Germany

EU and EEA citizens

Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland can live and work in Germany without a visa. You only need to register your address.

Main routes for non-EU citizens

• EU Blue Card: for graduates with a job offer paying at least €48,300 in 2025 (€50,700 in 2026), or a lower threshold (€43,759.80 in 2025) for shortage occupations, IT specialists and recent graduates. Permanent residence is possible after 21 to 27 months.
• Skilled worker residence permit: for people with a recognised university degree or vocational qualification and a job offer in a related field.
• Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte): a points-based permit to look for work for up to 1 year. You can work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) and do trial jobs while searching.
• Freelance visa: for self-employed professionals and artists with German clients and a viable business plan.
• Student visa: for admitted students, who can work 140 full days or 280 half days per year.
• Job seeker and recognition routes: for people who need to complete qualification recognition in Germany.

How it works

You usually apply for a national visa (type D) at the German embassy in your country, then convert it to a residence permit at the local Ausländerbehörde after arriving. Citizens of countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and the UK can enter visa-free and apply in Germany.

Where the jobs are

Germany has shortages in IT, engineering, healthcare and nursing, childcare, skilled trades, logistics and teaching. Major employers include car makers, industrial and chemical companies, software firms and a strong base of mid-sized family businesses (the Mittelstand).

Pay and conditions

• The statutory minimum wage is €12.82 per hour in 2025 and €13.90 in 2026.
• Full-time contracts are usually 38 to 40 hours per week.
• The legal minimum is 20 days of paid leave, and most employers give 25 to 30.
• Probation periods (Probezeit) are usually 6 months.
• Salaries are quoted as gross annual figures.

Finding work

• Job boards: StepStone, Indeed, LinkedIn, XING and the Federal Employment Agency's job portal.
• German CVs (Lebenslauf) are typically 1 to 2 pages and often include a photo, although it is optional.
• Applications often include certificates and references (Arbeitszeugnis).

Recognition of qualifications

Regulated professions such as doctors, nurses, teachers and engineers in some roles need official recognition (Anerkennung) of your qualification. Check the anabin database and the Recognition in Germany portal.

Renting in Germany

More than half of households in Germany rent. Unfurnished flats may come without a kitchen, so check whether an Einbauküche (fitted kitchen) is included.

Understanding the rent

• Kaltmiete: the base rent, without any costs.
• Nebenkosten: service charges such as heating, water, rubbish and building cleaning.
• Warmmiete: Kaltmiete plus Nebenkosten, the amount you actually pay each month. Electricity and internet are usually extra.
• Kaution: the deposit, legally capped at 3 months' Kaltmiete.

Finding a flat

• Portals: ImmobilienScout24, Immowelt, Kleinanzeigen and WG-Gesucht for shared flats (WGs).
• Landlords usually ask for a SCHUFA credit report, recent payslips, ID and a rent payment confirmation from your previous landlord.
• In Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, a viewing can attract dozens of applicants.

Registration

Your landlord must give you a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung so you can register your address (Anmeldung) within 14 days.

Tenant protection

Tenants are well protected. Many cities apply the Mietpreisbremse (rent cap on new leases), and landlords need strong reasons to end an open-ended lease.

Compulsory insurance

Everyone living in Germany must have health insurance. You usually need proof of cover for your visa and your employment contract.

Public health insurance (GKV)

About 90% of residents use a public fund (Krankenkasse). Popular funds include Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), AOK, Barmer and DAK, and many offer English-language service.

• The contribution is 14.6% of gross salary, plus a fund-specific additional rate (about 2.5% on average in 2025), shared equally with your employer.
• Contributions stop increasing above the income ceiling of €66,150 per year (2025).
• Non-working spouses and children are covered free of charge.
• Long-term care insurance (Pflegeversicherung) is added on top.

Private health insurance (PKV)

Employees earning above €73,800 per year (2025), as well as freelancers and civil servants, can choose private insurance. It can be cheaper for young, healthy singles, but premiums rise with age and family members are charged separately. Switching back to public insurance later is difficult.

Using the system

• Register with a Hausarzt (family doctor), who refers you to specialists.
• Show your insurance card (Gesundheitskarte) at every appointment.
• Book appointments online through platforms such as Doctolib.
• For urgent care outside office hours call 116 117, and for emergencies 112.

What drives the cost

Rent is the main difference between cities. Munich is the most expensive, followed by Frankfurt, Hamburg and Berlin. Smaller cities in the east and in the Ruhr area are much cheaper.

Typical monthly budget for one person (big city)

• Warm rent for a one-bedroom: €950-€1,700
• Electricity: €50-€90
• Internet and mobile: €40-€60
• Groceries: €300-€400
• Public transport: Deutschlandticket, €58 per month in 2025 (€63 from 2026)
• Eating out and leisure: €200-€400
• Broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag): €18.36 per household

A single person typically needs €1,900-€2,800 per month in Berlin or Hamburg, and more in Munich.

Everyday prices

Supermarkets such as Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Edeka and Kaufland keep food prices reasonable. A cappuccino costs about €3.50-€4.50, a local beer €4-€5 in a bar, and a simple restaurant lunch €12-€16.

Saving money

• Use discount supermarkets and weekly offers.
• Return bottles for the Pfand deposit.
• Compare electricity providers on sites like Check24 or Verivox.
• Buy used furniture on Kleinanzeigen.

The Deutschlandticket

The Deutschlandticket is a monthly subscription that covers all local and regional public transport across Germany: buses, trams, U-Bahn, S-Bahn and regional trains. It costs €58 per month in 2025 and €63 from January 2026. Many employers subsidise it as a Jobticket, and students often get it through their semester ticket.

Long-distance trains

Deutsche Bahn runs ICE and IC high-speed services between cities. Tickets are cheapest when booked early, and a BahnCard 25 or 50 gives discounts. Delays are common, so allow extra time for connections.

Cycling

Cities such as Münster, Freiburg, Hamburg and Berlin are very bike-friendly. Bikes can be taken on many trains with a bike ticket.

Driving

• Germans drive on the right.
• Parts of the Autobahn have no general speed limit, but the recommended speed is 130 km/h.
• Non-EU licences are usually valid for 6 months after you register your residence. After that, you must convert your licence, which may require a theory and practical test depending on your country.
• Winter tyres are required in wintry conditions.

Flights

Frankfurt and Munich are the main international hubs, and Berlin (BER) has good connections within Europe.

Working culture

Germans value punctuality, reliability and directness. Feedback is often blunt but not meant personally. Work and private life are kept separate, and emails after hours are rare in many companies. Formal address (Sie) is still common with people you do not know well.

Daily life

• Sunday closing: shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays, and many people use Sunday for walks and family.
• Quiet hours (Ruhezeit): noise is kept low at night and on Sundays in residential buildings.
• Recycling: rubbish is sorted into paper, packaging, organic waste, glass and general waste.
• Cash: card payments are now common, but some cafes and small shops still prefer cash.

Leisure

Germans love hiking, cycling, lakes and the countryside. Clubs (Vereine) organise everything from football to choirs and are a great way to meet people. Christmas markets, beer gardens, carnival in the Rhineland and Oktoberfest in Munich are highlights of the year.

Making friends

Friendships can take time to build but are often deep and loyal. Language exchanges (Tandem), sports clubs and expat meetups help a lot.

Childcare and schools

• Children from age 1 have a legal right to a Kita (daycare) place, though finding one in big cities can be difficult. Fees depend on the state and income, and Berlin and Hamburg offer free or nearly free places.
• School is compulsory from about age 6, and homeschooling is not allowed.
• After 4 years of primary school (6 in Berlin and Brandenburg), children move to a secondary school such as the Gymnasium (university track), Realschule or a comprehensive school.
• Public schools are free and teach in German. International schools charge €10,000-€25,000 per year.

Universities

Public universities charge no tuition fees for most students, including internationals, apart from a semester contribution of about €150-€400 that often includes a transport ticket. Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester. There are many English-taught master's programmes, which you can find in the DAAD database.

Student visa requirements

• An admission letter from a German university.
• Proof of funds, usually through a blocked account (Sperrkonto) holding €11,904 for one year (2025 requirement).
• Health insurance.

Vocational training

Germany's dual vocational training (Ausbildung) combines paid work and school, and international applicants can come on a training visa.

Opening an account

You need a Girokonto (current account) for your salary, rent and direct debits. Options include:

• Traditional banks: Sparkasse, Volksbank, Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, with branches and in-person service.
• Online banks: N26, DKB, ING and others, often with English apps and free accounts.

Most banks ask for your passport and proof of registration (Meldebescheinigung). Some online banks let you open an account before you register. Everyone living legally in the EU has the right to a basic account (Basiskonto).

Paying in Germany

• Girocard (debit card) and credit cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small places.
• Bills are usually paid by SEPA direct debit (Lastschrift) or bank transfer.
• PayPal is extremely popular for online shopping.

SCHUFA

SCHUFA is Germany's main credit agency. Landlords, phone companies and lenders check your score. As a newcomer you start with little history, which is normal. You can request a free copy of your data once per year.

Tax ID and taxes

Your Steuer-ID (Tax ID) arrives by post after you register your address. Give it to your employer so you are taxed in the right class. Filing a tax return (Steuererklärung) often results in a refund.

Registration

You must register your address (Anmeldung) at the local Bürgeramt within 14 days of moving in, and deregister when you leave Germany. Late registration can lead to a fine.

Residence permits

Keep your permit valid and apply for renewal before it expires. Changing jobs on some permits requires notifying or getting approval from the Ausländerbehörde.

Tax classes and church tax

Employees are placed in a tax class (Steuerklasse). Single people are in class I, and married couples can choose classes III and V or IV and IV. Members of registered churches pay church tax of 8% or 9% of their income tax.

Everyday rules

• Rundfunkbeitrag: every household must pay the public broadcasting fee of €18.36 per month.
• Liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) is not compulsory but almost everyone has it.
• Quiet hours: usually 22:00 to 06:00 and all day on Sundays.
• Cannabis: adults can possess limited amounts since 2024, but strict rules apply near schools and in public.
• Carry ID: you should carry your passport or residence permit.

Driving

The blood alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille (0.0 for new drivers and under 21s). Using a phone while driving is banned.

Entering Germany

Germany is part of the Schengen Area. Many nationalities, including US, Canadian, Australian and UK citizens, can visit for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. Others need a Schengen visa.

• The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records biometric data of non-EU visitors at the border since October 2025.
• ETIAS, an online travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, is planned to start in the last quarter of 2026.

A tourist stay does not allow work. If you want to live in Germany, you need a residence permit.

Travelling in Germany

• Trains: ICE trains connect Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt and Cologne in 4 hours or less for many routes.
• Deutschlandticket: unlimited regional trains, perfect for weekend trips.
• Long-distance buses: FlixBus is a cheap alternative.

Places to explore

• The Bavarian Alps and Neuschwanstein Castle
• The Rhine and Moselle valleys with their vineyards
• The Baltic and North Sea coasts
• Historic cities such as Dresden, Heidelberg, Bamberg and Lübeck
• The Black Forest

Beyond Germany

Germany borders nine countries. Prague, Amsterdam, Vienna, Copenhagen and Paris are all reachable by train.