Moving to Germany can be very exciting and it will change your life for the better if you do it correctly. You may be moving to Berlin or Frankfurt or even Munich. You could also be moving to Germany’s largest city, Berlin. No matter where your relocation is to, you are going to make many new friends and also have plenty of new experiences to look forward to while you are living there.
You relocating to a whole new country without a language and a tradition very different from the one you are accustomed to is quite exciting. Don’t forget to research the city or region you intend to reside in before you do anything. Try as much as possible to learn as much Germanic as you can and perhaps take some courses as well. How good are your German? Yes, most Germans speak English, but, think about it, the first language in Germany is German.
When you get ready to move to Germany, you need to decide if you are going to obtain a full fledged residence permit, or just a temporary one. There are pros and cons to each, so you really must do your homework prior to moving to Germany. Most international students who are pursuing a career in Germany usually choose to stay behind and work towards their degree. This way they are not burdened by obtaining a residence permit at the same time as taking courses and so forth.
Before you leave for your journey you should have a German bank account. Your bank account will provide all the identification documents you need and also prove that you have money available to you when you are in Germany. Many expats recommend having a joint bank account with someone in Germany to minimize the time you spend trying to get funds to you. Also, if you live in a state that does not require a resident expat card, you will need one when you move to Germany. Make sure you have both a German bank account and social security number when you go to your bank to withdraw money or to open a new one. You may also be required to have a photo ID when you apply for your German visa.
A final decision on obtaining your residence permit in Germany lies with the local authorities in your home country. The decision is entirely up to the authorities in your home country, and they are often likely to take your request into consideration before deciding on giving you permission to reside in Germany. For example, they may decide that you have sufficient reasons for relocating to Germany and give you the all necessary papers to help you with your move to Germany. They may also decide that you don’t have the right of free movement within the country, and so you would not be allowed to travel to another country for ninety days without a residence permit from the German embassy. If you can’t obtain a residence permit at the same time that you get your passport, you will only be allowed to move to Germany after you have had a chance to obtain one.
Getting your residence permit to live in Germany isn’t easy, and can sometimes take a while. The process can be much easier if you use a professional service to help you with the paperwork. Most professional service providers have contacts with the German authorities and can get your application approved very quickly. They can also make sure that you have a suitable insurance policy for when you move to Germany, which you will need in order to prove that you are a resident of the country. Also, they can make sure that you have health insurance suitable for Germany, as the German health authorities will also need proof of this.
