You have plans in Germany? Your installation is approaching? You need to get organized so that it goes as smoothly as possible. Here are some recommendations for your move. You will have to carry out a certain number of indispensable administrative steps beforehand. First of all, check the validity of your passport. Then you will have to start looking for a place to live. Finding an accommodation in Germany is not easy. Start your research before your departure, on rental websites and social networks
What you need to move to Germany
To enter Germany you need to prove your identity with an official document, identity card or passport valid for at least three months after the end of your stay. Check the dates carefully. To be in order when you arrive, you may need to apply for a passport beforehand. Keep in mind that a valid passport will be one of the most important pieces of documentation in your integration file! If you plan to drive, add your driver' s license to your application. This may even be essential depending on the professional or educational activity you plan to pursue.
Think about a visa that fits your situation
All foreigners, with the exception of EU citizens, who wish to stay, work or study in Germany for more than three months require a visa. Since 2005, when the law on the general freedom of movement of EU citizens came into force, EU citizens are no longer obliged to apply for a European residence permit upon arrival. However, they are subject to the general obligation to report their presence on German soil to the competent registration office, i.e. the one where your new residence is located. If your spouse is a foreigner, he or she must prove at least a basic knowledge of the German language
Your new home: the rental agreement
Some landlords require you to check your financial statements or even ask for certificates from your former landlord and/or employer. Before moving in, you must pay a deposit equivalent to two or three months' rent. Make a detailed inventory of fixtures. Generally, there is no fixed-term lease in Germany and the notice period in case of termination is two to three months. However, it is possible to request a limited-term lease with a higher rent. If your lease contract stipulates a minimum period of occupancy, even if you are forced to leave Germany early, you will have to pay the full amount of the remaining charges and rent. A negotiation is possible if you find a new tenant.
Some peculiarities and rules of rental housing in Germany
Furnished rentals are rare in Germany. In most cases you do not have any kitchen equipment. Sometimes you will have to pay individually for the collection of your garbage. For the maintenance of the staircase or the snow removal of the accesses, the tenants sometimes have to take turns. You must refrain from making noise, especially on Sundays. The agreement of your landlord is necessary for a pet or the installation of a satellite dish. You will have to respect the authorized parking spaces for your car as well as for your bicycle, and the authorized areas for washing and drying your clothes. Have your landlord sign the Anmeldung form for your application for a certificate of residence. This declaration is obligatory and free of charge and must be made at the town hall within two weeks of moving in.
