21 things to know before moving to Germany from the US | movehub (2023)

Wonderful!You've decided to take the most exciting step of your life, swapping Budweiser for Pilsner, hot dogs for sausage and fields of amber cornWe give musicHill.

Before you travel more than 3,000 miles to start anew in Europe's economic powerhouse, let us remind you whyMove to Germanyis like thatFantasticDecision.

Here you arefive best reasonsto live in Germany:

1. You can enjoy universal healthcare
2. Working hours are shorter than in any other developed country
3. And that despite the fact that Germany has the best economy in Europe.
4. You can visit 46 World Heritage Sites, the fourth most visited in any country
5. The "beer and sausage" culture is designed to make you feel at home

No wonder thenGermany was the eighth most popular emigration countryemHSBC 2019Expatriate Explorer-Suche. This high ranking is largely thanks to its education system, which ranks third, and its economic stability, which places it second behind Switzerland.

Those are good points for any family, but many of you may be wondering: is Germany fun? Can I have fun at the weekend? Fortunately, the answer is clear.e.

Fill out the format the top of this page to receive up to six free shipping quotes and see how much it would cost to make the change in your life - it's probably less than you think.

1. Your new living expenses will be a great relief

Moving to Germany is a treat for people like you who are used to paying American prices. Your wallet will be a lot happier this side of the pond. If you compare the largest city in Germany,Berlin, with the USA – New York – on Numbeo shows thatEating out and buying beer costs only half in Berlin.

There's also good news for your regular visits to the store: buying milk, eggs, cheese, bread, rice, apples, beer, lettuce, tomatoes and potatoes from a regular grocery store will cost you $25.07 instead of $50. ,47. . That's right:You save over 50% when you buy groceries in Berlin instead of New York.

And if you're worried about earning less after moving to Germany, don't be. The average annual salary inDeutschlandis reportedly $52,100government data- more than $5,000 more thanit is in the US.

2. You'll also save money on your new home.

There really is no comparison here. Would you like to rent a one-bedroom apartment in the city center?Rents in Berlin are a third more expensive than in New York and half as expensive as in Los Angeles, according to Numbeo, and it's a similar story with a three-bedroom apartment in the city.

But maybe you want to settle down, put down roots and buy an apartment. Then you will be happy to hear that this is still significantly cheaper in Berlin than in New York or Los Angeles.When you leave the Big Apple, you can expect to save hundreds of thousands, while the West Coast people will keep tens of thousands to themselves.

3. You have good health options

Germany has a universal healthcare system, which means that anyone can be treated if something is wrong with them.The US healthcare system ranks behind the German, accordinglyWorld Health Organization(It is also inferior to the systems of Morocco, Dominica, and Costa Rica, among others).

Germany's excellent healthcare system explains why this is the casepeople therelive two more years, on average than people in the US. Germany also has the 12th lowest infant mortality rate in the world, according to theUnited Nations. The US ranks 38th behind Poland, Slovakia and Brunei.

If you want to live in Germany, you must have health insurance.. This can be with the public health system, which covers around 90% of German residents, or with a private company. However, if your annual salary is less than EUR 57,600, you must take out state insurance. Make sure you sign up as soon as possible.

4. Getting a visa is pretty easy

Before you start interior design, you must legally enter Germany. Luckily, emigrating to this wonderful country is fairly easy, even for those living outside the European Union.

The first step is to apply for a standard residence permit, which is easy to get if you have a job waiting for you in Germany. You can stay in the country for 90 days without a visa, which should be plenty of time to make your appointment at the nearest immigration authority – the Deutsche Auslandsbehörde (German Foreigners Authority).foreigners Authority) – and put all your affairs in order.

To ensure successMake sure you bring the following documents with you:

• A completed application form that you can obtain from the Immigration Office
• A passport that is still valid for at least four months after your first 90-day stay in Germany
• Two valid photos of you
• Official confirmation that you have registered your address with the authorities
• A bank statement or invoice showing that you can pay for your ticket in Germany
• A letter from your boss confirming you have a job (if you're moving for work)
• Proof that you have registered with the health insurance company
• Receipts showing you paid €60 ($67) for a short stay visa and €75 ($84) for a long stay
• Any other documents you should bring with you when making an appointment

You can also apply in the US, but it's more difficult. You must submit two copies of the application form and it will take much longer.

Once you have your visa, you can renew it for up to five years in advance each year if you can apply for onepermanent resident visa.

If you want to give your all to Germany (and who could blame you),Here are the requirements:

• As mentioned, you must have held a standard residency permit for at least five years
• You may need to take an integration course, which usually includes 600 hours of language classes plus 100 hours of education about Germany's politics, culture and values
• If you have to attend the course, you must pass a test to prove that you speak German at the B1 level - the third of six levels - which proves your competence.
• You must demonstrate that you are financially healthy and stable.
• You must have a passport from another country
• You must (still) be enrolled in a German health insurance scheme
• You must pass a health check to show you are healthy enough to work.

5. Public transport isn't just efficient, it's great

If daily freeway speed isn't for you (perhaps you don't want to risk claiming your health insurance right away), you're still covered. Like many Western European countries, Germany has a high-quality public transport system.

A monthly ticket is usually cheaper in Germany and worthwhile. Cities and municipalities use buses, trams, subways and/or suburban trains to get people to their destinations.

And at larger hubs like Berlin and Munich, all of these modes of transportation seamlessly blend into one amazing system.The 117-year-old Berlin subway transports 1.5 million people to 173 stations over a distance of 150 kilometers every day– and that's just the subway. Everything is connected, so you can easily switch from a subway to an elevated train – and you can connect to the internet via the subway.

6. Life in Germany will be great for your family too

If traveling by train isn't exciting enough for your kids, don't worry. AccordinglyThe New York Times newspaper,in Berlin there are around 1,850 public playgrounds (one for 156 children under the age of 10), and they are stunning.

Throw your thoughts back. Way back. Access your inner child. Now tell them they can playa real pirate ship, a spooky witch's house or wooden airplanes and helicopters. Are they enraptured? Good. Let them know that they too can go to a fairytale playground with knights, a princess and a three-headed dragon and jump on onefree high ropes courseAlso.

And none of them can match the radicalism of Kolle 37 Adventure Playground, a playground built entirely by children (with the help of volunteers). Adults can't enter, so let the little ones go and get a coffee or walk the dog, protect their eyes while they grab a hammer and get to work - and play.

In short: We wish your children a lot of fun playing.

As well as the playgrounds there is no shortage of other activities to enjoy with the family, from music (this is the land of Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and Lou Bega after all) to football, art and cinema. If you like German blockbustersResident Evil,Goodbye Lenin!, The Neverending Story, zRun, Lola, run, you will pass.

7. The education system is brilliant

Everyone – yes, you too – can study in Germany for free. No exceptions. All 16 states abolished tuition fees in 2014 and have not looked back. This is specialGreat(very good) since German institutions are among the best in the world.

Germany has 23 universities in the top 200 in the world, accordinglytimes higher educationReviews of, including institutions across the country – from Freiburg and Hamburg in the north to Tübingen and Munich in the south.

And that's not all. If you have young children, you can rest assured that their education will be top-notch too.Germany entered thetop 25% of OECD countriesfor math, science and reading in 2016, and achieved the first 16 places in each category.

That was well ahead of the US, which ranked 24th in reading, 25th in science and 40th in math. Your children can expect a better standard in every respect.

8. Prepare for shorter workdays...

You will also be prepared to improve your working conditions. Get ready to take your nose off the grindstone and take a well-deserved break. Working in Germany meansspend less time at a desk than in any other developed country.

Em 2018,the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD) found that people in Germany work an average of 1,363 hours a year - more than 400 hours less than workers in the US. This means that you only work on average26 hours a week or 5 hours and 12 minutes a day.

The minimum wage in Germany is also more generous at 9.19 euros –nearly 50% more than the US federal minimum wage of $7.25.

9. …and many more holidays

Congratulations! (Or as German speakers say:congratulations!) Unlike the US, which has no law forcing employers to give employees paid vacation time, everyone in Germany receivesat least 20 days off with payment. And it gets even better:the average in Germany is 30 days, the longest in all of Europe, accordinglyGerman Economic Institute.

In addition, there are between 10 and 13 public holidays a year in Germany, depending on which federal state you live in.

Nine of them are celebrated nationwide - New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labor Day (yes, there is one in Germany too), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Day of German Unity, 1st and 2nd Christmas Day (2 after Christmas) - although there are also several thought of by different combinations of states.

This might explain whyThe people in Germany give the grade to the work-life balance8,4 von 10in conversation with the OECD – one of the best reviews ever.

10. Sunday is a statutory rest day

Sundays are for relaxing. Most shops are closed, as is pretty much everything else. Rest, relax and enjoy somethingBundesligaFootball, church or time with your loved ones.

This cultural phenomenon has been enshrined in law with special Sunday bans on drilling and other noise pollution, dumping bottles in dumpsters, and driving trucks. Take advantage of the mandatory rest period and you will find that it prepares you well for the work week.

11. The food and drink is great - and very familiar.

One thing you can take advantage of on Sundays is to immerse yourself in the culinary delights of Germany.

If you're worried about adjusting to odd European cuisine, put your fears aside and get ready for a welcome rush of beer, sausages, and schnitzel -- at least at the annual Oktoberfest (most of which, confusingly, tends to take place in September). . ) .

And if you're a vegetarian, that's no problem. Potatoes are everywhere, there are some excellent cheeses and sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) is a national delicacy - morehelps your immune system.

You could also have spaetzle, a dish from the southwestern Swabian region that mixes German pasta with sparkling water and an obscene amount of cheese. Yummy.

12. Transfer your things to Germany as stress-free as possible

ShipmentIt is by far the most efficient and cost-effective way to ensure all your prized possessions follow you across the Atlantic safely and on time.Air freight can be up to 18 times more expensive than sea freight, accordinglyTransporter, which is just not worth it.

We've calculated average international shipping costs for some of our most popular trips from the United States to Hamburg, Germany. Prices are from WorldFreightRates.com and are based onPort to port transport of a 20ft container of used furniture worth £40,000– the typical content value of a three bedroom house (according to Admiral Insurance). These prices were last updated in August 2019.

13. Choose your new home in Germany carefully...

Like the USA, Germany is a federal republic made up of states – 16 states to be exact – and also has enormous diversity on its territory.

You can live in the southwest, close to the spruce and pine trees of the Black Forest, or sleep in the southeast and ski in the Bavarian Alps all the time. Choose an urban center like Berlin or Munich or live in a cheap northern city like Kiel and spend the summer thereWesterland on Sylt, which has 40 km of beaches ready for you.

If you're looking for a cheap city, Leipzig to the east and Bochum to the west are good options - butit's hard to beatBerlinCombination of entertainment and accessibility.

14. ...but wherever you live, you can travel to amazing places

Besides dozens of world heritage sites, the Black Forest, the Alps and more beautiful beaches than you would expect,Germany is also blessed with itmore than 2,500 locks, and over 124,000 miles of hiking trails.

When you're ready to take a break from everyday life, you can embark on the Romantic Road, a 300km journey south from Würzburg to Füssen that leads to countless stunning towns and scenic views. If you weren't in love with Germany before this trip, you will be afterwards.

Also if you love driving to amazing destinations and need speed you will love thisOver 70% of the autobahns in Germany have no speed limit.

an immense83 % der Expatriatesin Germany are satisfied with their leisure activities, no wonder. Plus, you're in the middle of Europe, which means you can travel to see countless different cultures and landscapes - if you can tear yourself away from your new home, of course.

If this sounds too great to pass up, feel free to fill itour formto get free quotes for shipping your goods to Germany.

15. Nobody can be hateful

Of course, no matter how many beautiful castles and landscapes, one can forget the horrors of recent German history. After the events of World War II, the country decided that freedom of expression was less important than dealing with the harrowing events of the 1930s and 1940s.

In the United States, the freedom to protest and say whatever you want is protected by the First Amendment. This is not the case in Germany.

As a result, flags of hateful extremist ideologies such as Nazis and Daesh are banned in Germany andShowing them is punishable by up to three years in prison. Germany takes such acts seriously – which is understandable.

Unlike the US,In Germany, there has been a federal law since 2006 that prohibits all forms of discrimination; Neo-Nazi demonstrations are expressly forbidden and any building or statue glorifying Nazi ideology has long since been destroyed.

In many cases these have been replaced by museums to inform future generations of what happened to avoid repeating it. These museums are fascinating and well worth a visit.

16. Be careful when naming your child

Another legal difference in Germany is the risk of a fine if you don't follow the country's naming laws for a new child. Parents need to make sure that the child's name isn't too unusual, is interesting to the baby, and makes the gender clear (for some reason).

If your regionRegistration(Statistics Civil Office) rejects your choice of name, you can appeal against the decision - but it will cost you either way. If you are concerned you can ask the office to check the accepted names book.

Notoriously rejected names over the years include Lucifer, Dracula, Wasp — and in one instance less than a year after 9/11, Osama Bin Laden.

17. Learn the language

Of course, the language in Germany is also different - and you should make an effort to learn it.Deutsch. AEuropean Commission survey 2012found that 58% of people in Germany speak English, but being able to communicate with everyone helps if you want to make the most of your new life.

The good news is that many people find German easier to learn than most languages ​​because many of its word and sentence structures mirror English. For example, "Is correct" means "that's right", "Where is the restroom?' means 'where's the bathroom?' It's "Hallo' means 'hello'. Simply!

At least this step will help you understand that Germans are not constantly angry; they only speak a language that sounds very aggressive. And if you're thinking of making your move permanent, learning the language is a must -You must speak German better than basic to get your visa.

18. Making friends is hard...

A basic knowledge of German will also help you to meet people and really immerse yourself in the local culture - and anything that gives you an advantage in this area is worth doing.

After all, this is one country airing an obscure 18-minute British skit bearing the namedinner for onesince 1963 every New Year's Eve. The cultural differences are big.

Germany ranked 23rd out of 33 in the HSBC poll when it comes to making friends. So be prepared to work for whatever connections you make. Joining a club – or clubs – is a good start, because Germans love their clubs. Forming alliances over common interests is more common in Germany than meeting in a bar.

If you remember one piece of advice from this section, it's that you should never withdraw from an event. If you've told potential German friends you want to go to a house party or picnic: go. If you can't make it, tell them the first time they ask or risk breaking a bridge.

Several expats said that it is difficult to make contacts at first, but that a friendship once forged in Germany lasts.

"I think it's a cultural issue. the labelFreundin Germany you see things a little differently than in the USA. Normally you don't have many friends in Germany - but you know the ones you have very well,You trust them and have them for life no matter what.

– The_auditor,Reddit

19. ...but will have company

If you find it difficult to get along with the locals, this is a comfort to you15% of expats living in Germany are Americans, laut InterNationsExpat Insider Survey 2018– that is more than any other nationality.

Look for American groups, go to events and hopefully find (and steal) all your German friends. You don't have to be alone if you live in Germany - Redditsr/germanygroup andInternationaleare good starting points.

20. You won't regret moving to Germany

At least that's what the expats say. According to a survey by InterNations, 73% of them said they were satisfied after moving to Germany and77% are happy with life.

So is the country17. happiestin the world. Americans in particular seem eager to become Germans with the number of Americans applying for German citizenshipdoubled between 2009 and 2017.

21. So who should move to Germany?

Original? All. The country outlaws discrimination of all kinds, legalized same-sex marriages and adoptions in 2017, and has one of the most stable political and economic situations of any country in the world - as well as a rich culture teeming with food.

You can benefit from universal healthcare, get a higher salary to work fewer hours and days, and watch your kids have fun at amazing playgrounds before attending some of the best universities in the world for free. There are countless destinations too, whether you want to be a beach bum, an experienced skier, a tireless hiker - or all three.

Go to ourInternational container shipping costspage and see how much it would cost you to settle into your new home in Germany. Or you can easily get shipping offers to Germanycompletethis formand our professional suppliers will contact you!