16 expats share tips on moving to Germany

menorca chaturvedi January 28, 2018

17 min read

Are you planning to move to Germany and have a multitude of thoughts going through your mind? Or maybe you are in the process of applying for studying in Germany or simply wondering how it is like working and living in Germany. Well, as some of you might now, I studied and lived in Germany myself before moving to Switzerland and am familiar with many of the thoughts and concerns people have before moving to a new country. I decided to create this useful resource for anyone who might be thinking about moving to Germany and spoke to a few expats in the country. Here is how they answered one basic question:

What advice would you give to someone planning to move to Germany?

LANGUAGE

Not knowing German at all may be a little difficult to get around, depending on which part of the country you live in. You can consider joining the A1 German classes in your home country (eg: Goethe Institute) for getting familiar with the basics before you move or definitely join a course after your arrival. Apps like FluentU, Duolingo or Babbel can be really handy in learning German too.

Expat tip:

“Learn the language or try to learn some basics. It goes a really long way by just knowing a little German. They appreciate you learning their language and making an effort.”

– Vishal Bhartia

READ: From German to Swiss-German: Basic words and phrases

ALSO: Funny stories about mistranslations

HOUSING

Before arriving in Germany, try to finalize your accommodation, even if you get a temporary one. There are several websites and resources you can make use of, to book a shared flat, temporary accommodation or a student dorm. If you are a student, get in touch with your program coordinator and apply for University housing as soon as possible.

Expat tip:

“For apartment search, I’d suggest WG-Gesucht and Schwarzesbrett; you will find a lot of ads there. And be prepared for an interview-like process when looking for a room in a shared apartment, as most people are looking for like-minded flatmates.”

– Henar Gomez, Wanderwings, @wanderwings

CULTURE

Make the most out of your stay in Germany and soak in as much of local culture and history as you can. You could, for instance, stay up for the Night of the Museums, attend music festivals, carnivals, parades, etc. You can also choose to visit meetups with locals, such as via meetup.com or University language/culture exchange groups.

Expat tip:

“Try to experience as many of the wonderful things that Germany has to offer. There are so many festivals, markets, hikes, beer gardens, vineyards, galleries, museums and castles to explore all over the country.”

– Meredith, Kaffee und Kuchen, @kaffeekuchenco

READ: 10 Festival Hacks for Carnivals and Oktoberfest

READ: Best Christmas Markets in Germany

Lederhosen and Drindl are the traditional costumes for men and women in Germany. Also, beer and Bavaria go way back in time!

FOOD

While in Germany, try out the local food and beer (non-alcoholic flavoured beer are easily available too, if you like). If you are a vegetarian, there is nothing to worry about. Penny, Netto and Aldi are some of the less expensive supermarkets, although Rewe and Hit have a wide variety of products. You can also find a lot of Asian and African stores for any other groceries and products you might be interested in buying.

READ: Delicious vegetarian dishes in Germany and 23 other countries

Expat tips:

“Hang out in the beer gardens, try out currywurst and Kolsch Beer! For regular grocery shopping, I feel very comfortable visiting Rewe.”

– Manvi Mahana, Product Manager

“I would advise people to learn at least basic cooking skills, before coming to Germany.”

– Madhu Ram, IT Professional

“Lazy to cook or can’t find good food? Liefer Service DE is a lifesaver when you are moving to a new city in Germany and it’s the best when you are lazy!”

– Vishal Bhartia

“Don’t forget to get some basic spices from home (esp if you are a South Asian) for cooking regular meals. I prefer cooking at home to eating out every day. Also, it isn’t a bad idea to save up a bit and then go travel when you can! “

– Sankalp Jain, PhD Researcher

Dumplings or semmelknodel are a traditional dish in Germany. The BEST dumplings with mushroom sauce I have tried were at Neckarmuller in Tübingen. Check out some of the restaurants I loved in Germany.

TRANSPORT

If you are a student, you may get a student travel pass for your state or region. Otherwise, for daily commuters, getting a monthly transport card might make sense. Also, for travelling around Germany, getting a DB Bahn card is not a bad idea. Trains, buses and carpooling are great options for planning your travels.

Check out the Cheapest ways to travel in Germany here.

Expat tip:

“Memorize the U-Bahn stops all over your city. Public transport is immaculate and extremely convenient. I use it daily and for long/short distances. Get the yearly pass which is not too expensive. Travel around Europe since you can do so without any limitations and Germany is in the heart of Europe.”

– Vishal Bhartia

WHAT TO BRING ALONG

For students planning to move to Germany, I would suggest not getting electronic appliances like the electric iron, toaster, electric cooker, etc, as you can get all of these at affordable prices here. Get a universal adaptor for sure so you can use your laptop and phone chargers without compatibility issues.

Expat tips:

“I would say having a warm jacket is the first basic requirement if you are coming in autumn or winter. So do carry one if you own it!”

– Komal Soni, Postdoctoral Researcher

If you do not own winter boots or a warm jacket, you can just get them after arriving, along with things like a muffler, gloves and a cap for keeping warm in the winters. Check out stores like Deichmann for reasonably priced shoes and boots, and regular departmental stores for winter wear. Keep a lookout for sales in stores a few times a year, when you can often get great discounts on all clothes.

This one is specifically for Indian or South Asian students on a budget, although you can also buy pressure cookers in Germany:

“As the saying goes, you can shift out of India but you can never take the ‘Desi’ out!! So apart from all the information about housing and travelling and making expat friends, the very basic and simple advice to give any and every Indian-gone-global is to get a Pressure Cooker. Every Indian home has it (sometimes in multiples) and you cannot escape this humble but very important companion. It’s not only vital for your Daily-Desi-Dose of chawal daal (in all its glorious avatars as tadka, sambar, missal etc) but you can use it for everything from boiling a quick breakfast egg or making an elaborate Pavbhaji for fellow expats to cooking an India-is-not-only-chilly-food statement halwa for new German colleagues.

So my future fellow Ausländers, take out those kurtas and pajamas you have packed in your precious ‚max. 32kg‘cargo (let’s face it you are never going to wear those in the name of cold/fashion/German-washing machines, and if you didn’t know that then here is another advise- you are NEVER going to wear them) and make room for the humble pressure cooker!” –

– Dhruva Deshpande, PhD Researcher

INSURANCE

Getting a health insurance is mandatory in Germany.You can either opt for a public or a private insurance provider. Generally, most foreign students opt for one of the public insurances like AOK, TK or DAK.

“If you are coming for a short period of time (from other EU country) make sure you get the EU health card, it’ll save you some money as it’s obligatory to have a health insurance. If you are a preparation student, I can recommend you check Mawista (health insurance) basic coverage and reasonable price for short periods of time.”

– Henar Gomez

STUDYING IN GERMANY

Expat tips:

“Scholarships are not so easy to get, but you can try for part-time jobs. Knowledge of German can be a very big advantage in that. If you are interested, start looking for part time jobs before your funds run out.”

– Adhideb Ghosh, M.Sc Graduate

“It will be a great time to enjoy parties, the wide variety of beer, European cuisines and travel (make use of the extended weekends!). Be sure you are in the right company for studies/exams/parties/tours. I’d warn people studying Life Sciences that getting a job may not be very easy, although there are a lot of research opportunities in Germany.”

– Vishal Siramshetty, PhD Researcher

“I would suggest students take up part-time work that would benefit their course. Also, if you can, try devoting some time to voluntary or social activities. These things help build your resume and are helpful while applying for jobs.”

– Joy Bhowmik, M.Sc Graduate and Former Intern at UNFCCC

The University of Bonn, my alma mater. Picture by Alexander Boden, Wikimedia Commons

POST-PAID CONTRACTS

Be careful while buying any gadgets on a post-paid contract. Make sure you are well aware of all charges and cancellation policies. The same goes for all other contracts you sign; be it ADAC, DB Bahn Card or any other. Remember to cancel it way ahead in advance, else the contracts may be automatically extended every year.

Expat tips:

“If you want to buy a new phone or so, save up till you can afford to make the down payment.Otherwise, be careful while entering into contracts with companies.”

– Sagar Sharma, MBA Student

FINDING A JOB

If you are a student in Germany, you can get a Job Search Visa after your course, which gives you up to 18 months to stay in the country and look for a job. Others have the option of either applying for a work visa after they get a work contract, or arriving with Job Seeker Visa for 6 months and looking for jobs.

Expat tips:

“I would say that the key to finding a job is networking and not getting deterred by rejections. Reach out to people and find out more about the field of work you want to work in. For those outside Germany, getting a Job Seeker Visa and then meeting companies to look for a job could be a good option.”

– Monitha, Project Lead- Data Management

“Buy a premium membership on a professional platform like Xing or LinkedIn. Complete your profile and do not forget a recent photo. Look for groups matching your professional background, future wishes and even private interests. Be active in order to be visible. Attend events, public speeches etc in order to do active, face to face networking.”

– Alexandra Jensen, threeonthego, @OnTheGo2013 .

WORK CULTURE

Expat tip:

“Germans are informal outside of the office hours. Very forthcoming and friendly. But during office hours, the tone is very formal. You are on last name and “per Sie” – You in the formal form. Should you have a university- or a doctoral degree, you better put that title on your business card and in the phone book! Also, you can easily read up on all procedures of the company in the thick manuals that you find in the bookshelves in most HR departments. To many Germans, the strict procedures for EVERYTHING are, in fact, what they find most comforting because they eliminate all unpleasant surprises.”

– Alexandra Jensen, threeonthego, @OnTheGo2013

LIVING IN GERMANY

Expat tips:

“Find ways to get involved with the expat community and the local community. I joined some online expat communities several months before moving to Germany and a few more once I arrived. These groups offer resources to prepare for your move (such as info about visas, accommodation, insurance, etc.) and often organize events where you can meet people in your new city.”

– Meredith, Kaffee und Kuchen ,@kaffeekuchenco

“Currently, everyone is expected to pay a monthly fee for DeutschRadio/TV, whether or not you watch it. Don’t ignore any official letters you may receive in your post, or else you may fall into trouble. Also, using Torrent or any website that uses Torrent is illegal and you can be sent legal notices if you do so. So, please be careful about downloading movies or TV shows.”

– Jamshaid Ali, Former Post-doctoral scientist

If you could relate to these points or know somebody who could benefit from these tips, do share this article!