Germany is a country that values security and stability. That’s why there are many types of insurance available to cover almost every risk you can think of. However, not all insurances are mandatory or necessary for expats living in Germany. In this article, we will give you an overview of the most important insurances in Germany for expats, and help you decide which ones you need and which ones you can skip. If you are planning to move to Germany, or if you already live there as an expat, you might be wondering what kind of insurance you need. Insurance is a very important topic in Germany, as there are many risks and liabilities that you might face in your everyday life. In our experience living in Germany from 2015, we've came across 8 essential insurances that expats in Germany must consider, from health insurance to personal liability insurance. We will also explain which ones are compulsory and which ones are optional, and how to find the best deals for your situation. Health Insurance Health insurance (Krankenversicherung) is the most essential and compulsory insurance in Germany. You need to have health insurance to get a visa, a residence permit, or a job in Germany. There are two types of health insurance in Germany: public (gesetzliche) and private (private). Public health insurance covers most of the medical expenses and treatments in Germany, and it is funded by social security contributions from employers and employees. You are eligible for public health insurance if you work in Germany and earn less than €66,600 per year (as of 2023). You can choose from over 100 public health insurance providers, such as Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), AOK, or Barmer. Private health insurance offers more flexibility and options for medical services and doctors, but it is also more expensive and selective. You can opt for private health insurance if you earn more than €66,600 per year, or if you are self-employed, a freelancer, a student over 30 years old, or a civil servant. You can compare and choose from various private health insurance companies, such as Ottonova, Allianz, or AXA. If you are not sure which type of health insurance is best for you, you can consult an independent broker like MW Expat Solutions or use an online comparison tool like Tarifcheck to find the best deal. Personal Liability Insurance Personal liability insurance (Private Haftpflichtversicherung) is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended for expats living in Germany. This is because in Germany, you are legally liable for any damage or injury you cause to another person or their property, whether intentionally or accidentally. This can result in huge financial claims that can ruin your life. Personal liability insurance protects you from these claims by covering the legal and compensation costs up to a certain limit (usually between €5 million and €50 million). It also covers your family members, your pets, and your rented apartment. Personal liability insurance is very affordable, starting from €3 per month. You can find many English-speaking and digital providers online, such as Getsafe, or Feather. Car Insurance Car insurance (KFZ-Versicherung) is mandatory if you own or drive a car in Germany. There are three types of car insurance in Germany: third-party liability (Haftpflicht), partial coverage (Teilkasko), and comprehensive coverage (Vollkasko). Third-party liability insurance covers the damage or injury you cause to other people or their property with your car. It is the minimum legal requirement for car owners in Germany. The cost of third-party liability insurance depends on various factors, such as your car model, your age, your driving experience, and your location. Partial coverage insurance covers the damage to your own car caused by natural disasters, theft, fire, vandalism, or collision with animals. It does not cover the damage caused by collision with other vehicles or objects. Partial coverage insurance is optional, but it is advisable if your car is relatively new or valuable. Comprehensive coverage insurance covers all the damage to your own car, regardless of the cause. It also includes partial coverage and third-party liability insurance. Comprehensive coverage insurance is optional, but it is recommended if your car is very new or expensive. You can compare and choose from different car insurance providers online, such as Check24, Verivox, or Tarifcheck. Other Optional Insurances in Germany There are many other types of insurances in Germany that are optional for expats, but they might be useful depending on your situation and preferences. Here are some of them: Dental Insurance (Zahnzusatzversicherung) Dental insurance in Germany covers the costs of dental treatments that are not fully covered by the public health insurance. In Germany, dental insurance can be useful for expats who want to have access to high-quality dental care and cosmetic dentistry. For example, if you need braces, implants, crowns, or veneers, dental insurance can help you pay for them. Dental insurance is not compulsory in Germany, but it is beneficial for expats who care about their oral health and appearance. Legal Insurance (Rechtschutzversicherung) Legal insurance covers the costs of legal disputes, such as lawyer fees, court fees, and compensation claims. Legal insurance can be useful for expats who face legal issues related to their work, housing, family, or traffic in Germany. For example, if you have a conflict with your landlord or employer, or if you are involved in a car accident, legal insurance can help you defend your rights and interests. Legal insurance is not compulsory in Germany, but it is highly recommended for expats who want to avoid high legal expenses and stress. Bicycle Insurance (Fahrradversicherung) Bicycle insurance in Germany covers the damage or theft of your bicycle. Bicycle insurance can be useful for expats who use their bikes as a main mode of transportation or as a hobby. For example, if your bike is stolen or damaged by vandalism or an accident in Germany, bicycle insurance can help you repair or replace it. Bicycle insurance is not compulsory in Germany, but it is advisable for expats who own expensive or custom-made bikes. Income Protection Insurance (Berufsunfähigkeitsversicherung) Income protection insurance covers the loss of income due to illness or disability that prevents you from working. In Germany, income protection insurance can be useful for expats who depend only on their salary to maintain their lifestyle and obligations. For example, if you suffer from a chronic disease, a mental disorder, or a physical impairment that makes you unable to work, income protection insurance can help you replace your lost income until you recover or retire. Income protection insurance is not compulsory in Germany, but it is essential for expats who want to protect their livelihood and their family’s stability. Term Life Insurance (Risiko-Lebensversicherung) Term life insurance pays out a sum of money to your beneficiaries in case of your death within a specified period of time. In Germany, term life insurance can be useful for expats who have dependents or debts that they want to take care of after they pass away. For example, if you have children, a spouse, or a mortgage that you want to support or pay off in case of your death, term life insurance can help you provide them with financial security and peace of mind. Term life insurance is not compulsory in Germany, but it is recommended for expats who want to leave behind a legacy and a safety net for their loved ones. Conclusion Insurance in Germany can be confusing and overwhelming for expats, but it is also important and beneficial. By knowing the types of insurances in Germany and choosing the ones that suit your needs and budget, you can protect yourself and your future in Germany.

With the fictional certificate, the immigration authorities are able to prove that the applicant has a provisional right to reside in the federal territory. This is frequently required for the issuance or extension of a residence permit. In order for a foreigner to reside legally in the federal territory, a legal regulation is necessary for the period between the application for a residence permit and the decision of the foreigners authority.The foreigner, therefore, is given a Fiction certificate for the processing period, which proves that he is legally and not punishable for remaining on federal territory. The following cases are essentially regulated in the provisions of the law on foreign nationals: 1. Residence with a residence title (Fortgeltungsfiktion) If the foreigner has a residence title and applies for an extension or another residence title in good time before it expires, the previous residence title is considered to continue to exist until the foreigners authority has made a decision This circumstance has the consequence that all effects linked to the residence permit continue to apply, including the permit to work and travel across Schengen and non Schengen countries. In concrete terms, this means that the foreigner is treated as if he had a residence permit, with all the legal consequences. In addition, Fortgeltungsfiktion entitles you to (re-)enter Germany (also without a visa). 2. Late application (Duldungsfiktion) Foreigners who submit their applications late are considered to have suspended deportation from the time they apply. As a result, foreigners are treated as if they had a toleration certificate. The person cannot be deported until an official decision is made on the application, even if he does not have a residence permit. 3. First-time application for a residence title (Erlaubnisfiktion) The stay of a foreigner who is legally resident in Germany and applies for a residence title without having one is considered permitted until the application is decided. The so-called positive states, who were able to enter the federal territory without a visa, are regularly affected by this regulation. For foreigners applying for their first residence permit, gainful employment is prohibited until the application is decided. The fictional permit does not entitle you to (re-)enter Germany. 4.Electronic residence permit (eAT) and employment Upon issuance of the eAT for training or employment, this residency title includes training and employment to the extent permitted by the foreigner's residence authority. The fictional certificate will include this permission. In addition, this regulation also applies in the event of a change of employer, continued employment after a previously fixed-term employment relationship or even first-time employment. The fictional certificate is issued on a standard form. Special case: Recognized persons entitled to protection Due to the special legal situation, the fictional effect for the group of persons recognized as entitled to protection (persons entitled to asylum, recognized refugees and persons entitled to subsidiary protection) does not only arise when they apply for a residence permit, which is why the provision on the fictional certificate is not directly applicable. A fictional certificate will be issued to those affected to demonstrate the lawfulness of their stay, retaining their previous residence permit. With the help of the fictional certificate, the residence permit and the proof of application from the immigration authorities, people who are affected can open a basic current account or apply for social benefits among other possibilities. 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 are an Indian citizen and your baby is just born in Germany, here are the things you need to do as soon as the baby has arrived. A newborn always brings joy to the family. The first hours and days are always exciting and overwhelming to the parents. To avoid confusion and organize your post delivery life easier, check out our checklist once you are settled. Citizenship Expatriates often wonder whether their newborn born in Germany receives German citizenship or Indian citizenship. A child born in Germany after 1 January 2000 may acquire German citizenship even if neither parent is German. However, one parent must have lived legally in Germany for eight years and have an unlimited residence right or an unlimited residence permit for three years. Between the ages of 18 and 23, children who become German citizens in this way must decide whether to retain German citizenship or their parents' citizenship. Your child will automatically become an Indian citizen if you do not fall under any of the categories pointed out above. However, the child will officially become an Indian citizen only after you register him / her in the Indian consulate. Read FAQs on the website of The Federal Foreign Office for more info. How do I get my child's Indian citizenship? Get the German birth certificate first Within seven days of delivery, you are required to register your baby's birth at the local registry office (Standesamt) where the baby is born. Nowadays, you can do this online through the hospital. It is also possible for the mother to register the birth of the child herself. As an alternative, you can also have the father, the midwife, a relative, or a close friend register the birth on behalf of the parents with an authorization letter. Documents required to register the birth at Standesamt A copy of both the parents’ birth certificate (A translated version if not in English). Marriage certificate (A translated version if not in English). Copy of the passport of both the parents Application form (you will get the application form either when you register at the hospital for the delivery or when you arrive at the hospital at the time of the delivery) After submitting your application online, you can apply for a birth certificate on your city's citizen portal (muenchen.de for people in Munich or berlin.de for berliners). It may take a week or two to send it to you by post. Usually, multiple copies of the birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) will be sent to you. You may use them to apply for the child benefit (kindergeld), health insurance, parental allowance (elterngeld), etc. You’ll also have the possibility to request for additional copies and international versions of birth certificates which you may use to apply for the passport and other purposes. If the online submission is not possible in your city, you or the representative you authorize will be able to do the same at the local citizen's office. How to register my child as an Indian citizen in Germany? Registering your child as an Indian citizen in Germany is a four step procedure. An online application form has to be filled on the web portal of Government of India You also need to upload the below documents to complete step Photograph of the child (Indian passport size (35x35 mm / 2 x 2 inch), white background, JPG format, the size should not exceed 20 KB) Signatures of the both the parents (JPG format less than 20 KB in size) Birth Certificate of the child issued by local German Authority (PDF format, less than 1 MB) Copies of passport of both parents (first and last page of the passport) [ PDF format, less than 1 MB] Print out of the form that was submitted online to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before submitting it, make sure both parents have signed it. You may submit the form in person at the Office of the Consulate General of India in the city you live or send it to the consulate along with the supporting documents as per the checklist mentioned below. If there’s no Indian consulate in the city you live in, you can go to the Indian consulate in a nearby town. Alternatively, you can also post the application to the Indian consulate nearest to you. An application Fee must be paid at the counter if you are visiting the consulate in person. If you send the application by post, you can make a bank transfer. However, the payment may be made in advance (as it may take 2 to 3 working days to get reflected in their bank account). Ensure that the supporting documents include proof of payment. Otherwise, the application will be sent back to you without processing. Documents required to register my child as an Indian citizen in Germany Print-out of the form filled online Copy of Birth Certificate issued by the local German Authority Copies of passports of both parents Copy of Address proof (Meldebescheinigung/ Personalausweis) Self-addressed envelope with stamp of Euro 4.05 (if applicants requests for dispatch of Birth Certificate by Post) Please refer to the respective Indian consulate’s website for the information about the fees and bank account details. Please note that: The child is eligible for registration as Indian Citizenship by “Descent” only if any of the parents of the child (or both the parents of the child) hold Indian nationality at the time of the birth of the child. The Indian Consulate reserves the right to contact you for any additional documents, if necessary. The applicant may be called for a personal-interview or the verification of original documents if necessary. Please also note that the application for Indian citizenship must be made within one year of the child's birth on the prescribed form How to get Indian Passport for my child born in Germany Upon receiving Indian citizenship, you can apply for your child's Indian passport. Checklist of Documents and procedure to apply for Indian passport: Go to ‘Passport Seva at Indian Embassies and Consulates’, website, select Germany from the list of countries, and fill out the application form on behalf of your child. Print-out of the field passport application form. Instead of signature, take a thumb impression of your child in the signature box on the first and last pages of the application form (Note that the left thumb impression if the child is a boy and right thumb impression in case of girl) Copy of birth certificate issued by the local German authority Copy of the Indian birth certificate 2 photographs of the child (one pasted on the designated place in the application form and other stapled on the last page of application form) Self-attested copies of parents' passports and residence permits / visas Copy of Meldebescheinigung (Proof of residency/address) A Consent Letter from parents (please refer to your respective consulates website for the form) Annexure G – applicable if either one of the parent has not given consent (please refer to your respective consulates website for the form) As mentioned above, you may submit the form in person at the Office of the Consulate General of India in the city you live or send it to the consulate along with the supporting documents as per the checklist mentioned below. If there’s no Indian consulate in the city you live in, you can go to the Indian consulate in a nearby town. Alternatively, you can also post the application to the Indian consulate nearest to you along with the supporting documents. A processing fee must be paid at the consulate if submitting the form in person or transfer the corresponding amount to the consulate’s bank account if you are sending the application via post. You may check the consulate’s website for the fee info. For sending the new passport by Post, please also send a medium sized self addressed and stamped (EUR 4.05) envelope along with your application Please note that the child’s presence may not be necessary at the consulate. Processing Time Depending on the rush at the consulate, it may take around 6-8 weeks for issuing the new passport. You can also apply for both Indian citizenship as well as Indian passport in one go. However, make sure you include both applications as well as separate copies of supporting documents in the envelope. The Indian consulate will send back the applications if separate copies of supporting documents are not included in the envelope when you send them. In our experience, applications sent to the Indian consulate by post are considered as prioritized as in person applications. Therefore, we recommend sending all your applications by post to avoid any unnecessary waiting time at the consulate. Apply for the residence permit for the child in Germany When you receive your child's passport, the rest of the process is the same for anyone residing in Germany. Requirements If both parents (in the case of shared parental responsibility) or the parent with the sole parental responsibility are in possession of a valid residence title when the child is born Your baby was born in Germany and is registered as living in a household with the custodial parents The residence permit for the child can be obtained from any local citizens office (Bürgeramt) in Germany if you meet one of the above criteria. While the condition is the same in most cities, some Bürgeramts will require you to meet additional criteria as well. Therefore, before your appointment, you should check with your local citizen's office. The Bürgeramt may refer you to the local foreigner's office (Ausländerbehörde) if your family's situation differs, such as if one parent is a European citizen. You can get a free consultation at your local foreigners office if you're not sure where to begin. The section 33 of the residence act (Aufenthaltsgesetz - AufenthG) defines every scenario for residence permit in Germany. 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

German Autobahns are well known around the world. In any case, a foreigner arriving in Germany will not leave without experiencing it at least once. What is an autobahn? Originally established in 1932, the Bundesautobahn or simply autobahn is the nation's highway network. The purpose of the road was to reach cities as fast as possible by motor vehicle. It is mandatory in Germany for autobahns to have two lanes in each direction. Both lanes must be separated by crash guards or concrete safety barriers, ideally. The autobahn allows only vehicles capable of traveling more than 60 kmph in order to accomplish faster movements. The Autobahn now stretches 13,000 kilometers (8,080 miles), making it one of the world's longest and densest highway systems. The majority of autobahn sections have two, three, or even four lanes in each direction, and a permanent emergency lane. Despite the fact that the Autobahn is an everyday, unremarkable sight for many Germans, true fans still adore it. German Autobahn Speed Limits: How Fast Can You Go? The Autobahn is known for allowing you to drive as fast as your car can go. In some ways, that's true. The highest speed ever achieved on an autobahn was 432.7 km/h by Rudolf Caracciola, a famous German race car driver in the Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen in 1938 on a closed section. It is possible to drive at maximum speed on the German Autobahn on some stretches depending on your vehicle and your driving skills. Approximately 70% of the Autobahn network has no speed limit. There is, however, a recommended speed limit of 130 km/h on German autobahns in stretches even though the speed is not controlled. My fastest speed on a German autobahn has been 302 km/h on an Audi Q6 between Haar and Munich international airport. Although it was an experimental ride when there were travel restrictions during Corona's peak in 2021, many people take advantage of the opportunity to experience the magic of the autobahn. However, most Germans don't often drive that fast on a daily basis and may don’t recommend driving so fast. Expats' tips for driving on the Autobahn Follow the speed limit The unlimited speed is only permitted in some stretches, as mentioned above. This means that most parts of the autobahn are speed-limited. Be sure to pay attention to the signs. There are speed radars in the autobahn, both permanent as well as temporary speed radars in accident prone areas. Speeding on controlled areas can lead to expensive fines or even the loss of your driving license in the worst case if you exceed the speed limit way too much. If there is a traffic jam, keep an emergency vehicle corridor There are times when traffic jams can occur on autobahns as well. Even if there is no emergency, you should always keep a rescue lane between two lanes whenever there is a traffic jam. If there are three or more lanes, the corridor should be formed between the left most lane and the lane right to it. Don't provoke other drivers and don't let others provoke you While you are on any roads in Germany, especially on the autobahn, never tailgate a car in front of you or get provoked by someone tailgating you. You could get fined up to 400 euros for that. The minimum distance between two cars on an autobahn should be half the speed at which you are going. For example, if you're going 100 km/h, keep a 50 meter distance from the car ahead. Overtake using the leftmost lane; don't drive continuously in it. Cars that drive the fastest typically use the leftmost lane. It's possible that you'll get scared and end up in a worse situation if you stay in the left lane and see a car approaching you at high speed in the rear view mirror. There is a possibility that you will be flashed or honked at by a car behind you. When you're driving at 150 kph, that's the last thing you want. Never overtake a car on the right If you see a car driving slowly on the middle lane while you are in the third lane and there is space in front of you, never overtake from the right. You might see other drivers do this often. But, keep calm and only overtake on the left. On the autobahn, never stop or reverse You are not allowed to stop or reverse on an autobahn. You are driving with the help of Google maps and you missed an exit? Still drive forward and allow the map to recalculate the route. On an autobahn, drivers going at high speeds will not expect you to stop or reverse and might crash into your car if you do. Driving with children in German autobahn If you are an expat and you want to take a taxi ride or drive with your child in Germany, there are certain rules you need to consider before starting your ride. 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 either in a personal car or in a taxi. Controlling in the autobahn The Autobahn has its own police force, the Autobahnpolizei, which often documents speeding violations with unmarked police cars equipped with video cameras. When the Autobahnpolizei need to stop you, they overtake you and drive in front of your vehicle with a signboard stating 'Bitte Folgen' or 'Follow me'. The police car needs to be followed until it stops somewhere appropriate. Keep both hands on the steering wheel while still sitting inside your car. An officer will approach you and instruct you on what to do next. If the officer gives you instructions, you are obliged to follow them. On the autobahn, I was stopped by the police once just because my friends in our car looked into the police car without knowing it was a police car. Although they left us up on checking the IDs and inspecting the car, we had to drive off the autobahn, which cost us both time and fuel. Driving in Germany as an expat If you are planning to move to Germany for a longer period, or if you are here for a short visit, you can use the driving license issued in your country for the first 6 months provided you have an IDP (International Driving Permit). You will need to either translate the IDP to German or request an English version if your IDP isn't in English at your local driving license issuing authority. If you are moving to Germany for a longer period, you may consider converting your non German driving license to get a German driving license (Führerschein). Finally, there are discussions about removing the unlimited speed and setting the speed on the autobahn to 130 km/h. Even though there hasn't been a decision yet, it won't take long for the government to decide. Therefore, if you are in Germany even for a short visit, don't miss a chance to take a spin on the German autobahn.

One of the usual roadblocks every expat would hit sooner or later when they move to Germany is about transferring funds to a bank account in their home country from their German bank account. It might be a savings account you may not want to close or to help support family or friends; we got you covered! First stop: Online money transfers When it comes to transferring funds, online money transfers are cost-effective, faster, and more convenient. Unlike traditional banking, it does not incur additional costs such as handling charges. Wise - formally TransferWise In 2011, Wise launched with the goal of making international money transfers cheap, fair, and simple. Globally, millions of people and businesses use their multi-currency account to manage their money. Wise offers a multi-currency bank account which you can use as your everyday bank account to receive salary, pay rent, make online shopping, etc. With a Wise account, you get a physical debit card for free as well as unlimited virtual debit cards that you can use to pay online and use them as virtual debit cards in Apple Wallet and Google Pay, or even withdraw money at an ATM with NFC capabilities. It is possible to add money to your account in 19 currencies. These include AUD, BGN, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HRK, HUF, JPY, NOK, NZD, PLN, RON, SEK, SGD, TRY and USD. The real exchange rate is always used when you convert money between any of the 50+ currencies in your account. You can also receive money in 11 currencies using your account details. A plus is that there are no fees associated with opening or maintaining an account. Revolut Just like Wise, Revolut too won’t ask you to visit a branch or bury you in paperwork. Opening an account in Revolut takes just less than a few minutes, and you can do everything straight from your phone. With Revolut, you can send and receive money in 30+ currencies with no hidden fees. Plus, transfers are almost always instant and free between Revolut friends anywhere in the world! Additionally, Revolut offers to fix you up with discounts and cashback offers from your favourite brands, so you can save when you spend. You just need to use your Revolut card when you shop. Revolut also offers splitting of bills with anyone, even if they’re not on Revolut. You just need to enter the numbers and Revolut will do the math. You can split bills from restaurant to rent. WorldRemit WorldRemit is another money transfer service that is simple, fast, secure, and low cost. They offer international money transfer and remittance services in over 130 countries and 70 currencies since 2010. Across 130 countries, WorldRemit supports 70 different currencies. With WorldRemit, you can send money overseas using bank deposits, mobile money, or cash pickups, making it convenient for your family and friends to receive the money. How to send money from a German bank account internationally? While different companies have different processes to do this, the general approach would be to Create an account Once you’ve done your research and decided which service to use, you need to create an account using your email address or phone number Documents required to create an account Valid passport Visa / residence permit Tax ID (optional) Add the details of the bank account where the money will be sent. After creating the account, you need to verify your identity. It can either be done through postident, or it can be done through a video chat with a representative. Upon verification of your identity, you can send money immediately after verification is complete. Add recipient Adding the recipient would be the next step. In order to do this, you would need their bank account number, their bank identification code (swift code or IFSC code, depending on the country where the bank operates), and the name of the recipient. The recipient details required may vary depending on the target currency and location. Send the money As soon as the recipient is added to your account, you can choose the amount to send. Depending on the app you use, you may receive a live currency exchange rate, a comparison with competitors, etc. Wise, for example, offers the option of locking the current exchange rate for a few hours. This means you can still transfer on the locked exchange rate even if the rate goes down. The process As soon as you finish the transfer, the app will make a request to your bank (the bank account you added while creating the account) to get the money from your bank to the app. As soon as the app gets a confirmation from the bank that the amount is available in your account, the app converts the equivalent amount to the target currency and transfers it to the target bank. Some apps wait until the transfer from your bank to the app is completed and money arrives to the apps account. This will take more time to complete your transfer and your money to arrive in the target bank account. Generally, the whole process could complete in seconds to days or even weeks in case of a holiday season or if the transfer is initiated on a weekend. Traditional money transfer If you are not into the online way of doing things, you still have the opportunity to transfer money the old fashioned way. You may approach your bank in Germany for a bank transfer or cash remittance services. We observed a handful of money exchange services like Western Union Money Transfer, etc. operating in Germany 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

Soon after your delivery in Germany, you may be eligible to receive Elterngeld - a social benefit provided from the German social security system. Parental benefit is given to all new parents to manage the loss of earnings caused by the time off work due to the birth of your child. Parental allowance provides support for parents who work less or not at all after the childbirth to take care of the child. Parental allowance is available to each parent. While receiving parental allowance, you may work up to 30 hours per week. However, It is also possible to not work at all. Which means, you don’t have to interrupt your higher education or vocational training in order to receive parental allowance. Eligibility To become eligible for receiving parental allowance, You look after the child from his / her birth by yourself. You may work only up to 30 hours per week during the period you receive the allowance. You and your child must be living together in the same house. You must hold a permanent residence permit, or a work permit. You and your partner’s (if applicable) combined annual income must not exceed €500.000. You may also claim parental allowance if you look after a child from birth, even if it is not your own child, OR if you adopt a child aged up to eight years. Types of parental allowances There are three kinds of parental allowance: basic parental allowance, parental allowance plus, and the partnership bonus. You receive basic parental allowance for at least two months and up to your child's first birthday. If you both draw parental allowance, you can receive it for 14 months in total. You are free to divide up these months between the father and the mother / partners. You can draw basic parental allowance together, consecutively or alternately. Single parents are also entitled to the additional two months. Basic parental allowance ranges from 300 to 1800 euros per month, depending on your income prior to the birth of your child. As a rule, it amounts to 65 percent of your net income. Parents with a low income receive up to 100 percent of their net income. If you are working part-time while drawing parental allowance, this has an impact on the level of your parental allowance. Your income after your child's birth is taken into account. If you had no income before the birth, you can receive a minimum amount. If you have other small children or the newborns are twins, you may receive higher amounts. Use the parental allowance calculator to calculate how much exactly you can get. Parental allowance Plus You can extend the period of receiving the allowance with the parental allowance plus. Parental allowance plus is provided for twice as long as the duration of basic parental allowance. If you do not work after the birth, parental allowance plus amounts to half as much as basic parental allowance. If you work part-time after the birth, parental allowance plus may amount to the same as basic parental allowance in combination with part-time work. Parental allowance plus may be especially worthwhile then because it is the same or almost the same amount but can be drawn for twice as long as basic parental allowance. Parental allowance plus amounts to between 150 and 900 euros per month. You may combine both basic parental allowance and parental allowance plus to better use the benefits. Partnership Bonus Parents who share the responsibilities of the family and career evenly may receive the partnership bonus. It amounts to four additional months of parental allowance plus, which you receive if you both work part-time at the same time. If you are a single parent, it is enough if you alone fulfil the prerequisites. Single parents can claim the bonus by working for 25 - 30 hours per week for four months. How to apply for parental allowance? You can fill out and submit your parental allowance application online if you live in Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein or Thuringia with ElterngeldDigital. After the calculation, your data may be transferred from the parental allowance calculator to ElterngeldDigital. Which rules out the inconvenience of entering your details twice. The expansion of ElterngeldDigital to other federal states is in the planning phase. You may find the application forms for the other federal states here. You must submit your application to your parental allowance office in person or by post. Documents required to apply for the parental allowance Birth certificate of the child Copy of your passport Proof of income (employment contract, bank account statement, etc) It takes around four weeks to process your application and receive a decision in the post once you submit the application. 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 Germany heavily promotes digital transactions, many shops and people still prefer conventional methods. Although Germany heavily promotes digital transactions, many shops and people still prefer conventional methods. At many places in Germany, if you like to shop, you will not be able to use your credit card or debit card. This may be because the POS machine only supports EC karte (Euro-Cheque card with 4-digit PIN issued by your bank). The next option you have is to pay in cash. Whenever you want to pay at a restaurant in Germany, the waiter will ask you ‘bar order karte?’ or simply cash or card? Cash payment means you'll probably get a lot of coins back. In any case, while in Germany or Europe generally, you cannot avoid the relationship with the coins. How do I exchange coins at my bank? Almost all German banks have cash deposit machines or coin deposit machines (Einzahlautomat) at the entrance of the branch. The coin deposit tray in the machine allows you to deposit coins in bulk. As soon as the coins are counted by the machine, you will receive a receipt. The money will be credited into your bank account within 2 - 4 business days. It is important to note that you can only deposit cash at your bank's ATM. In other words, you cannot use the Sparkasse deposit machine if you have an account with Deutsche Bank. Despite the fact that most banks offer this service for free, some may charge a small fee. I only have an N26 account in Germany. How do I exchange coins? In collaboration with their partner shops, N26 offers Cash26, which is a cash withdrawal and deposit service. You need to take the coins to one of N26’s partner shops. Then, you need to generate a barcode within the N26 app. Once the cashier counts the coins and scans the barcode in the N26 app, they will deposit the money into your N26 account. However, the minimum CASH26 deposit is limited to €50 per transaction, and you can deposit up to €999 in a 24-hour period. Furthermore, regardless of your deposit amount, you’ll be charged a transaction fee of 1.5% on the total amount deposited. How to exchange coins at Coinstar machines? There are Coinstar machines in many supermarkets throughout Germany. You can put the coins in the coin tray and you will get a coupon. When you bring the coupon to the cashier in the store, they’ll give you the money, or you can even use it to pay for groceries. Coinstar machines, however, have a service charge of around 9.9%. Exchanging coins with them is the most expensive option in Germany. Can I exchange the coins for free in Germany? You can exchange coins for free and instantly at the Deutsche Bundesbank or simply the Central Bank of Germany. However, you can only exchange coins for currency bills and cannot deposit directly into your bank account. Nevertheless, if you have a lot of coins, this is the best way to exchange them to avoid service fees and waiting period. Last but not least, if you don't have a shortage of money or if you can find healthy alternatives when you need them, I would suggest keeping the coins as they are for savings. The last 6 years I lived in Germany, I collected more than 450€ and never exchanged them. I have a 3 liter glass jar almost full of coins!

It is often necessary to take a closer look at your spending habits and lifestyle if you want to save money. While still living the same lifestyle, can you actually save money while living in Germany? No, we ain’t asking you to give up dining out, or Friday night outs, nor are we asking you to reduce your shopping habits. You can still save money without sacrificing any of these. Rethink about your insurances On your very first days in Germany, you should’ve noticed, there's insurance for basically everything in Germany. Most landlords would want you to have house insurance before you can rent an apartment in Germany. Even though securing a potential future risk is a good idea, you perhaps need to rethink about the policies you’ve bought. Think about whether your financial stability can withstand the costs resulting from an accident, damage, or theft. For instance, my house insurance covers any damage caused to my kitchen appliances, whether the damage is caused by me, someone else outside the family, or by natural calamities. Therefore, I do not need the individual insurance offered by the seller when buying the refrigerator and can save that money. It's only an example. Find out if you need insurance for your phone, laptop, or television, or you can afford the cost if they are broken or stolen away. You can also check if there are other providers who provide similar insurance at a cheaper cost. Check24 provides comparisons to different insurance providers in Germany. Additionally, there are good insurance providers like Feather insurance who provide insurance specialized for expats. Since their products are mainly focused on expats, their website as well as customer support is fully in English. Get rid of Church Tax if that’s not important to you Every employee in Germany who is a member of a church is supposed to pay church. The amount deducted depends on the location they live. Germany's church taxes are deducted directly from the salary just like the income tax. You will find the relevant information on your salary slip. The process of unregistering from Church Tax varies state to state. Therefore, enquire with your local citizen’s office how you can get rid of the church tax. Consider Flea Markets and eBay Kleinanzeigen over Amazon When you plan to buy something new, just take a moment to search eBay Kleinanzeigen for the item you are planning to by just to see if a used item is available for a cheaper price. Often, people sell good quality items on eBay Kleinanzeigen for a much cheaper price compared to Amazon. You don't need to be sheepish to buy a second hand item. If it is not hurting your bank, it's a good thing. Alternatively, you can also check Flea Markets in the town you live in. Most towns in Germany have a Flea Market mostly on a particular day in a week at a common spot and people bring things from their home and sell at unbelievably cheap prices. I have a friend who often buys from Flea Markets and cracks great deals without even negotiating with the seller. You may also find antique objects and rare pieces of art from very old times in a Flea Market. Save on daily shopping The variety of supermarkets in Germany should be familiar to anyone who has lived in the country for a while. You should have already noticed the differences in the product pricing if you had already visited a few. Many supermarkets sell popular items in their own label. Interestingly the prices for those items would vary greatly between different stores. For instance, both DM (drogerie markt) and Alnatura produce purees for babies. While DM prices it around 1€, Alnatura’s price is around 2.5€. I prefer to purchase all food items from Aldi Süd as they sell quality food items at an affordable price range. For personal and home care items, I depend on the DM. However, I occasionally go to Edeka or Penny as well; just for a change. Alternatively, you can try Flink or Getir for online grocery shopping and delivery. Both offer signup bonus and occasional reduced prices. Check if your bank charges you monthly for account maintenance Traditional banks may charge you an account maintenance fee for your savings account. If you wish to have a separate savings account to keep your monthly savings, choose a bank account that doesn't charge you for account maintenance. N26, Germany’s most popular digital bank, offers free savings bank accounts for almost all nationalities. Although N26 is new generation and fully digital, sometimes the transfers from or to N26 takes upto 4 working days. Therefore, choosing an e-money institution like Wise or Revolut is a much better option. Wise is a widely popular multi currency money transfer service with record transfer time and great reviews. With Wise, you can hold and convert money in 50+ currencies. It only takes a few seconds to open a new account in the currency you need. Additionally, You can use the money in your multi-currency account to send to around 80 countries; all with just one account! The most attractive feature about wise is, it’s completely free! No subscription required. Revolut on the other hand is also an e-money institution for business customers. They intend to offer banking services to EEA customers in the near future, as well as seek banking licenses in many of the other regions where they operate. Filing your taxes yearly can give you unexpected returns In Germany, employees without additional side income are not required to pay taxes. If you knew, the average tax returns in Germany are typically around 1000 euros. Therefore, we recommend you calculate whether you can save money by filing tax yearly. There are several apps that offer free tax return calculation in Germany and help you file and get your tax return. Some of them are, SteuerGo SteuerGo is one of the easiest options to file your annual tax return online. Whether income tax, capital gains or childcare costs, SteuerGo is a good choice. They help to secure overpaid income taxes. It is easy to enter your data with SteuerGo since it provides everything you need to get it done correctly and securely. With their online form, you can get started right away and keep track of everything, from personal information to useful tax tips. SteuerGo checks all data automatically for accuracy and plausibility. Then you can securely submit your tax return to the tax office. Additionally, SteuerGo allows you to check the subsequent tax assessment notice from the tax office. TaxFix TaxFix is one of the popular income tax calculation and filing services in Germany. The app offers to complete your tax return in just a couple of minutes using the simple question-and-answer procedure. The highlight of Taxfix among other applications is that they offer you the opportunity to have 50% of your calculated tax refund in your account the next day . So you can get your money in your bank account early. Lohnsteuer-kompakt Lohnsteuer-kompakt is a web based income tax calculation and return filing service. Therefore you don't need to install software on your PC or phone. It works platform-independent on any computer, tablet or smartphone. With Lohnsteuer-kompakt, you can either submit your tax return online or print out the completed tax forms. You have the possibility to see how each item affects your tax refund Immediately after each entry. Steuererklaerung-Student.de Steuererklaerung-Student.de helps students create their annual tax return online. You can document and offset all study costs even without income, as soon as taxes are paid. They claim to help to secure overpaid income taxes. Steuererklaerung-Student.de offers everything you need to enter your details correctly and securely and calculate your refund live. Steuererklaerung-Student.de checks all information automatically for correctness . Then you can send your tax return securely to the tax office and then check the tax assessment. Additionally, you may get an unexpected amount back when you file your taxes. Some years ago, I got back a couple of thousands of euros by filing a tax return! Public transport Public transport in Germany has a wide acceptance due to its high efficiency, punctuality, reliability and affordability. In 2022, the government has decided to experiment with a reduced 9€ ticket on public transport valid across Germany on all public transport mediums for Jun, July and August. Followed by the huge success of Germany’s 9€ ticket, there are plans to introduce cheaper tickets in the coming months. Even if you own a car, get a monthly ticket for public transport and use the car only for unavoidable situations. Therefore, you save on fuel, parking and potential maintenance. Additionally, most employers in Germany provide monthly public transport rebates. For instance, my company provides almost 50% offer on monthly tickets on public transport. Therefore, check if your employer has any such offers. Alternatively, switch to cycling if that's an option for you. Small trips, such as going to the supermarket, fitness, and trips covering short distances, can be done on a bike. It is both cost effective as well as healthy. Lucky Bikes, one of the popular bicycle sellers in Germany, has often provided great offers for bicycles. They also offer a wide range of bikes in their online shop. Internet, electricity and heating costs If you have a high speed internet connection at a large monthly cost, check if you really need a connection that fast whether there is another provider who charges less for the same speed. For instance, Vodafone has plans for 1 GB/s and the first 6 months, the connection is totally free and they only charge from the 7th month. Similarly, Telekom, a major player in the telecom and internet industry in Germany also has low cost and fairly high return plans. Their 500 Mb/s plan is free for the first 6months and 20€ from the seventh month. Maybe M-Net is a great deal for you if you live in Bavaria. They have plans that have 600 Mb/s download speed for 15€. Like the other providers, they also give it for free for the first six months and you will only be charged from the seventh month. Likewise, check how much your electricity provider charges you. In general, many providers can give you an attractive and much cheaper plan than the default electricity provider in your building. For instance, the default electricity provider in my building charged me over 40€ per month. However, I moved to Eprimo Green Electricity for 26€ per month and saved almost 20€. Eprimo Eprimo promotes certified green electricity in Germany at a cheap and very uncomplicated procedure. Eprimo's 81 kWp solar system produces around 68,000 kWh of electricity per year. As per Eprimo, some days in summer there’s a power requirement of up to 150 kW. They cover a good 50% of this with their solar system. With their battery storage, they manage to store the excess energy in order to be able to charge their electric company cars. Ostrom As far as we know, Ostrom is the only provider that offers expat friendly English speaking customer service in Germany. In addition, their website as well as the iOS application is also available in English. Moreover, Ostrom offers only one plan based on 100% green energy with the possibility to cancel anytime. Sparstrom Sparstrom is a subsidiary of badenova. They claim that the energy they provide is from 100% hydropower relying on hydropower as a renewable energy source. The electricity or gas tariffs they offer can be combined with an optional smartphone or tablet on request. Finally, the ideas just don't stop with these. If you find some time analyzing your bank statements, you’ll still find many things you can either find an alternative or put an end to it. For instance, my internet bill was 79€ until mid 2022 and I was shocked when I realized it. I then went to my internet provider’s outlet and found out that I was paying for their digital TV service even though I have never used it. The plan also had an increased speed of 1 GB/s. I immediately requested for a cancellation of the TV service and reduced the speed to 150 Mb/s and my bill came down to 29€. **We would like to inform you that this article contains affiliate links. Expatova gets a small commission if you click on them and buy a product. However, you will not be charged any extra amount as a result.

As expats, you might want to watch a show from your home country that is only available on torrent platforms. But, are you allowed to stream torrents in Germany? It might surprise you to know that torrent streaming is illegal in Germany. Streaming torrents may result in fines of thousands of euros. Does Germany have a streaming ban? Pirated streaming became illegal in 2017 after a ruling by the European Court of Justice. In Germany, copyright violations are illegal in general; streaming content is no exception. 123movies, 0gomovies or similar sites that violate copyright laws are examples of illegal streaming sites in Germany. Conversely, services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Twitch, and YouTube are completely legal. Further, if you upload copyrighted content or download torrents to anywhere in the internet without having proper consent, you risk a fine of around 1000€ if you do it with or without knowing it. In addition to illegal streaming, Germany also banned the use of torrents. What are some legal streaming services in Germany? Online streaming services that either produce content or purchase copyrights to stream content are legal throughout Germany. That includes, Amazon Prime Netflix Apple TV YouTube Magenta TV by Telekom WOW Sky Rakuten TV Is VPN legal in Germany? Yes! Germany is one of those countries that consider privacy seriously. If you are looking to unblock geo restricted content in Germany or to protect your privacy while surfing the web, you can use VPN services. Which VPN Is The Best In Germany? From hundreds of VPN services available on the internet, we've selected the three we consider to be the best in our experience. NordVPN NordVPN is considered one of the best VPNs in Germany. In addition to offering service in almost every country, they also provide the fastest speeds and can unblock almost any geo-blocked content! However, sad news to Indians living in Germany. Due to the recent amendments in the cybersecurity directives in India, NordVPN along with few other VPN services has removed its servers from India. Besides seasonal offers like Halloween and New Year, NordVPN often offers reduced prices on its website. Take advantage of their current offer by visiting their website. PureVPN PureVPN claims to have you bypass internet restrictions. It allows you to bypass internet censorship and geo blocked content. Therefore, you have unrestricted access to websites, streaming services, live events, and much more. PureVPN has found a way around the latest cybersecurity regulations in India. They route the traffic to India via Indonesia. With a limited speed, you still have the possibility to watch content from India with PureVPN. Surfshark Surfshark proves its worth with a large collection of privacy tools, an excellent app, and unlimited device connections. Like NordVPN and others, Surfshark also had to remove its servers from India due to the regulations. Conclusion Despite Germany's strict laws protecting privacy and preventing piracy, people try to find alternatives every day. It is important to keep in mind, however, that every piece of content is made with a purpose and must be viewed at its best quality possible. In our experience, Spending a couple of euros on quality streaming services is far more worthwhile than watching content in poor quality visuals and audio and paying thousands euros in fines. It is important to note that you can still be fined if you live with others in your flat who use torrent or pirated streaming services. If the contract is in your name, the authority will not ask you whether it was you or somebody else in your apartment who used the illegal service. If you receive a fine, you need to prove that it was your flatmate who had used the illegal service. However, to prove this, you may have to go to great lengths.

So you've been dating a German or another expat in Germany for a while and finally want to get things on the paper. This guide will help you register your partnership as an expat in Germany. Germany places a high value on relationships and family. Expatriates may already have noticed the several laws, as well as the financial and mental support provided by the country’s social security system when it comes to family and children. Is it easy for expats to get married in Germany? In Germany, you must be at least 18 years old to get married. There are a few extra things to consider if you or your partner is not German. If you wish to give notice of your intention to marry, you must have lived in the town where you plan to get married for at least 21 days before visiting the town hall. It is usually not possible for foreigners who are on a visitor visa to get married in Germany. It is instead necessary for them to obtain a visa that is longer than 3 months. Normally, if you marry a German citizen, you will be able to acquire a residence permit - if you don't have one already. If you want to get married in Germany, make sure you start planning at least 18 months in advance. Documents required to register a marriage in Germany Generally you only need the following documents to register your marriage in Germany. However, please note that the registration office may ask you to present additional documentation if that's necessary. This is a case by case scenario. A valid passport Birth certificates Proof of continuous residence in Germany for at least 21 days (Meldebescheinigung) Ledigkeitsbescheinigung (Affidavit confirming that both parties are single) If applicable, birth certificates of the couple's children Application and questionnaire from the Standesamt Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) (Befreiung vom Ehefähigkeitszeugnis) A copy of a marriage certificate from a previous marriage Death certificate of the previous spouse (if applicable) Confirmation of name change (if applicable) Financial statement How much does it cost to get married in Germany? You need only calculate the fee for the registrar, the fee for the registration, and the fee for a translator if necessary if you are only registering the marriage in Germany. Though this would be different from state to state, you can expect anywhere between 50€ to 200€, When planning a wedding ceremony, the cost will depend on the style of the ceremony, the location, and the number of guests you invite. As we calculate from different forums on the internet, the cost can range from just a couple of thousand euros to more than a hundred thousand euros if you wish to go luxurious. Some couples choose to have their wedding day organized by a wedding planner. Although it may cost more, this will help you run things much smoother as an expat; especially if you don't understand the language. Anyway, a regular wedding in Germany commonly costs between €8000 and €20,000. Final thoughts In addition to the time it takes to get all these documents sorted, you will need to factor in a waiting time of anywhere from six months to a year and a half, depending on your personal case as well as the town you choose to register your marriage. It is more likely that the waiting period will be much lower in a smaller city, based on our friends' experience.

It is the responsibility and obligation of parents to take care of their children. Communities and especially government agencies must protect children and young people from neglect and abuse from parents. Germany's child protection system explicitly states that children must be able to develop as healthy as possible. In order to ensure their well-being, they need to be cared for and protected from all threats. It is the parents' responsibility to ensure that their children's fundamental rights are protected. It is the state's responsibility to ensure that parents perform this task adequately. A court can take away custody of a child from their parents if they fail to protect the child repeatedly. A court will only do this if it is necessary for the welfare of the child and there is no other way to protect them from danger or abuse. Withdrawal of custody Any situation that affects the welfare of the child, both physically and psychologically. This is not limited to physical violence, but if the parents are neglectful in terms of the child's welfare, then a judge can decide to withdraw the custody from them.This includes not feeding the child properly, not getting medical attention for the child, or allowing the environment to be hazardous. A parent who is negligent in keeping their own children safe may lose custody rights. The courts and the Department of Social Services remain responsible for assessing the case. Physical violence as well as verbal abuse can trigger the authorities. It is important to note that verbal violence towards the child is not the only form of abuse; a conflict between the parents that escalates to shouting and verbal violence can affect the welfare of the child and put it at risk. Losing custody of the child has nothing to do with the parent’s religion or nationality. In the past, many German parents have lost custody of their children due to negligence. Every EU member country agrees on the protection of children. However it is implemented differently in different countries. Child protection system is very stringently in the Scandinavian countries. What happens when the child is taken away from the parents? Initially, the children are taken to a care center or nursery. In some cases however, they are handed over to foster families later. Pflegefamilies are families that take care of children professionally. It is, however, not an easy process to remove a child from its parents. The children's family must be in very difficult conditions to reach this point. A number of meetings are held with the parents, who are counseled to change the way they treat their children. When circumstances call for a speedy withdrawal, the Social Services Department will assist the police. There are cases in which children should be taken away from their parents until a court decision has been made, and the Social Services department will be in charge of the child until the case has been decided. Getting custody of the child back. In the event that the parent loses custody of the child, there are often legal avenues to try and get custody back. To restore custody of the child, the parents can go to the court and object to the actions of the police or social service department. You need to have a lawyer and the lawyer can negotiate the terms with the court. It is however recommended to have a lawyer insurance before reaching out to one. After losing custody, am I allowed to see my child? In the event that a child is taken away, the parents can still see them, unless harassment or sexual exploitation of the child was the reason that custody was withdrawn. Legal German Civil Code Section 1666 Judicial measures in the event of endangerment of the child's well-being German Civil Code Section 1666a BGB Principle of proportionality; Priority of public aid

Depending on the severity of your emergency situation, Germany offers several options for you. How to handle a medical emergency situation If you have a serious medical emergency (such as a heart attack, or you cut yourself seriously), dial 112 for an ambulance. They will take you to the nearest hospital’s emergency department. Non working hours If you are in need of medical support in the non working hours (e.g. if you are sick, but not in need of an ambulance and it's 2 in the midnight), Call your house doctor or GP at first. They usually have the IVR (Interactive Voice Response) set up to answer such calls to give the contact details of the doctor on call. You can dial 116 117 for a non-emergency doctor. The helpline is available 24 / 7 including public holidays. Alternatively visit https://www.116117.de/ to find a local surgeon who offers emergency services. Apotheke (pharmacy) in the out of service hours If you urgently need any medicines or need a prescription, find an emergency pharmacy by calling 0800 002 28 33 from a landline or 22 8 33 from a mobile. 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

Generally if you lost anything in Germany, first check in the local “lost and found”. Somebody might have already brought it there. Germany’s lost and found service Throughout Germany, you’ll find many lost and found services. If you google ‘lost and found service’ in the city where you lost the license, you should see many private services like Verlustsache, Faundit, etc. You can register in one of them and wait. They’ll return your lost driving license as and when they find it for a small fee. The fee depends on the service you register in. Lost driving license in Deutsche Bahn If you lost your driving license or any other items in a train operated by Deutsche Bahn or in one of the stations, you can report the incident in the lost property service of Deutsche Bahn. You may have to pay a handling charge to Deutsche Bahn for searching and returning the lost item. Deutsche Bahn also offers to send the item via Deutsche Post. However, you may have to pay an additional fee for this service. Check out the Faq page of Deutsche Bahn portal for the details on fees. Reporting the lost driving license in Germany If you find your driving license is lost or stolen, you have to contact your local driving license authority and provide evidences to get a duplicate license or a new one. If you lost it, you have to write a detailed statement about how and where you lost it and you have to assure that if you find it at a later point of time, you will return it to the driver’s license office. You need to contact the polizei (local police) If it was stolen and get a theft report. What to do if your foreign driver’s license is lost in Germany Similarly, if your license was issued by a foreign country, but you lost it while you were in Germany, you need to follow the same steps as mentioned above. Due to the fact that your driver's license was not issued in Germany, the German authorities will contact the issuing authority where your license was issued in order to obtain your information. You have a high chance to get a replacement. Documents required If the license is stolen, a written statement aligned with a police theft report A photo identity proof A biometric passport photo Your replacement driving license will be ready within three to four weeks depending on the rush in the issuing authority in Germany. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com.

German driving licenses are valid for 15 years if you are a new driver or an experienced driver converted to the German driving license. How to renew a driving license in Germany From the date of issue (section 14(10) in a driving license) a German driving license is valid for 15 years. If it's time to renew yours, simply make an appointment at your local driving license office before your existing driving license expires. It's better to start the processes 3 - 4 weeks earlier as it might be difficult to get an appointment at some offices. Documents required Current driving license One passport size photo (not older than 6 months) Costs Your renewed driving license costs around 24€ and should be ready to collect in three to four weeks. However, different driving license offices may have different timelines depending on the rush A driver's license issued by a foreign country cannot be renewed in Germany. If you have a foreign driving license, you will have to apply for a new German one. On your way to Germany You can find all the information you need about living and working in Germany at www.expatova.com.

As an expat myself in Germany since 2016, I have used Wise, formerly known as Transferwise, to send money home. Now that there are a handful of online money transfer services available, is Wise still up to par? In the past, I have used the international money transfer service offered by my bank in India to send money home and to my non-resident Indian (NRI) bank account when I moved to Germany to work. However, the service was miserable and sometimes took up to more than a week to get the transferred amount credited in the bank account in India. This usually happened during the holiday seasons. Wise, formally TransferWise was suggested to me by one of my cousins who lived in the UK back then and ever since I started using it, I never had to look for another money transfer service. What is Wise? Wise was founded in 2011 with the aim of making international money transfers cheap, fair and easy. Today, their multi-currency account is helping millions of people and businesses manage their money around the world. If you are interested, you can read a more detailed story about how, why and who built Wise on their website. Who needs a Wise account? Anybody who needs to transfer money to an international bank account can open an account on Wise. Your German bank may provide international money transfer service as an ad-on to your account. However, Wise claims to provide the cheapest and the fastest money transfer service. They are brave enough to list the live comparison on Wise money transfer rates with other major services on the homepage of their website. What services does Wise offer? While Wise focuses on international money transfer, they are also a registered payment institution in Europe. Which basically means that you can use a Wise account as your salary account, and use it the same way you use your German bank account. With Wise, you can hold and convert money in 50+ currencies. It only takes a few seconds to open a new account in the currency you need. Additionally, You can use the money in your multi-currency account to send to around 80 countries; all with just one account! The most attractive feature about wise is, it’s completely free! No subscription required. Our experience with Wise As mentioned above, I have been using Wise since 2016 and my wife uses it since 2018. We both never had any issues with wise until today. Every month, I transfer money to home using Wise and with most banks in India, it only takes just a couple of seconds to a couple of minutes to get the amount credited in the recipient bank account in India. In the last six years, I only had one issue with Wise. I transferred some money on 23rd of December and the amount was credited after the New year. As I recall, this incident happened back in 2017. Their transaction fees are also cheaper. In one instance, I sent a 12000€ payment to my sister in Dubai for a fee less than 80€, and it arrived the next day! Advantages with Wise money transfer Wise so far is the best money transfer service I have used. Whenever I travel to a country with a currency other than Euro, I use Wise to make payments and cash withdrawals. The fact that Wise does not charge a fee for transactions in the same currency always makes it a good choice while traveling. Additionally, Wise is a better choice due to its Record faster transfer times Cheap transfer fees English customer care Very user friendly, easy to use futuristic web, iOS and Android apps Convenience to hold multiple currencies at the same time No fee for same currency transactions Provision to hold multiple digital debit cards at no additional cost Transparency Moreover, with Wise, you can get an overview about your expenses. With the Wise app, you can easily see where your money really goes by getting an overview of your expenses. Each expense can be tagged with a custom tag to create a new category for your convenience. Disadvantages of Wise Honestly, my wife and I took a minute to think about the disadvantages of Wise and we couldn’t really find any. However, some people mention that the transfer to the US is slower than other providers. Nevertheless, we never had to transfer money to the US. Therefore, we do not know whether it was just the matter of a couple of transactions at a specific time period or all transactions have the same problem. Anyway, we think that there are a couple of more features which Wise could provide such as cashback for each transaction, point collection on each penny spent, investment options such as the ones services like Revolut provides, etc. If you already use Wise and identified any disadvantages of it, please comment below to help other expats. Wise referral program If you already have a Wise account, you can create a referral link from your Wise app and share with your friends. If 3 of your friends join Wise with the link you shared and transfer over 250€, you can get 90€ as a referral bonus instantly in your Wise account. Additionally, every friend that you invite to Wise will get a discount on their first transfer. Wise will also reward you for inviting a bunch of friends Finally, in our experience, Wise is one of the best money transfer services that we rely on in our daily life. With its transparent, cheaper and comparatively faster service, Wise keeps their users loyal to the company. We ask, however, that you understand how exchange rates work and how to find the best rate that works for your specific needs. Before making a transfer, check the rates on other providers as well and choose the best one in terms of fees as well as transfer time.

Munich offers special payments for students who start school for the first time or change from a primary school to a secondary school. In addition to the statutory flat rate for school supplies, Munich city council provides a voluntary special payment. Students attending their first school in Munich or going to a secondary school (middle school, junior high school, grammar school, comprehensive school) can receive this service. In order to qualify, applicants must already receive benefits from SGB II, SGB XII, or Asylum Seekers Benefit Act (AsylbLG). Documents required A confirmation from the school that the child will be attending school for the first time or transferring to a secondary school. An information letter or current decision from the Munich job center if you draw the unemployment benefit II. There are no application fees for this program. How does the special payment work? Students are eligible for a payment of 103€ for the statutory school supplies at the beginning of the school year. A payment of 51.50€ will be made in the second half of the school year. Additionally, the City of Munich offers a school start fee as a voluntary benefit to students who start school. It is intended for many purchases such as stationery, paint boxes, workbooks, etc. Who receives the special payment? Those who are entitled to subsistence benefits under SGB II, SGB XII or the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG), who attend school for the first time in Munich or switch to secondary school (middle school, junior high school, grammar school or comprehensive school) receive the special payment. How do you get the special payment? When the special payment is requested, you will receive it in cash at the checkout counter of your responsible social community center. A transfer to your account is also possible if you request. Applications can be submitted until October 31st of the current year. Please contact your local social center to begin the application process. Make sure to carry all the required documents with you when you get there. 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

As you may already know, Germany is part of the Schengen area and therefore, Germany also offers a Schengen visa. The type of visa you get depends on the purpose of your visit. You can get a Schengen visa for both short term and long term stays. For the citizen’s of most countries, a visa is mandatory to enter Germany / Schengen area regardless of whether you’re planning a short term or long term trip. Citizens of the European Union (EU), Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Liechtenstein do not need a visa to enter Germany. They can visit Germany for any duration of stay and any types of purpose such as visit, work or study. Exemption As per the Overview of visa requirements or visa waivers when entering the Federal Republic of Germany, the European Community has regulated the requirements for foreign nationals when entering Germany. You can enter Germany without a visa and stay up to 90 days within a 180 days period. You need a visa prior to arrival if you plan to stay more than 90 days and a residence permit once you enter the country. Visa requirements and longer stays If your country is not listed as exempted, you need to apply for a Schengen visa before traveling to Germany. If you plan to stay longer than 90 days even if your country is exempted from the visa requirements you need to apply for a long stay Schengen visa in your home country before you can travel to Germany. However, the nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and the United States of America can still enter Germany without a visa and then apply for a residence permit from their local foreign office in Germany. Citizens of all other countries who plan to stay in Germany for more than 90 days must apply for a long term visa in their home country or country where they reside before traveling to Germany. Schengen area and types of visa List of countries which are part of the Schengen area The Schengen area is an area made up of 26 European countries that have officially abolished all passports and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. The area mostly functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy List of Countries participating in the Schengen Area Schengen visa types Schengen visa If your country of nationality doesn’t have the visa exemption, you need to apply for a short term Schengen visa (category C). This visa will be valid for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days in the entire Schengen area including Germany. Entry types The entry to the Schengen area on a Schengen visa is regulated by the number of entries one can make. There’s a specific place in the visa application form to mention the number of entries you want. The cost of the application may slightly vary for double or multi entry visas. You may enter a Schengen area once, two times or multiple times depending on the number of entries marked in the visa you received. If you have a single entry visa, use it for one continuous 90 days of stay. If the number of entries column is marked as 02, you can enter the Schengen area two times but not exceeding 90 days of stay from the first arrival and within 180 days time period. Eg: you can enter the Schengen area on 01-01-2022 and leave on 15-02-2022. Then you may come back on 15-05-2022 and leave on or before 30-06-2022. The multi entry visa holders may enter the area as many times as they want within the 90 days period. If you complete your stay for the whole 90 days in a Schengen country or anywhere in the Schengen area, you have to exit the Schengen area for another 90 days before you can apply for another Schengen visa. 2. German national visa If your home country is not exempted from having a visa to enter Germany / the Schengen areas and you need to stay in a Schengen area longer than 90 days you need to apply for a category D national visa before you can travel. The national visa requires you to apply for a residence permit after entering the country. You have to convert to a residence permit within three months of arriving in Germany. Read more about applying for a residence permit in Germany here. You may apply for the German national visa not only to take up a job in Germany but also to join your spouse or family member, for academic purposes, to seek a job, participate in a training, to start a business or to seek asylum. Remember that you can only convert specific types of national visas to the same types of residence permit. Such as a work visa can only be converted to a work residence permit. If you have a student residence permit, you have the opportunity to apply for a different type of residence permit (e.g. a working residence permit) once you complete your studies. 3. Airport transit visa An airport transit visa is required if you stopover in an airport in Germany and take a flight to your final destination which is outside the Schengen area. Note that the airport transit visa does not allow you to leave the airport. If you need to exit the airport and continue your travel by another means of transport, you need a Schengen visa. How to apply for a German visa You must apply for a visa before you travel to Germany if your home country is not exempted from visa requirements. While for short term as well as long term visas, you have to apply at the German consulate or embassy in your home country, you can also contact agencies such as VFS Global to apply for a short term visa. You can also reach out to a German mission in a country near to you if there is no German mission in your home country. Find a list of German consulates / embassies here. Prepare the documents required Documents required to apply for a German visa Valid passport. Photo (2 nos) as per Schengen visa measurements Application form, fully filled and signed in the designated places. Proof of accommodation covering the entire stay. Travel insurance that covers medical purposes as well. Additional documents Itinerary - short term visas. Proof of financial situation (bank statements, pay slip, proof of financial support (eg: a signed declaration from the person is sponsoring your trip, etc) - short term visa. Document detailing the purpose of travel, (eg: an employment contract, letter of admission in case traveling for academic purpose, etc). Approval from the Federal Employment Agency (if traveling for employment). Proof of financial independence (if applicable) Proof of financial independence If you are applying for a long term visa and you don't plan to earn an income by working in Germany, you need to prove that you can financially support yourself for the duration of your stay. The most common method to prove this is to open a blocked bank account in advance to your visa interview appointment. This special type of bank account requires the account holder to deposit a predefined amount to the bank account, which can be withdrawn in small monthly amounts after the approval of the visa. 2. Schedule an appointment at the consulate / agency You need to schedule an appointment and visit the agency (eg : VFS Global) for a short term visa interview. They will clarify the questions if any and take your biometric details such as thumb impression, etc. You need to make an appointment at your local German mission for a long term visa. You must bring all the required supporting documents along to this appointment. The person at the consulate will ask you questions if required and get your biometric details. German visa application fees Below you may find the fees for each visa types Please check the official German visa information for the current information. There are certain nationalities where a fee waiver is applicable. Please see this detailed documentation on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. German visa processing time The average processing time for a short term Schengen visa is around two weeks. A long term visa may require more time from weeks to months sometimes. You should also expect a longer waiting period during the holiday season. German visa application rejected If your visa application is rejected, you will get notified by your consulate / embassy / agency in the case of a short term Schengen visa about the rejection. You will get one month to appeal the decision by writing to the German mission. Your application will then be reconsidered and a new decision will be made. If the authority still finds that you do not meet the conditions for granting a visa, they will inform you in writing. If you still want to appeal the decision, you may approach the administrative court in Berlin within a month period. 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

Every parent who is a resident in Germany regardless of German citizen or not is entitled for child benefits (Kindergeld) if they have children which are registered in Germany. Do I get kindergeld? The Child Benefit is provided by the federal government to help the cost of raising children regardless of your income level. The child benefit is up to 235€ per child which is transferred to your German bank account on a monthly basis. You are entitled to kindergeld by default if you live in Germany with your children. Whether self employed or salaried you get the child benefit as a rule until the children turn 18. You’ll still get paid if your child is still in high school when they are 25 years old or meet certain criterias. Once in sometime, the government increases the amount and from July 2019 it was revised to 204€ per month for the first two children each and 210€ for the third child and €235 for each subsequent child. You’ll still get the child benefit if you adopt a child. The children of your spouse as well as your grandchildren are also qualified for kindergeld if they live in the same house with you. How do I apply for the kindergeld in Germany? The kindergeld is provided by the Familienzentrum (Local Family Office) upon submitting an application form. Documents required for the kindergeld in Germany Tax ID of the child (steuerliche Identifikationsnummer) Birth certificate Copy of your passports (optional) Proof of residence permit (optional) Processing time It may take from three to six weeks to get your application checked by the office. However, the time could vary depending on the rush. Once your application has been processed, you will get a notification by post from the Familienkasse. 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

A skilled non-EU citizen with a job offer from a local company in Germany can obtain the work permit to live and work in Germany. Getting a work visa might be necessary if you are planning to apply for employment in Germany. Is it necessary for you to learn German before you can work in Germany? Perhaps you are thinking wrong! If you want to work in Germany, you may need a German work visa and a residence permit depending on where you are from and how long you intend to stay. Germany offers different types of work permits, most of which are available to those who have found a job here. Can a German company sponsor my application for a work permit? There is no such thing as "visa sponsorship" in Germany. You can apply for a work permit in your local German consulate or embassy if a company in Germany is willing to offer you a job contract. Comparatively to other developed countries, Germany offers a faster and easier way to obtain a work permit and migrate. Scammers may contact you very convincingly and claim they can help you get a job sponsorship in Germany! It is important to be aware of such emails and phone calls and to never respond to them. How can I find a job in Germany? In short, you should check LinkedIn or Xing and apply for positions that match your qualifications and experience. It is likely that the recruiter will offer you the position after the (several) interviews if they believe that you are a competitive candidate. Upon receiving the job offer, you can follow the German work permit application procedures and apply for a German work visa and work permit based on your nationality and where you reside. 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 convenience and flexibility of renting technology devices have made it popular in Germany. The cost of buying new technology products can be a strain on your budget. It can be further stressful to upgrade your technology every year if you are a technology enthusiast. It is at these times that renting can prove useful. Why rent? Upgrade easily Get the latest tech products and stay up-to-date. Before your outdated tech starts collecting dust, send it back and rent something that's modern. Stay uncommitted Simple monthly payments and flexible plans that you can extend at any time - without the hassle and commitment of financing. Grover Grover allows you to rent all the technology you need for a monthly fee. You don't have to worry about high upfront costs or years of financing. Grover claims to let you rent without worrying about the ownership. How does renting with Grover work? Select your desired product at www.grover.com and simply order it online for rent. Please note that a pre-order or an order for a desired date is not yet possible in Grover. The process goes like this: Choose your minimum rental period of 1, 3, 6, or 12 months. You can switch to a longer term at any time and save. Add your product in the basket, create a customer account and pay for the first month of rental. Your device will be delivered to your home and billed monthly from the delivery date. The rental period begins once you receive your device. After your minimum term has expired, you can continue to rent your device or end the rental by returning it free of charge. A purchase is also possible at any time. You can rent tech devices with Grover in many online shops and branches of Grover's retail partners in Germany. MediaMarkt, Saturn, Gravis, Expert are some examples. How does renting with partners in store work? You can rent many products with Grover in MediaMarkt, SATURN, GRAVIS, Expert, Conrad, COMSPOT, and BetterWorx stores throughout Germany. Choose the device you want to rent and speak to an employee at the partner store. They can help you create a Grover account if you don't already have one. Then select your minimum rental period, make the first rental payment, and then you can take the product home. When your minimum rental period ends, you can return the product to Grover for free by printing the shipping label and sending it back to Grover. You don't need to go back to the store. Is a credit check required in store? When you rent from one of the Grover partners in the store, they conduct an automatic credit check on CRIF Bürgel and Schufa. Documents required for in store rentals Take your ID or passport, credit card or PayPal access, and smartphone so that the employee in the store can verify your identity. If either the identity or credit checks are negative, Grover may not allow the store to create a rental agreement. For privacy purposes, the exact reason for rejection is also not specified. 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

At some point in our expat lives, at least some of us will decide to leave Germany to return home or to a better place for good reason. However, like you’ve done it when you arrived in Germany the first time, there are certain processes to follow when you leave the country to avoid future bureaucratic headaches. While we tried to cover the most important steps to consider when planning to deregister from Germany, we recommend you do a thorough check whether you need to do any things that are not listed here. How to deregister your address in Germany Anmeldung or simply registration in the local citizens' office is one of the first and most important processes you do when coming to Germany. While leaving Germany, you must do the Abmeldung or deregistration and it's a mandatory process. In Germany, you only get a very short time to deregister. it may only be possible seven days before you leave or within two weeks after you left Germany. In some cities, you have the possibility to send the deregistration form via e-mail or by post to your local citizen’s office (Bürgeramt). You can download the deregistration application form form most cities citizen’s portals. Get an appointment at the BürgerBüro, get the passport of all family members registered under the same household along with the duly filled application form. Deregistration process usually completes very fast and the deregistration confirmation will be handed over to you at the same time. What Happens If You Don’t Deregister In Germany? A person must deregister when they move abroad permanently. In the event you fail to deregister when leaving the country permanently, whether on purpose or not, you could be fined up to 1.000 euros. Additionally, the authorities may consider you still as a resident in Germany and make you liable to pay taxes. Your health insurance may still charge you as you need to have mandatory health insurance while in Germany. I forgot to deregister in Germany when I left. What to do now? If you left Germany without deregistering your address here, you still have the possibility to send the deregister application from the place wherever you are through post to the city or town where you lived in Germany. You must also send copies of the passports of all persons who lived with you along with the application form. As we know, there are no fines for late deregistration. However, your local citizen’s office will be able to give you a precise answer to that. Opt in for a mail forwarding service It would be a good idea to set up mail forwarding with the Deutsche Post before moving out. Even though you are not expecting anyone to send you a post after you’ve left, there could come some confirmation letters for a service that you canceled or a notice for a service that you forgot to cancel due to missed payments. Deutsche Post offers mail forwarding service within Germany as well as internationally for a fee for up to 12 months. You can either visit a branch and request mail forwarding or do it online in deutschepost.de. Deregister From TV and Radio Tax (Rundfunkbeitrag) When you register in Germany for the first time, your data is sent to ARD - ZDF and they will onboard you automatically for the TV and radio tax in Germany. However, when you deregister from Germany, it's your responsibility to deregister from the Rundfunkbeitrag. To deregister from Rundfunkbeitrag, you can go to their “Sign out” portal and fill the form. You also need to upload your deregister confirmation from the BürgerBüro as proof. If you don't deregister, they will continue to charge you for the TV and radio license fee. While you are waiting for the last week of your stay in Germany, you are required to do some other things too. Perhaps, you need to start the preparation at least 2 to 3 months before. Make sure the necessary people are informed in advance As you may already know, in Germany you cannot end a contract in a short time. You are expected to inform the necessary people way ahead before the date you actually want to end the contract. Send the notice to your landlord The German rental contracts in general demand a three-month notice period to allow the landlord time to find a new tenant. However, some landlords may let you leave early if you could identify a confirmed new tenant who can move into your apartment when you plan to leave. Most contracts require you to send your notice of termination to your landlord via post. Legally, an email with a signed letter attached, or a PDF is not sufficient. The termination notice must also be signed by all parties listed in the rental contract. Please note that just sending a letter of notice does not make you legally safe. The actual date of notice only begins from the date of receipt of the letter by the landlord. While sending the notice, ask Deutsche Post for an Einschreiben Rückschein or simply the receipt confirmation. Send your resignation to your employer Employees are required to submit their resignation letters to their reporting manager or HR directly when they plan to leave their company. While most companies have a common framework for resigning, at least a few roles in some companies may have additional clauses in the employment contract in terms of resignation. Therefore, carefully read your work contract way ahead to avoid any last minute hastles. In general, the companies in Germany have a notice period of 30 to 90 days before you can actually leave the company How to deregister in Germany as a self-employed? Freelancers and self-employed people in Germany need to deregister their business with the Finanzamt or Gewerbeamt. Each city may have different deregistration processes and application forms. Therefore, please check the citizen portal of the city or town where your business is registered for specific rules. Deregistration of children form the schools in Germany Like you need to send the resignation letter to your employer, you are also obliged to inform the school where your child(ren) studies when leaving the country. The same applies for kids that go to Kindergarten or Krippe. Since different schools, kindergartens or krippes have different rules, please talk to the responsible person and get to know the process ahead in time. Additionally, if you are receiving Kindergeld, you are obliged to inform the familienkasse about your plan to leave the country. In case not informed and you still take advantage of the kindergeld even after leaving Germany, there's a chance that you get fined at some point when the authorities notice that you left. Check out this section of the Arbeitsagentur website and select Veränderungsmitteilung für das Kindergeld (KG45) to get the change information form. You need to fill it out and send it to the Familien kasse in your town. Inform service providers You must also cancel the contracts with various service providers before leaving Germany. A few examples include electricity, internet, telephone contracts, fitness memberships, cable or digital streaming services, etc. The cancellation notice period is determined by the terms of your contract. While you may be able to cancel the contracts online or by calling the customer care service, some service providers require you to send a signed letter by post to make the cancellation. Can I cancel my internet contract? Yes, you can cancel your internet contract if it is older than 24 months. As per the new amendment in the telephone and internet contract regulation passed by the government on 01 - 12 - 2021, you can cancel your internet or telephone contracts with a 30 days notice period if they are older than 24 months. You will have a much harder time canceling your contract early if your contract has not completed the minimum contract length of 24 months. In most cases, the service provider will ask you to provide the proof of you leaving Germany with a confirmation of your deregistration in Germany, or any other proof they suggest. Your phone contracts can usually be canceled at the end of every month. However, make sure to check with your provider for any additional requirements. How to cancel the electricity contract in Germany? Most providers such as Eprimo and SWM let you file your cancellation online in their customer portal. Alternatively, you can also call their customer service and request for support. In general, there are no hard restrictions to change or cancel the electricity contract. However, It is recommended that you update the last reading on the meter in your online customer portal account to avoid overcharging. If possible, take a picture of your electricity meter for future reference. How to cancel your insurances in Germany? Living in Germany requires you to have mandatory health insurance and a couple of additional insurances as per the individual needs. You need to cancel all of them as you wouldn’t need them if you don't live here any more. You can easily cancel insurance from digital providers like Feather Insurance or Getsafe online. However, you may only be able to cancel them on a 30 days cycle. For instance, if you sign up with a start date on the 1st, you have to cancel before the 1st of the next month to avoid being charged and covered for an additional month. Please check with the insurance provider for specific policies. In contrast, traditional German insurance companies usually require a longer notice period and only accept cancellations by post. It is also possible that your health insurance requires a letter and proof of you leaving Germany to terminate your policy, as you are legally required to have health insurance in Germany. How to close your German bank account? Usually, there is no notice period or restriction for you to close your German bank account unless you have an outstanding settlement. Most banks in Germany offer online account closure and this is usually an easy process. Just login to your online banking portal and you should be able to find a corresponding link. In some cases, you may be asked to visit the local branch to complete the procedure. Nevertheless, you may still need your regular bank account for some final transactions even after you leave, such as settling your electricity bill, gym membership, or getting your deposit back from the landlord, etc. Prepare to claim your German pension You may be entitled to claim your contributions and interest back from the German pension fund if you contributed while living in Germany. Your nationality, the country where you are moving, and Germany's alliance with that country all play a significant role in claiming your contribution. We’ve written a detailed article on the process of claiming your German pension while leaving Germany. Decide whether you want to ship your possessions to your new country or sell them. It is better to think in advance whether you want to take your possessions to the new country you are moving to or sell them. Think and compare the costs of shipping the items to the new place and selling them in Germany, You can sell your possessions on eBay, eBay Kleinanzeigen, and in expat groups on Facebook, Telegram, and Whatsapp. If you price your items reasonably, they are more likely to be sold. If you plan to ship your possessions, before choosing a moving company to ship your belongings to the new country, compare quotes from different companies. A good Packers and Movers company usually provides transit insurance to protect your goods like valuable furniture, electronic equipments and other fragile items from damage. The terms and conditions may vary from company to company. Therefore, please understand the details well in advance. Usually, you will have to pay an insurance premium which is based on the total value of the goods that you declare and is around 3% of the total value of the goods. In most cases, this amount has to be paid in full before the move. Few popular moving companies in Germany which you can choose from are AGS Movers Germany, Crown Relocations, movinga, etc. Handing over the apartment Most rental contracts would have a section about how the apartment should be prepared for the handover. You should, in general, restore the apartment to the original condition just like how it was when you took over it, no matter how you design and decorate it. Repainting, repairing damages, and covering holes are part of this process. One common question that arises when leaving an apartment in Germany is whether you need to repaint your apartment or not. The answer depends on the terms of your rental agreement. Be sure to check your rental agreement for a provision regarding cosmetic repairs (Schönheitsreparaturen). Cosmetic repairs usually include painting the walls and the ceilings, repairing holes you made in the walls, etc. In the event that your contract does not mention cosmetic repairs, you are very fortunate! You just need to do an extensive cleaning and leave. Additionally, your landlord cannot demand you to arrange a professional cleaning service. Regulated by law, you have the right to do the repairs yourself. Finally, leaving Germany in a rush will only increase your blood pressure unlike leaving from some other countries. In addition to bureaucratic and financial problems, unpaid bills can cause you legal implications as well as unnecessary stress. Gyms, clubs, and telephone companies usually refer your case to debt collection companies, which won't give up so easily and follow you overseas. Make sure to pay your bills on time to avoid any complications in your new life! Furthermore, along with other tasks, make sure you keep enough time to plan and execute the movement much smoothly.

Like anywhere else in the world, you need to sign an employment contract (Arbeitsvertrag) before you can start working in Germany. As soon as your employer -to be- finalizes the interview and selects you as their most suitable candidate for the position, they will hand over a work contract (Arbeitsvertrag) with you. It will cover all the details of the agreements of your employment contract. Employment contract types in Germany While unlimited or permanent employment contracts are the popular ones, there are several other types of employment contracts as well. Permanent contract (unbefristeter Arbeitsvertrag) Unbefristeter Arbeitsvertrag or a permanent contract is an unlimited contract that lasts as long as the employee can work in an organization. It usually starts by a six month long probationary period. The contract may only be terminated if you wish to resign or if the employer finds a valid and legal reason to fire you. Limited or fixed term contract (befristeter Arbeitsvertrag) These contracts are valid only for a limited period of time. Usually, these contracts are renewed on the completion of the term. However, if the employer chooses to end the contract after the completion of the period, there’s no chance to question back. However, a fixed-term contract can only be renewed for three times and not exceed two years. Minijob contracts These contracts are for under-skilled part time workers who only get paid below the average salary level. Usually the people who take a minijob contract are paid a salary of up to €450 per month. The employer pays just some or none of the health insurance contribution in a minijob contract. These payments are subsidized by the government. These contracts are usually popular among students looking for a working contract in Germany as well as expats who are under-skilled. Additionally, you are not obliged to pay the income tax or social security contributions if you are on a mini job contract. However, you have the same employment rights as permanent employees, such as sick benefits and additional holiday pay. Freelance contracts Every freelancer signs a contract with all of their clients to outline their working relationships. Two types of freelancer employment contracts are popular In Germany. Work contract (Werkvertrag) A work contract outlines a specific task the freelancer agrees with the client. It mainly focuses on the task rather than the period of time they work for that specific client. For instance, a software developer freelancer may enter a work contract with a client to fix specific bugs in a code. The freelancer then gets an agreed one time payment in exchange. Services contracts (Dienstvertrag) A freelancer may offer their service to a customer in exchange for a remuneration in these types of contracts. The contract may detail specific obligations during the period of the contract, period of the agreement and conditions for the contract termination. For instance, a freelance photographer offering his service to a model. Finally, let it be any kinds of the contract mentiond above, while your employment contract will detail different areas of expectations from you, you may check it thoroughly to avoid any surprises. Below checklist may help you focus on a few very important aspects. Description on your role Your personal details Duration of the contract If you have a probation period Location of the employment Conditions for termination Remuneration Hours of working hours Bonuses Additional benefits such as valuable pay Perks at work such as free food, free travel and home office, etc. Annual holidays Pension scheme Travel expectations Any additional clauses 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 government is considering introducing its own green card to address the shortage of skilled labor. The program aims to make finding work in Germany a lot easier for non-EU nationals. German officials are preparing to unveil their new immigration strategy in the autumn, and details of the policies it is likely to include are beginning to emerge. According to what we know so far, Besides making it easier to become a German citizen, the German government’s idea to introduce a new points-based immigration system would help migrants to come to Germany without a confirmed job offer. Germany's opportunity card requirements Labor Minister Hubertus Heil presented this week a new "opportunity card" that will allow foreign nationals to search for employment in Germany without a job offer, as long as they fulfill three of four requirements: A university degree or professional qualification Professional experience of at least three years Language skill or previous residence in Germany Aged under 35 There are similarities between the criteria used in Canadian points systems, but the weight system is more complex and includes limits and conditions. Depending on demand on the labor market, the German government will limit the number of cards issued each year. With the new opportunity card, the government will introduce its own version of America's "green card," which uses a points system to target immigration to the most in-need sectors. German opportunity cards vs. jobseeker's visas In order to get their visa accepted, most foreign workers need a job offer from a German company. It is possible to apply for a visa for jobseekers, but the process is often long and bureaucratic. Germany allows citizens of certain countries to enter without a visa for up to 90 days, but they can't enter into long-term employment agreements. Instead of having to apply from abroad, the Chancenkarte will make it easier for non-EU citizens to find work and get a residence permit in Germany. A workers' plight in Germany It is a daunting task for Germany to address its growing workforce shortage while also overhauling bureaucratic and paper-based systems that slow immigration processes. For instance, obtaining official recognition of foreign qualifications is difficult in Germany, which even discourages people from applying. 44 percent of businesses, according to a German Economic Institute report in June 2022, perceive worker shortages as a hindrance to growth. Since the survey began in 2011, this proportion has been the highest. Germany's most staff-short industries As shown in an IFO survey, the service sector has been hit hardest - particularly the hotel and event industries. In the next four sectors, we see warehousing and storage, service providers, and manufacturing, especially in food, data processing equipment, machinery, and metals. A shortage of staff is also being reported by many retail businesses, construction companies, and wholesalers. Skilled workers are in short supply in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries as well. A slight shortage is also seen in the automotive and mechanical engineering industries.

When you complete a certain amount of time living in Germany on a temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis), you’d become eligible for a permanent residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) which gets you the right to remain in Germany permanently. Permanent residence permit and Permanent settlement permit Germany offers two types of residence permits; permanent residence permit and permanent settlement permit The Permanent settlement permit lets you reside in Germany for an indefinite amount of time. You’ll also be removed from any obligations to be bound to a specific job. While the permanent settlement permit is available to the ones who have been living in Germany for five years on a temporary residence permit and also comply with other requirements, people who fall into certain categories may obtain a permanent settlement permit earlier. The requirements for a Permanent residence permit are similar to the requirement for a permanent settlement permit. However, the holders of a permanent residence permit get the freedom of movement and the right to temporarily reside within any European Union member states. Requirements for a permanent residence permit In order for you to apply for a permanent residency in Germany, you need to qualify the below conditions. You have been living in Germany for five years with a residence permit You have a valid residence permit that has not been issued for a temporary purpose (such as study or training). You have a secured livelihood. You have sufficient health insurance. You have a sufficient pension (at least 60 months of compulsory contributions or voluntary contributions to the statutory pension insurance or comparable benefits). You have sufficient living space for yourself and your family members. You have sufficient knowledge of German language and basic knowledge of the legal and social order in Germany. You have no criminal record. You have a chance to get the permanent settlement permit earlier if you fall into any of the below categories If you hold an EU Blue Card If you have a Blue Card issued by an EU member state and you comply with all the points in the Requirements section above, you can apply for a permanent settlement permit after 33 months residing in Germany. Provided, you should have been employed and contributed to the statutory pension scheme for the duration. You can apply of the permanent settlement permit in 21 months if you have a B1 certification If you are a highly skilled professional If you are a scientist or a professor in a notable position, or if you are a researcher with special expertises you are considered as a highly skilled professional and you may get a permanent settlement permit immediately if you fulfil the points in the Requirements section above. Although, you may require an approval from the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency). If you are self employed If you are an entrepreneur or self employed in Germany, you are eligible to apply for a permanent settlement permit after 36 months. If you have a valid residence permit for self employment and successfully set up your business; and if you can prove that you have the necessary financial stability to support yourself, you may approach your local citizen’s office to process your application. If you are a graduates of a German university If you graduated from a German university and your job is related to your graduation stream, you may apply for a permanent settlement permit after 24 months. You also need to prove that you’ve contributed to a statutory pension scheme continuously for 24 months in addition to the qualifications in the Requirements section above. If you hold a residence permit for studying, you are not eligible to apply for a permanent settlement permit until you complete your studies. You may apply for a work permit before you can apply for the permanent residency. Documents required to apply for a German permanent residency Apart from the documents mentioned below, your situation at the time of the application determines the additional documents required to support your application. Generally, you’d require Fully completed application for a settlement permit Valid passport or passport replacement Current biometric passport photo (photo booths can be found in the Foreigners' Registration Office) Proof of health insurance Proof of secure livelihood and housing: In the case of a family partnership in a marriage or registered civil partnership, proof of subsistence and retirement provision can also be provided by the spouse or life partner. Proof of benefits such as parental allowance, child benefit, child supplement, childcare allowance and maintenance can also be attached. Proof of sufficient pension provision: Waiting time information from the German Pension Insurance (Information on waiting time can be obtained from the municipal Insurance office in the district administration department). If the Proof of sufficient pension provision is not available, the proof of entitlement to comparable benefits from an insurance or pension institution or an insurance undertaking is enough. Proof of sufficient living space: Registration document (Meldebescheinigung) For rental apartments: Rental agreement with indication of the apartment size in square meters and bank statements showcasing the transfer of the rent Proof of residence (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) In the case of condominiums: Purchase contract with indication of the apartment size in square meters and, if necessary, proof of the installment payments for loans and the monthly housing benefit / house money. Proof of sufficient German knowledge and basic awareness of the legal and social order in Germany (either of the below): Proof of successful participation in an integration course Certificate of a German school, training or university degree Certificate of German language skills of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) for languages at least at level B1 Or other proof of language proficiency Additional documents : Employees Pay slips (certificates of earnings of the last three months) Confirmation of the employment relationship For self employed / freelancers Proof of profit after tax (last income tax assessment, current profit and loss account of the tax consultant) Business registration (if required by trade law) Certificate from the tax office (information in tax matters) In individual cases, additional documents may be requested by the authority How to apply for a permanent residence permit in Germany You need an appointment at your local foreigners’ office to submit your application for permanent settlement permit. It may not be possible to schedule an appointment at some offices in advance. Therefore, please check with your ausländerbehörde in advance. During the appointment, an official will verify your application form and supporting documents. As long as you meet the requirements, your application is usually successful and you get your new permanent residence card by post. Your settlement permit is still valid even if your previous passport has expired and you have already received a new passport. In case your application is not successful, you will get a notification by post and you’d be given a chance to lodge an appeal. Please note that your permanent settlement permit may expire If you leave Germany for a consecutive period of more than six months. If you have an EU permanent residence permit, it may expire after 1 year of stay outside the EU. How much does it cost to apply for a permanent residence in Germany? The cost depends on different aspects such as location, your professional and personal circumstances, etc. However, it generally costs around 113€. For Turkish nationals it may cost around 37 € (from 24 years) or 22.80 euros (up to 24 years) 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

Relocating to any country requires plenty of planning and scheduling. When moving to Germany; one of the countries where people are known for punctuality, it's better to get used to this as early as possible We tried here to build a checklist to help your relocation to Germany. We also managed to put some timeline to it. Therefore, you are always on time. 1. Budgeting As you probably know already, Germany is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Therefore, it's better to calculate how much you can afford for your relocation. The budgeting should include your first 3 months expenses including your basic expenses such as rent / hostel fee to toothpaste, college expenses, etc. 2. Keep track of the deadlines Keep your calendar updated for any deadlines you have to meet; such as your appointment at the consulate for your visa or sending your bachelor's certificate to your university. 3. Get a visa You probably aren't gonna need a visa if you are moving from the EU. However, the citizens of other countries like the USA or India are not as lucky as europeans! It's better to research the visa regulations and requirements early enough. One related key element is the validity of your supporting documents. Eg. your passport or the expiry of your German language certification. Make sure you renew the important documents early enough so that you don't have to reappear for a visa interview. 4. Registration process As soon as you arrive, you should consider booking an appointment to register in the residence registration office. In Munich, you have to register in the Bürgerbüro within one week of arrival (find the registration form here). Other cities have their own processes and timelines. 5. Health insurance, enrollment at university Insurance is one of the unavoidable things in Germany. Students need proof of health insurance or an exemption notice before you can enroll at the university. Proof of health insurance must be provided if a residence permit is to be granted/renewed for the purpose of academic study. If an exemption has been granted [by the university], you can then take an insurance policy with a private health insurer. If you are moving in to start a new job, your employer must arrange health insurance for you from the first day of your start. Insurance companies offer several products; health insurance, house insurance, car insurance, personal accident insurance, gadgets insurance and the list is going to be really long! Before falling for one, ask yourself if you need one. When you decide, compare the offers from different providers and choose the one best for your requirements and fits in your pocket. Make use of websites like check24.de to ease your comparison. Additionally, you can also check out our article Insurance in Germany to read in detail. 6. Bank account You are normally going to need a current account; to transfer the rent or pay your bills, etc.) If you are a student, you also require a savings account during your period of study in Germany. Your residence permit will only be issued if you provide proof that you hold a savings account with a balance of a certain amount. The Foreigners Office can generally demand a blocking notice to limit the monthly amount that can be withdrawn from our account. PS: Credit cards are not widely accepted in Germany. Therefore, make sure you can use the credit card if you plan to use one. Checkout our article opening a new bank account in Germany to read in detail. 7. Find an accommodation Perhaps, one of the first items in your checklist! In general, it's not so easy to find an accommodation that suits your wishes and budget in Germany. Therefore, you need to start looking for accommodation as soon as you can. One of the major problems we noticed is scammers! They’d ask you to send some money to a Paypal account or to a bank account as a deposit to visit the apartment. Don't fall for that and in general, no maklers (real estate agent) or landlords ask you for such deposits. Some useful tips Start checking the accommodation as soon as you can. Start searching at least 3 - 4 months before. Once you find an accommodation that suits your budget and purpose, book it immediately. Check the prices of the flight if you need one early enough and book in advance therefore, you can have a slightly lesser price and will be able to block your favorite seat. Most students in Germany are eligible for the international student ID. Check if you can apply for one. It's a good idea to keep a copy of all your documents in an online share drive. Therefore, it will be accessible on all your gadget platforms. Check if you can apply for any scholarships and mark the due dates on your calendar Check for any additional regulations in the university such as applying for the leave absence, etc. If you are from a non euro zone, it's better to withdraw some money and keep it with you before you travel. Not all shops in Germany are digital yet! Even if you think you got all the documentation ready, it's better to double or even triple check to make sure that everything is in place! Well, these are only some general points and there are a lot to consider in the real life. However, with a little organization and planning, you can make the move even easier. Good luck! 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