If you want good European weather, high quality of life and a very stable economic environment, it’s hard to go past Germany.
Welcome to our guide for expats in Germany, including information on what to expect, how to get residency, the cost of living, healthcare, public transport, the unique German mindset and some very handy tips from the author – an expat resident in Germany for over 20 years.
Living in Germany
Can foreigners move to Germany?
Absolutely, and there are many ways to do so. While you can expect quite some paperwork, the difficulty is more a question of time and less one of complexity. More on that in the residency section below.
Is Germany a safe country for expats?
With stricter gun laws and a low crime rate, Germany is perceived to be one of the safest European countries.
Germany records 42 crimes per 1000 people, with little to no violent crime being reported. Germany has an extremely low homicide rate of 0.37 murders per 1000 people, compared to the UK’s 1.15, and the United States often higher homicide rate.
These numbers are impressive considering Germany is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with a population of over 83 million people
What is living in Germany like?
As with many European nations, Germany is near the top (at times even at the top) of many rankings for quality of life. It’s got lots to boast about: a modern economy with big companies, highly skilled workers, and far lower than average unemployment.
The country’s rich heritage and culture combined with a strong public transportation system make it easy to get around, with healthcare, low crime rates, and great public education round it off.
Germans work some of the longest – but some would say, fairest – hours in Europe. English is widespread making it easy for expats with a little German to settle in. In fact, it has become increasingly harder to find a person that doesn’t speak English.
However, the cultural differences between Germany and your previous home country might take some getting used to, particularly regarding things like punctuality, tolerance, and how you should back away from a confrontation.
As for religion, race, and foreign culture, Germany has successfully built on a culture of integration, empathy, and understanding. Just be careful you don’t root for the wrong football team when you watch a match with your friends or in a stadium.
Is living in Germany expensive?
The popular opinion of Germany is that it’s an expensive place to live, but it’s still more affordable than the UK, for example.
Living in Germany on average will set you back by €950 (£800) a month. Of course, it very much depends on the location and the lifestyle you are used to.
The quality of life is also arguably better in Germany.
Renting a property in Germany is a common practice. There are more residents living in rented accommodations than those who own a property.
Rent on an average inner-city apartment in Germany is €900 (£760) a month, but rent on a rural apartment is much cheaper, coming in at around €320 (£275) a month.
Eating out in a restaurant is not very expensive in Germany, with a typical main meal costing around €7.50. Traditional dishes like bratwurst and käsespätzle are around half the price they are anywhere abroad.
Utilities in Germany are also very cheap, with the average monthly outgoings coming to roughly €150 (£130) for a single person living in an apartment.
Pro-tip: amazon.de has a lot of great stuff, but so does amazon.co.uk and amazon.com, and prices can differ greatly. This is true for a lot of events, shops and offers. Music festival tickets for festivals in Germany are cheaper when bought on the Austrian version of the same festival website (.at). Sounds weird, but it is good to know.
The pros and cons of living in Germany
There are many reasons to choose Germany as your new home: it has a rich history and culture, gorgeous scenery, a diverse population, and it is a major economic powerhouse.
The reasons to not choose Germany are few and far between, but there are some.
Here is a quick overview of the pros and cons of living in Germany.
The pros of living in Germany
1. Tolerant society
Germany is highly liberal, open-minded and infamous for its tolerance-first approach. Be it religion, race, sexuality – you name it.
2. Not that pricey
Germany has lower costs than you might expect, especially when compared to the wages – rent, food, entertainment, transportation, clothing, etc is much less than most places of similar development (e.g. US and UK).
3. A high standard of living
Known for great healthcare and education (amongst the best in the world) Germany is also among the countries with the lowest rates of corruption
4. Stable environment
Germany is a well-regulated economy allowing for low-risk investment with a very pro-business regulatory body coupled with a generally very hard-working, industrious population. As such, great effort and labour, in general, is highly respected.
Germany has a rare duo education system where you can opt for an apprenticeship instead of going to university.
5. Good roads, good traffic
There is an abundance of affordable public transport options in all major cities of Germany, which can also be navigated easily on maps heeded from Deutsche Bahn (railway company). Traffic jams do happen, however.
Pro traffic tip: If you must commute during rush hours, or when the highway is blocked due to an accident, try to opt for a motorbike. Nothing fancy. If it can go at least 60 km/h (38 mph) it may drive on the highway. There is ample space for bikes to pass by while cars may temporarily turn into tortoises. While this is rare, it is an incredibly satisfying feeling to fly through traffic on German highways!
Pro traffic tip 2: If you need to travel a long distance on a budget, give buses a chance. Companies like ‘flexbus’ are considerably cheaper than going by rail. The same can be said about car-sharing apps.
The cons of living in Germany
1. A delicate balance of powers within a delicate balance of powers
After a long period of Merkel stability-first politics coming to an end, Germany’s future politics are anyone’s guess. Each part of the country has their own plans and then there is Brussel and every EU member around the land of the Bratwurst.
What’s relevant for expats and settlers is that unwelcome changes in pensions, taxes and other laws and regulations are very likely.
2. Not so cheap after all
Wealth doesn’t scale well in Germany. The more money you earn and spend, the harder you are taxed. This is also reflected in the disproportionately expensive luxury goods such as fancy meals or front-seat tickets at events.
3. Not so green after all
There is degradation and contamination of many natural springs, forests, land and nature in general. A lot of environmental politics have suffered under the pressure of other priorities.
An example of this is a lot of recycled material ending up in the same incinerator, after all, making it more of an environmental theatre than actual green mechanics. That said, Germany is still a leader when it comes to preserving the planet – especially when compared to the US or China.
4. A German version of English
People tend to speak their own version of English. Older generations will directly translate idioms and phrases ending up with gibberish, while younger folk will start mixing the both or using a lot of pop culture references which is often referred to as “Denglish”.
5. Romantically conservative
Germans tend to be more reserved than other cultures. Save for the wild nightlife, the dating scene is certainly a lot more reserved than popular opinion might lead you to believe and it can be hard to break the ice at times
6. Offspring rules are complicated
Child-rearing laws are pretty strict and as you might have expected – lots of bureaucracy
7. Southsiders
Most activity happens in the south. If you’re looking for solitude, head north.
8. Taxes or taxes
Americans are infamous for being taxed through the seven hells. Death or taxes as the saying goes.
Germany isn’t far off. Taxes are scaled, but comparatively high even at the lowest of tax classes.
Salaries can get taxed up to 50% and there are multiple additional taxes such as a whopping 19% value-added tax and other hidden costs such as paying a fee for television even if you don’t own one (“GEZ”).
9. A rule. I like it. Another one!
Constant changes in regulations and very strict enforcement. This is a bit of a wild card and can be both a pro and a con, but we will opt for the latter.
Your beekeeping house was built 1mm too close to the public dirt road? *Wrecking ball noises*. I personally wish this was an extreme example to illustrate the point, but sadly it’s a real story. Rules don’t get bent by any margin. Even if it would be in everyone’s interest.
No matter how much you love or hate it, you certainly can’t deny that German bureaucracy is a beast that takes a lot of getting used to.
The advice would be to read up on the latest rules, try not to break them, and if you do, keep smiling.
German law can be unforgiving, but your parking ticket might get reduced by quite a lot for complying. Also, make sure you do everything online or through the Bundespost/Deutsche Bahn (post/railway) if possible, as this will save you a lot of time and effort.
How to obtain residency in Germany
Whether you are from inside or outside the EU, you need a residence permit or Aufenthaltstitel if you want to live in Germany for an extended period of time.
The work version of a residence permit is valid for the duration of your employment contract, plus two months. You will need to apply for a residence permit extension if you wish to stay in Germany for longer than this, and a permanent/ retirement residency for an indefinite stay.
If you are self-employed, you will not need to apply for a work residence permit. You will need to register yourself as a self-employed individual with the German tax authorities. In this case, you will be eligible to enjoy a number of tax benefits for the first two years of your stay in Germany.
Note: the income tax in Germany is lower for self-employed people than it is for employees.
The documents for the application process:
- Income or significant assets/savings (i.e. you can prove you are financially covered). This is sometimes called a financing plan or in the case of self-employment a revenue and business plan. You probably guessed by now that the more papers you prepare, the better.
- Health insurance
- Proof of address in Germany – you are bound to have records from the local municipality that you will have to copy. If you don’t have one yet, and you plan to directly apply for a retirement visa, you can write a statement on your plans on where you plan to rent or purchase one. The same applies to bank accounts and the aforementioned health insurance.
- An employment permission form or your company registration papers if you are self-employed
- A job description document. Imagine a CV but applying as a citizen of a country.
- Anything you would need with any new passport. A photo, money for fees (~EUR 100), your old passport and documents etc. It’s best to hand a copy of virtually anything that makes sense. Birth certificate, criminal records, a bank statement, basically everything short of a fingerprint and mugshot.
You are in the green once you have a stack of papers resembling a police case. While this might seem like overdoing it, it will avoid unnecessary forth and backs and any unnecessary documents will simply be omitted.
Permanent residency in Germany
Once you have a temporary residence visa, you can target permanent residency. This is what you need for it:
- 5 years of uninterrupted residence in Germany with secure livelihood (i.e. money or income) and health/social insurance.
- No criminal record. If you do have one, expect some forth and back, but it’s not downright impossible like most guides might trick you into believing. The world isn’t that black and white after all.
- B1 level German and basic knowledge of the local law. The latter is usually listed in forms but is more of a polite warning and doesn’t refer to any actual certification.
Can I retire to Germany?
Yes! And is it a good place to retire? Definitely! Germany is in our top 20 countries to retire abroad and for a good reason.
There are many great cities like Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, etc. that have a cosmopolitan feel, a good choice of international restaurants and pubs, and a wide range of cultural events and activities to enjoy.
The countryside on the other hand is home to many quiet villages, small towns and tiny hamlets surrounded by amazing nature.
The cost of living in Germany is higher than in most other European countries, so you may wish to investigate locations outside the big cities and give the countryside a chance.
German residency is possible through a retirement visa (see the section below) but you’ll need to have a monthly income of at least €1,000.
How much money do you need to retire in Germany?
On average, a pension of around $1,500 would give you a decent lifestyle in Germany. While more wouldn’t hurt, it certainly qualifies to settle here.
Quick note: you won’t get double taxed in any case or scenario, but you will have to keep tidy records of where your money comes from, whom you paid, how much tax etc. be it pension, salary or inheritance.
Retirees also benefit from grants offered by the German government, such as free public transportation (for seniors over the age of 60) and reductions in tax for homeowners.
Plan a little extra for specialists. German healthcare covered a lot but not all. One such example is dental care.
There are also cases of waiting for a donor organ longer if you are on public healthcare. It’s not as bad as you might fear, but it needs to be mentioned as well.
The German healthcare system is solid, not great. It is often portrayed as far better than it is simply because of how much worse other countries run things.
Retirement residency in Germany
Germany does not have a visa specifically for pensioners. Still, a ‘retirement residency visa’ (or something along these lines) is often advertised. That’s because applying to live in Germany post-retirement is fairly straightforward.
First, you apply for a general resident’s permit and select ‘retirement’ as your category.
You will pretty much do the same stuff as for the other visas safe for the work part. This is replaced with documents of your savings, pension or similar.
Pro-tip: If you have any work history in Germany, family members or similar it will help your case.
If approved, you will receive a temporary Visa. At least that’s what it says officially.
That’s because this is supposed to be a test phase of sorts and after the time is up you can apply again and finally receive the permanent one. In reality, and with some fourth and back, there are cases where permanent residency is given immediately or after a shorter period of time.
Either way, expect to visit embassies, send letters and check your emails quite a few times.
How to open a bank account in Germany
You will need a valid passport or another valid document proving your identity: a national identity card or a driving license.
You will also need a document proving your address. For some banks, but not all, that will have to be in Germany. Other than that, you may need to fill out a form or five that they will give you and some banks may even request a photograph of you.
They will also run an extensive background check (without telling you, but to be fair, it’s to be expected). You will be asked to give your personal details and information such as your date of birth and you will have to show up in person for most institutions (i.e. no remote registration).
Spend some time picking your favourite bank.
Banks are quite competitive and the sheer mention of signing up with someone else might even get you more favourable conditions.
Play hardball when the mood seems right for it, and once you signed the papers, don’t forget about them.
Banks will go through great lengths to keep you as a customer and just a few years down the line might reward you for not switching to the competition – if you give the impression that you might.
Healthcare in Germany
To get health insurance in Germany, you need to be a resident. You need to go to your local health insurance office, which is different for every state (KV = Krankenversicherung, BVA = Bundesversicherungsanstalt).
You will need to fill out some forms and get some paperwork in order, but you don’t need to have German health insurance to get a residence permit. Just health insurance which qualifies.
You can also complement German or foreign insurance with the other.
If you are on a lower budget, the German version will likely be the most cost-effective. Remember the fierce competition mentioned in the how-to-open-a-bank-account-section just above? It’s three times worse for insurance of any kind.
True story: I once invited an insurance representative of four different agencies (one each) to come to my home to give their pitch. None of them knew three more people would show up to give the same pitch. I politely invited them into the living room, served some drinks, and watched what resembled an episode of Game of Thrones or a very heated political discussion unfold.
After a while, it turned into a bidding war with me as the prize. Needless to say, the conditions I was offered turned out quite a lot better than what my neighbours ended up with.
Driving in Germany
The roads for starters are usually top-notch. German drivers are also very disciplined as a rule.
You will find roundabouts everywhere and driving on the Autobahn – the German highway system – is always a pleasure. You will see plenty of people camped out in lay-bys when the weather is good and there are plenty of speed limits to keep things interesting.
That’s right, not everywhere in Germany can you go as fast as you want despite popular belief. There are increasingly more sections with limits, a trend that has slowly gained pace.
Driving from the far west to the far east, you will see speed limits dropping from about 130 km/h to as low as 70 km/h. Not to mention the number of speed traps all over the country.
In fact, the German police might just be the most active force for catching speeders.
Download an app that warns you of these so-called “Radarfallen” aka. radar traps, and check your route ahead of your drive if it isn’t your usual commute.
There are also a lot of construction projects temporarily changing the rules such as speed and parking.
New cars are usually a tad overpriced at dealerships. Opting for the second hand can lead to saving 50%+ on virtually the same car even if it has only been driven for a thousand miles.
Warning: Don’t go for mid-modern models. Either get an old-timer (they get a break from most regulations), or something very new (which will get tax reductions and won’t suddenly become more expensive for seemingly random reasons) especially if it is electric. Tesla has been very active in building charging stations all across central Europe.
Final thoughts on living in Germany
Germany is a peaceful garden, a hectic factory, a wild party and a vivid sports event, but also a caring nurse, an understanding teacher and a demanding mother. It is this diverse mix that makes the country so fascinating.
Some stereotypes are true, but others only apply if you are willing to stay on the surface.
Here is another German word to think about: Gemütlichkeit. It expresses the truly unique way Germans are. It is the feeling of being comfortable and quickly at home, being taken care of, being at peace with yourself and others, of enjoying the small things in life.
No wonder the Germans have created a word for that: it embodies the German spirit. Have a Brezel, go to the beer festival and join Gemütlichkeit!
(But beware the hound that is paperwork and make good use of the locals’ spirit for competition).