicker. Upon paying additional fees, you might be able to pick up your passport within three working days. However, this depends on the rush in the office. How to renew a German passport? The renewal procedure is the same as applying for a new passport. However, you need to surrender your expired passport along with the other documents required for a new passport. However, you may be allowed to keep your old passport (only if it is still valid) if you have to travel while your renewal application is being processed. How do I apply for a German passport from abroad A German citizen living abroad may renew / apply for a new German passport at the German mission in the country of residence. You have to visit the German mission abroad in person after making an appointment in advance. You have to bring a completed and duly signed passport application form as well as other supporting documents. It may take around four to six weeks to process your application abroad. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

There is a great love for animals among Germans. There is at least one pet in every two homes in Germany, according to the statistics from 2016. A survey conducted by the Market Research Institute GfK in 2016 reveals that there is at least one pet in every two homes in Germany. The most favorite pets are cats and dogs. Birds, fish, hamsters, and dwarf rabbits are also popular pets to Germans. How to become a Veterinary surgeon in Germany? There are two options to become a Veterinary surgeon in Germany. Study Veterinary medicine in Germany Migrate to Germany as a Veterinary surgeon with a degree earned abroad Study Veterinary medicine in Germany Veterinary medicine is one of the most popular degree courses among German students. It is therefore difficult to find a seat in a university, just like it is for medicine. Due to its popularity, Germany has very strict admission requirements for this subject. Therefore, applicants are required to have high grades in order to qualify. Like many other degrees, Veterinary medicine seats are allocated by the Foundation for University Admissions (Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung). If you are planning to study Veterinary medicine in Germany, it is recommended to check whether you get a scholarship. Although German universities don't charge tuition fees, there are other expenses such as flight tickets, accommodation, food, etc. If you are able to obtain a scholarship, you will be able to reduce your stress and be greatly aided. Veterinary medicine Course structure and practice The veterinary medicine degree takes about six years in Germany. During this phase, students gain both theoretical as well as practical experiences. As part of the program, students are required to complete work placement weeks in food quality and control, the slaughterhouse industry, and public veterinary services. Veterinary medicine students complete their degree with the state examination after completing a work placement year. Many graduates open their own practices after completing the course. Another fact is, the majority of the vets in Germany practice independently and are self-employed. Other people work in medical practices and clinics, in health monitoring, as pharmaceutical industry consultants or as managers and monitors of the cattle trade. Migrate to Germany as an experienced Veterinary surgeon If you have acquired a professional qualification as a veterinary surgeon abroad, you need an official, state-issued accreditation called "approbation" to work in Germany. The approbation is nothing but an unrestricted occupational license and valid across the country. The approbation can be acquired by recognizing your foreign degree in Germany. During the recognition process, the competition authority will compare your degree with a corresponding German degree and certify that your degree is fully or partially recognized in Germany. To practice as a veterinarian in Germany or to open your own practice, the approbation is a mandatory factor. If you have additional veterinary job specialization and a qualification as veterinary specialist, you can also apply for recognition of those specialized professional titles in Germany. However, you need to apply for the approbation for a veterinary surgeon before you can apply for the recognition of your specialized title. What do Veterinary surgeons get to do in Germany? Among other activities related to animal husbandry, the veterinarians perform a wide range of tasks, but primarily examine animals, record findings, diagnose illnesses, specify therapeutic measures, and carry out treatments and interventions. Veterinary surgeons get to work in veterinary practices and clinics, do research and teaching in the institutions, etc. Veterinarians also work for the government veterinary authorities, health authorities and veterinary chambers as well as in pharmaceutical Research. Veterinary degree recognition in Germany Many professions require recognition in Germany. It is not possible to work in these professions without having your degree recognized in Germany. Recognition is a procedure to make sure that the degree you possess abroad is equivalent to a German degree. There is a competent authority for every recognition procedure based on which state in Germany you wish to work in. If your degree is not from any of the EU member states, or from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, you are not permitted to work in Germany as a veterinarian without recognition. How to start the recognition procedure in Germany? To start with, you can get free counseling about the procedure from a ProRecognition agency. If you are from Algeria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, India, Iran, Italy, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia, and Vietnam, you have the opportunity to get counseling in your home country for free. Alternatively, you can contact the “Working and Living in Germany” hotline run by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees and the Federal Employment Agency offers telephone guidance. You can reach the hotline Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm (Central European Time). During the counseling, the agencies try to clarify your questions like whether you’ve selected the correct reference profession, the details about the recognition procedure, documents and forms to be submitted, etc Prior to applying for recognition, it is recommended that you seek counseling first. By doing so, any mistakes in the application can be avoided as well as delays in the processing. Recognition procedure for Veterinary degree in Germany To understand the procedure easily, the information portal of the German government for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research has prepared a very detailed documentation in English. Please note that this specific documentation is only for the candidates seeking to work in Munich. You can go to the Your place of work section and choose the city you wish to work in. This is because the recognition procedure is different in different states. How to move to Germany as a Veterinary surgeon? As soon as your professional qualification is recognized in Germany, you can start applying to hospitals, medical universities, care homes, or basically any medical organization that requires your qualifications. Alternatively, you can also check LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or Indeed for openings as well as the websites of hospitals and other organizations. Vets can also work in zoos, agriculture, pharmacy, research and veterinary authorities. In Germany, most veterinarians practice privately or run a combined practice with other vets. However, to practice individually or start a clinic with other vets, you need to have a self employment visa. Checkout this detailed article from make-it-in-germany for the requirements and process for a German self employment visa. Do I need to know German to become a Veterinary surgeon in Germany? To get the license to practise / work in Germany, you need sufficient German language skills. Having a good understanding of German medical terms is essential. It is usually necessary to have at least a B2 level of German. Additionally, you may need to take an exam to prove your knowledge of medical terminology. However, precise regulations are defined by the corresponding states which conduct the examination. Temporary permission to work as a veterinarian in germany It is possible to apply for a temporary work permit if you plan to work for only a short period of time. However, you will be restricted to work in a specific location, for a specific period and in a particular field of work. The temporary permission can only be extended in rare cases. Permission will only be granted if you can prove you have completed a veterinary degree. It is important to note, however, that your foreign professional qualification is not recognized as part of your permission to work. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi

In Germany, your first point of contact for any medical emergencies would be either your hausarzt or a general practitioner (GP). If a specialist needs to be consulted, your GP or hausarzt will refer you. Even though it’s better to have a hausarzt while you live in Germany, it's not mandatory to have one. However, it is wise to have a personal doctor as it would make your life easy. First thing, it would be easier for you to communicate your problems to a known person than to an unfamiliar one. How to find a personal doctor in Germany There are many websites listing doctors or Hausarzt. Simply google “hausarzt near me” or head to listing directories like Jameda or doctolib. You can either search with your zip code or your city. Additionally, If you are covered by the Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (statutory health insurance), you can also use the doctor search in the KBV website. Select your state and the site will take you to the state specific page and there you can search with your zip code. Before visiting the doctor, make sure that you clarify whether they accept your insurance as some doctors only accept private insurances while most of the doctors accept all kinds of insurances. Read our article about different types of insurance in Germany. Visiting the doctor You can book an appointment simply by calling the doctor’s number or sometimes over their website. The listing directories like doctolib let you make an appointment through their website itself. You can even walk into a doctor’s clinic and get an appointment if it is an emergency. However, the waiting time might be longer than pre-booking an appointment. A common fact is, neither the doctor nor the receptionist cannot always be expected to speak in English. However, most of the doctors speak or at least try to speak in English to help you. If you have an emergency and are not getting a doctor’s appointment, don't hesitate to go to the emergency department in the nearest hospital. Most of the practices are closed on weekends and on public holidays. Therefore, ask them about their working hours and vacation plans in advance. If you are not sure whether your doctor’s practice is closed when in an emergency, try calling their contact number and usually there will be a recorded voice instructing you what to do next if they are closed. You always have to bring your insurance card with you during the visit. If you forgot your card, you might get a chance to pay and claim the money from your insurance provider at a later point of time. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com. If you enjoyed the content and feel like you learned something from it, consider supporting us by buying us a Ko - fi