What do I need to move to Germany?

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panthercw

Well, I am from the states and been living in Berlin for 2 years now. I can tell you EXACTLY what you need if you are not from an EU country moving to Germany. First of all, no matter where you go, you MUST register with the police or court house. That form they give you is needed to open a bank account, get a contract for anything, etc, etc. That is easy to get and not a problem. Where things get interesting is what you plan on doing here in Germany. Will you be a student? Learning German? Or do you plan on working here? If you are going to be a student, easy peasy. You just need a letter from your university stating your status and you take that to the Immigration office. Now, if you want a work visa for Germany.. you will need the following things. 1.) A letter from an employer stating how much you will earn each month. You have to earn over a certain amount so they know you will not have to depend on the social system. I THINK it is â‚¬600 a month. Not sure if it is different for each federal state in Germany, but it is the minimum for Berlin. 2.) Show them that you have health insurance. It can be insurance from your home country, but you then have to show that it will cover you while you are in Germany. If not, you have to buy German health insurance 3.) A rental contract. You have to prove you have a place to live. If you are going to have roommates and move in with someone who has the place in their name, a letter from them is ok. Or if you live alone, a contract from the actual housing management. 4.) You must show you have a qualification. Meaning, your college degree or proof you can teach or work in your field. With that, they give you a 1yr visa. When you renew, you get it for 2 years.

Now, for the best place to live in Germany? Germans will tell you different places. However, all of the expats and foreigners will tell you Berlin and only Berlin. It's the capital, but the cheapest place to live by far. Jobs are harder to get here, and the pay is very low, but, you don't need much at all to live here and live well. I live alone in a 960 Sq ft apartment and pay with all included less than â‚¬500 a month. It has a ton of culture, great clubs, multicultural, safe and a million parks. I am always reading about Berlin in the NY Times and other world newspapers as the new "it" city.

Hope this helps!

Alwin E

Native German, and I completely agree with panther.

Maybe a little addition to #3: A written confirmation by the main contractor to the rented flat will maybe not always be okay, but at least in Berlin, there is something called "Untermietvertrag" available at many stanionaries or tobacco shops. It's a state-approved form where everyone just fills in his name and the like, makes some crossmarks to what is applicable, sign it, and that's it.

As to the city/state: I'm Bavarian, lived an worked in Munich AND Berlin, and I prefer Berlin. (I'm not there now because I have a little house in Bavaria which I currently must take care of, but would go back to Berlin anytime). What panther wrote about Berlin salaries and rents is absolutely correct. Among all European capitals, I think Berlin still has the easiest way of life and is the most multicultural and most peaceful city. I'm planning to move back there, too, as soon as some beaurocratic things are done. Might take me another year or so.

ben h

papers staing that you are not a jew. God forbid if they do. If you have a child o dear

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