Moving to Germany
International Relocation
by Achuth.i 24 February 2022International Relocation: Moving to Germany
Germany is a world of excellence and regulation blessed with one of the most marvelous landscapes in the European Union where people enjoy a life of strictly adhering to their country’s rules. But every immigrant should be well informed about the place they are going to reside in the future as it will make things a lot easier for them to settle down in a foreign land. Talking of Germany, this place has amazing prospects for skilled workers and students. They encourage emigrants to move there because they have higher employment and educational opportunities. And If you are excited about moving to Germany then you must prioritize the following things before onboarding to the path of a new life with your luggage packed.
Visa
Visa plays a decisive role when you are dreaming about moving to a different nation but every country has different rules and regulations to permit a person to their country. Germany comes under the association of Schengen Area which allows other 62 European countries to visit the country without a visa for 90 days so if you are an EU citizen then you will not need a visa to stay in the country. Whereas others have to apply for the visa online and follow the application process that includes: document submission, embassy interview, and final review of your application. Also, there are several types of visas for German immigration depending on your requirements including business visa, employment visa, education visa, job seeker visa, short-stay visa, internship visa, and family visa.
Documents
In every single visa application eligibility is defined by the submission of your documents whether those documents meet the specific requirements of the visa office or not. So applicants must be attentive to each detail to fulfill the eligibility criteria provided by the German authorities. And because this process takes time to get your approval you should keep in mind an intact list of all the documents.
- Application Form (as per your visa type)
- Declaration Form (issued by German authorities)
- Two passport size photos
- Passport with validation for at least 3 months
- Airline Reservation
- Proof of Accommodation
- Health Insurance
- Financial Statements
- Employment Contract (for employment visa)
- College Letter of Acceptance (for students)
- Birth Certificate/Parent Letter (for minor)
- Complete Vaccination Certificate
Job Prospects
Germany has been seeking talented people providing open opportunities to expats to enter their advanced work culture. There is more demand for occupations like engineers, IT professionals, medical workers, and marketing professionals are always welcomed by Germany as they require more and more qualified staff for their economy. You can approach a wide range of employers if you know how to create a network with recruiters on LinkedIn in Germany plus your language skills are going to make things much easier if you have polished your German. Job prospects for foreign applicants are actually booming in Germany because the government is planning to launch a separate Immigration Act that will allow more secure and high-paid jobs for people coming from abroad.
Insurance
Keeping a check on your health coverage plan is mandatory when one is relocating to Germany. Although Germany has a reputed healthcare system, non-residents are required to assist themselves with private health insurance that will cover their prescriptions, regular checkups, dental care, and emergency medical attention. Many famous expat health insurance companies provide plans to secure you internationally like Allianz, Cigna Global, Mawista Expatcare, April International, and Feather. But if you are moving as an employee or you get a government qualified job there you can switch to public health care which is much better for you as they will provide complete care at the lowest cost. So before you start living in the country these things are very important for every emigrant to know because securing yourself is the first step one should take before moving to a new world.
Accommodation
The accommodation of an immigrant depends on the terms of their stay where they are going to live for a long or short period. So finding accommodation accordingly will be more convenient as you have to invest money in everything when relocating to a different country. The rent budgets and prices vary depending on the city you are choosing as your home like Berlin has cheaper rates than other places. You can easily get a one-room apartment for 500 to 600 EUR excluding the charge of your amenity supplies whereas in an expensive city like Munich you will need to spend more than 2000 EUR for a comfortable apartment. Also, foreigners searching to buy any kind of house in Germany can do their research online first and then meet property managers. It is important to know that you are required to fund 30% of the property price at the time of registration so you need to plan a good budget before deciding on purchasing a home for yourself.
Moving Possessions
The process of moving to a new place can be overwhelming sometimes but having the right information can save you time and energy. If you want to ship all your household goods then it might turn out expensive depending on the mode of transportation but choosing the essentials over favorites can be a budget-friendly idea. We have made the most desired picklist for you so that you can spend your beginning days comfortably in a foreign land. The packlist involves comfortable boots, adaptor, smartphone, umbrella, water bottle, earplugs, headphones, sunscreen, insect repellent, kindle, dental floss, toothbrush, luggage lock, accessories, handbags, toiletries, neck wallet, and fashionable outfits as its a world of fancy clothing. Moreover, you need to arrange all your documents for airport check-in and keep them in a separate bag with some cash.
Bank Account
Opening a new bank account is quite tricky for immigrants in Germany because you will need to deposit about 1000 EUR per month and also they will have higher interest rates. And if you are not fluent in the German language banking things will become more complex. But it is not important that you must have a German bank account to keep the flow of your money, you can set up an overseas account instead. There are a vital number of international banks available that can provide you with a basic savings account to move your money easily. Do check the interest rates, schemes, applicable fees, minimum deposit, and international customer services. Another important point to note is that if you are self-employed or a businessman you are not allowed to open a current account in Germany unless you are a permanent resident.