2024-08-05 14:56:48
Many people from the USA choose Germany as a place to settle abroad.
By the end of 2023, the number of people with American passports living in Germany stood at 122,475 according to official figures.
So what should you know if you are moving across the Atlantic?
You need to consider the visa
You can enter Germany from the US without a visa if you plan to stay for under 90 days as a tourist (although in the future there will low income as part of the ETIAS requirement for all arrivals in the EU). But if you want to live and work in Germany, you need a permit.
Because you do not need a visa to enter, you can apply for a residence permit at your local immigration office (Foreign Authority) within the first 90 days of your stay in Germany.
If you intend to stay in Germany for more than 90 days and would rather apply for a residence permit before entering, you can do so in person at the German Embassy in Washington or at a German Consulate. in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York or San Francisco.
Passengers with suitcases at Düsseldorf airport. Photo: alliance art/dpa | Thomas Bannyer
Later this year, people in the US will also be able to use it Consular Services Portal to apply for a visa for Germany from the USA online.
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“Finish your application online and have it checked in advance by the German mission to make sure it’s complete,” he said. German Embassy in the US. “This way you will be well prepared for the in-person appointment at the German mission where you will provide your biometric data (fingerprints and photo).”
The types of visas that Americans can apply for online will include the new Privilege Card (advantage card) visa of job seekers, EU Blue Card and many other study and work visas.
However you choose to apply for a visa, be sure to think about which one is best for your situation and needs.
READ ALSO: How to apply for Germany’s new ‘privilege card’ and other visas for jobseekers
You need to register your address
Address registration laws in Germany may come as a bit of a surprise to people from the United States, where you can move from one location to another and stay pretty much under the radar. But its over Register is a legal requirement for anyone living in Germany.
Everyone who arrives in Germany with the intention of settling here is required to register their address with their local authority within 14 days of arrival.
Here are some documents that are generally required:
- A valid ID card such as a passport
- Proof of address such as your utility bill or rental agreement
- Confirmation of residence – known as a Confirmation of the home provider which you can get from your landlord or first tenant if you are renting
- Completed registration form
- Your visa or residence permit
- You may also need to bring items such as a marriage certificate or birth certificates of your children
READ ALSO: Is renting a flat without an Anmeldung illegal in Germany?
Once you register, you will receive a confirmation (confirmation of registration). Whatever you do, keep it safe because you never know when you’ll need it.
View of apartments in Potsdam. Photo: photo alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Soren Stache
You need to have health insurance
Having health insurance is mandatory in Germany and it works differently than in the US.
Important points to know is that Germany has two different systems of healthcare – legal and private. If you are an employee, you are automatically provided with statutory health insurance and your contributions are automatically deducted from your salary.
Private insurance premiums depend on your risk (young people can pay less, for example), and the benefits you receive according to what’s in your contract. If you are self-employed, a small business owner, a professional, or work in the public sector, you most likely have to register for this, although there are exceptions.
There are some expat insurances which are good for some visas without employment contracts but do not provide as comprehensive coverage as general or private insurance does.
The idea of the German health insurance system is that you will receive care but will not be hit with an eye-watering bill out of the blue – something that can be a surprising part of living in the United States.
READ ALSO: 10 important things you need to know about healthcare in Germany
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When you register with a public health care provider, you will be given a Health card (health insurance card). It is important to always bring this with you when you access any health services.
You will have to send taxes to the US
One thing that may alarm US residents is that taxes are higher in Germany – but in return there is a very strict social welfare system.
In Germany, if you owe an employee tax it will automatically come off your salary slip (although you can still make voluntary tax adjustments to try and get some money back). If you are self-employed you will have to file a tax return.
However, complicating matters is that you will have to repatriate the tax. And it’s serious business: Americans need to pay US taxes until death or they renounce citizenship (we don’t make laws).
Preparing a tax return from abroad is more complex, because the forms are long and the procedures are not always easy to understand.
READ ALSO: Tax mistakes that Americans in Germany should avoid
There is also FBAR – an acronym for Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. This is a separate document that anyone with accounts of any kind at a non-US bank must file. So if you have savings or other accounts in a German bank – including mortgages, life insurance, pension plans, taxes, etc. – you must state the highest amount (converted to US dollars) in each of these accounts during the year for which you file.
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Get familiar with labor laws and the labor market
Many Americans are attracted to Europe because of its popular work-life balance. And it’s true – most of the work culture is very different from the US.
People don’t tend to work around the clock and workers tend to use all their paid vacation days – less than four weeks per year.
In the US, workers usually get a maximum of five paid sick days. In Germany, you are entitled to a significant amount of paid sick leave if you have an illness, including depression or insomnia.
Meanwhile, after you have passed your first trial period in Germany, your employer cannot leave you easily for any reason. They will need to be justified with a valid reason under the law.
There is also a range of parental benefits and support for families.
READ ALSO: Five ways working in Germany is better than working in the US
Another thing to keep in mind is that Germany is desperate for workers. That means there should be a lot of job opportunities out there so you can have the upper hand in negotiations with employers.
Just be aware that our salaries are all low.
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Public transport is very good
If you’re going to one of the German cities, remember that you probably don’t need a car, unlike in many places in the US.
Public transport, although far from perfect, is fairly reliable and a great way to get around.
Get your hands on the €49 ‘Deutschlandticket’ for access to public transport throughout the country and on regional trains (high-speed trains excluded). In Berlin, there is a €29 ticket that allows people to travel on public transport in the AB district of the city.
READ ALSO: How much will Germany’s Deutschlandticket cost in 2025?
Important cultural differences
Whenever you go to another country, you have to take into account the customs.
For Americans coming to Germany, these may be the fact that shops are closed on Sundays, the lack of air conditioning in public buildings and on transportation (especially the high temperatures in summer) and Low bar for customer service. Some would even argue that customer service is non-existent in Berlin.
You may also find it strange that Germans go to the sauna without any swimwear, and there are many nude beaches. When you do not face the eyelid in this (or even join), the integration is complete.
READ ALSO: 10 things I found surprising as an American after moving to Germany
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Get familiar with the German language
Although you won’t necessarily need to speak German unless your job requires it, it’s a good idea to acquire some basic language skills.
It will help you with many tricky things when traveling abroad, such as making friends and dealing with government tasks (and, boy, there is a lot of bureaucracy).
Attending a language class is also a fun way to meet people and make connections. Some workplaces even offer German courses to their international employees.
Remember that having proper residence – and CITIZENSHIP – requires at least B1 German level in most cases. If living in Germany is your long-term goal, get those long words practiced.
READ ALSO: From Elternzeit to midwives: An American view on childbearing in Germany
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