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glispa’s Guide to Living in Berlin
Welcome to glispa!
HOW
TO
Welcome to Berlin! Living and working in another country
is both exciting and stressful, especially at the beginning.
You’ll certainly have many questions, and with this guide
we would like to help you settle in easily and comfortably.
Enjoy reading and share your positive experience and
memories with us, to help this guide grow, and so that we
can keep everything up to date.
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General Information
Everyday Life
After Work
Visa Information Living in Berlin
Telecommunication
Insurance
Opening a Bank Account Tax Identification Number
Health Insurance
Doctors
Schooling, Kindergarten and Daycare
Useful Addresses and links
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While the information in this document has been carefully
researched using information available as of February
2016, all information is supplied without guarantee.
If you have any feedback or additional information which
you think should be included, please let us know!
Thank you,
glispa
THRIVE
IN
BERLIN
General Information
you should know
Climate
Although Germany lies, for the most
part, north of the US-Canadian border,
it’s closer to the Arctic Circle than to the
equator. The climate is moderate without extreme cold or hot periods. Generally, temperatures are highest in July
and August and lowest in January.
Summer & Winter Time
Summer time begins on the last Sunday
in March. The clocks are put forward
by one hour at 2am in the morning to
3am. On the last Sunday of October, the
clocks are put back one hour (from 3am
to 2am).
Weights and Measures
All standard weights and measures
used in Germany are based on the
metric system. Individual units are
based on a multiple of ten.
Religion
“The freedom of faith, of conscience
and the freedom of religious and
ideological beliefs are inviolable”. (Art.
4:1 Basic Law). The most prevalent
religions in Germany are the Protestant
and Catholic Churches, but Muslim and
Jewish minorities are present in many
parts of the country, especially in Berlin
and other large cities.
Customs and
Public Holidays
New Year’s Eve is the beginning of a
new year and is celebrated on the night
of December 31st to January 1st. There
are big New Year’s Eve celebrations and
huge fireworks at midnight. January 1st
(Neujahr) is a national holiday.
Easter is celebrated on the first
Sunday after the spring full moon.
Good Friday (Karfreitag), Easter Sunday
(Ostersonntag) and Easter Monday
(Ostermontag) are all public holidays.
1st of May is Labor Day, like in many
other countries, and is a public holiday.
The German Trade Union Association
(DGB) organizes demonstrations and
political gatherings in numerous cities
across Germany in the morning. The
evening before the 1st of May is the
time for the traditional “Tanz in den Mai”
(“Dance into May”) parties; whereby, in
continuation of old traditions, the spring
month of May is welcomed. In Berlin,
most of Kreuzberg hosts street parties
throughout the day.
Ascension Day is the 40th day
after Easter and represents the
ascension of Jesus to Heaven.
Ascension Day always falls on a
Thursday, and is a public holiday.
Whitsun or Pentecost (“Pfingsten”)
is celebrated with Whit Sunday
(“Pfingstsonntag”) and Whit Monday
(“Pfingstmontag”). This is the 50th
day after Easter. This commemorates
the descent of the Holy Ghost among
the apostles of Jesus, which was the
starting point of their missionary work.
Whitsun can therefore be described as
the birthday of the church. Whit Monday
is a public holiday.
German Unity Day, the 3rd of October, is the day East and West Germany were officially reunited in 1990. It
is called Germany Unity Day (“Tag der
deutschen Einheit”) and is the country’s
national day, similar to Independence
Day in the US or Bastille Day in France. In
Germany, however, celebrations are
much more muted. There are no
military parades, just festivals and
gatherings with political speeches in
parliament and many town halls.
The 3rd of October is a public holiday.
Christmas encompasses three days:
the 24th of December is Christmas
Eve (not a public holiday), the 25th
is Christmas Day, the birthday of
Jesus Christ, and the second
Christmas public holiday (26.12.).
In Christian families, the candles
on the Christmas tree are lit for the
handing out of presents before or after
attending a church service on
Christmas Eve. Christmas carols are
sung or played and the family members
exchange presents. Children are told
that Father Christmas or the Christ
Child brought the presents. Many
families “rent” a Father Christmas for
the evening, often played by students
dressed in the traditional red and white
costume, with a white beard. The
25th and 26th of December are public
holidays.
Other Customs (Not Public Holidays)
Lantern Festival and Martin’s Day
Martin’s Day is on the 10th or 11th
of November, depending on the
region. Children form a procession
carrying lanterns moving from house to
house, singing or reciting poetry and
hoping for gifts, this is often organized by
local Kindergartens. The legend of
“Martin of Tours” says that, when he was
a young soldier, he shared his coat with a
freezing beggar. The “Martin’s Fire”
(“Martinsfeuer”) burns away the
summer.
The Pre-Christmas Period: Advent
Christmas is very important for the
Germans, even if you’re not religious.
The whole city is decorated and
Berlin hosts over sixty Christmas
markets around the city. “Advent”
refers to the four weeks leading
up to Christmas. The Latin word
“adventus” means “arrival”. It refers to
the period of preparation for the coming
of Jesus on the first day of Christmas.
Many families have an Advent wreath
with 4 candles. A candle is lit on each
of the four Sundays of Advent. During
Advent, sweet pastries are often eaten
and Christmas decorations are put up
around the home. An Advent calendar
is often made or bought for children.
The calendar has 24 windows with
small presents or pictures behind each
window, for each day from the 1st until
the 24th of December, Christmas Eve.
St. Nicolas Day, the 6th of December (“Nikolaustag”), is when children
are given sweets, chocolate and small
presents. The children leave a shoe outside their door on the eve of the 6th of
December and parents fill the shoe with
presents. Special gifts can be bought in
bakeries and cake shops for this day.
glispa.com
3
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Guten Morgen
Guten Tag
Guten Abend
until 12 am
12 am - 6 pm
after 6 pm
Good Morning is the most common form of
greeting one another until around midday.
Good Day is used until roughly 6 pm.
Good Evening is said after 6 pm. Many people
also just use the simple Hallo, Hi or Hey.
Auf Wiedersehen
Hi, Tschau & Tschüss
This is used when saying goodbye, literally meaning
‘until we see each other again’. The short form is
‘Wiederseh’n’. You can also take your leave with the
Italian ciao or with Tschüss. Colleagues wish each
other a “schönen Feierabend” [nice evening] after
work.
These are informal ways of saying hello and goodbye.
In Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg and parts of Rhineland-Palatinate people greet one another with “Grüss
Gott” and “Servus” at any time of the day and with
“Ade” when they are saying goodbye. In the coastal
regions of northern Germany in East and North Frisia,
people also say “Moin” and “Moin, Moin”.
Shopping
Shops in Germany are regulated by legally binding
opening hours (“Öffnungszeiten”). Most shops and
supermarkets open their doors on Mondays to
Saturdays between 8am and 10am. Usually the shops
are open until 6pm or 8pm Monday to Saturday,
and some supermarkets are open until 10pm or even
midnight. On Sunday most shops are closed. But you
should stay tuned for “Verkaufsoffener Sonntag”.
A few times a year, shops are permitted to open on a
Sunday afternoon. If you miss specialties from your
home country, you can visit the food department at
Galeria Kaufhof or the KaDeWe. For French products
visit the Galleries Lafayette.
Payment
Gute Nacht
Good Night is said before going to bed.
Mahlzeit
This is said to other colleagues at work at meal times.
This combines a greeting and the wish that the
respective colleagues enjoy their meal.
Du & Sie
Bitte & Danke
The most common way to address people you don’t
know, or who are senior to you, is with the formal
“Sie” version of ‘you’. This is used in public and, in
more traditional workplaces, at work. Even if
neighbors or colleagues have known each other for a
long time they often still use the polite form “Sie”.
The informal “You” is “Du”. This is used among close
friends and close colleagues and with children. The
general rule of thumb is that the older person can offer
to use the informal “Du” instead of “Sie”. At work the
higher ranked member of staff may offer to use the
“Du” form.
The word “Bitte”, please, is usually said when asking
for something: “Können Sie mir bitte sagen, wie spät
es ist?” (Can you please tell me what time it is?). The
word is a sign of pleasantness and politeness. When
you pass something to another person you also usually
say “Bitte sehr” or “Bitte schön”. “Danke schön” or
“Danke sehr” or “Vielen Dank” are all variations of
thank you. If you are offered something to drink the
word “Danke” means no thanks. You can say “Ja,
bitte” or “Ja, gern” to say yes please.
glispa.com
Cash is still king in Germany. So, it’s better to
always have some with you when going out. Usually
payments can be made in cash and in many shops by
using an EC (debit) card or credit card.
Deposit
For returnable/reusable bottles (glass and plastic) and
some cans, there is a deposit. For these you pay an
additional small charge upon purchase (8 – 25c),
which is paid back when returning the containers.
These are called deposit bottles (“Pfandflaschen”),
reusable bottles (“Mehrwegflaschen”) or reusable
glass (“Mehrwegglas”). All grocery stores are required
to have a machine to accept bottles being returned.
Tipping
Although service is included in the price in Germany, it is also normal to give a tip. The size of the tip
depends on the friendliness, quality and service, 5-10
per cent of the total bill is considered to be sufficient.
When you would like to pay, ask the waiter for the bill.
Friends and Colleagues
If you start a new job you can invite your new
colleagues to what is called an “Einstand”. This is a
party held normally at work after the working day is
over (“nach Feierabend”). The best thing to do is ask
your new colleagues what the normal procedure at
your new place of work is.
4
Burgers
Burgermeister
Tommi’s Burger Joint
The Bird
Piri’s Chicken Burgers
Asian
Kimchi Princess
Monsieur Vuong
Vinpearl
Miss Saigon
Omoni
International
Markethalle 9 Street Food
Parker Bowls
Design your
Afterwork
life
Hühnerhaus 36
Mustafas
German
Joelsch
Knoblauch
Curry 36
Italian
Lavanderia Veccia
Il Ritrivo
Mexican
Maria Bonita
Burrito Baby
Dolores Burritos
Berlin’s main party listings can
be found on Resident Advisor
Schwarze Traube
Bohnengold
Mein Haus am See
Locke Müller
Magnet Club
Privat Club
BiNuu
Watergate
Wilde Renate
Berghain
Kater Blau
Tresor
Schwarz & Sauer
Prince Charles
Astra
Cassiopeia
Ritter Butzke
Golden Gate
The Pearl
Sisyphos
Pony Bar
://About Blank
Meetup
Toytown Germany
Carnival of Cultures
Lollapalooza
Berlin Festival
Ferropolis
Fete de la Musique
Festival of Lights
Swimming
Hard Candy, Holmes Place.
For water-based activities and
sports try Köpenick. For hiking and
canoeing try Lübbenau Spreewald.
Canoeing also takes place in Grünau,
where the 1936 Olympic water
events took place. Several canoe/
rowing/boating clubs are available
to choose from.
There are many swimming pools
all over Berlin – you can find them
here. Get a multiple-entry ticket
from the Berliner Bäderbetriebe,
and you can enter almost every
swimming hall or open-air pool in
town. Prices can be lower if you
go early in the morning or shortly
before closing.
The lakes in Berlin get turned
into mini-beaches throughout the
summer and are a popular place to
go and relax and have a swim with
friends. The most popular of these
is Wannsee.
Sports
Climbing or bouldering can be done
at Ostbloc or Suedbloc.
Gyms can be found all over Berlin.
The cheapest to the most expensive
are: McFit, Superfit, Fitness First,
State museums, Museum Island, and
castles all fall under the Prussian
Cultural Heritage Foundation.
Mauerpark Fleamarket
Boxhagener Platz Fleamarket
Antique and Book Market at Bode Museum
Nowkölln Fleamarket
Fleamarket at Strasse des 17. Juni
Other Museums
Tempelhofer Feld – The former
airport is a public park with its
original runways, which are great
for skateboarding, rollerblading and
land windsurfing.
Music
The Berlin Musiker website has a
message board to help you find
bandmates
Noisy Rooms allow you to hire rooms
for music rehearsal
Helmut Newton Museum of
Photography
German Democratic Republic
Museum
Checkpoint Charlie Museum
Computer Gaming Museum
Berlin Wall Memorial
Berliner Unterwelten Underground
Museum
5
VISA
This section will give you a brief overview of Germany’s visa
regulations. It might answer the most important questions right
Bodies Responsible for Issuing Visas
In order to avoid time-consuming requests for additional
away. For any other information regarding visa requirements,
Under German law (section 71 (2) of the Residence Act),
information or documentation, applicants should consult the
please check the homepage of the Auswärtiges Amt (English)
responsibility for issuing visas lies with the missions of the
website of the respective mission well in advance of their
or your respective German Embassy.
Federal Republic of Germany, i.e. its embassies and consulates-
departure date to find out about the visa procedure and about
general. In principle, the Federal Foreign Office is not involved
the documentation which has to be submitted.
Access to the German Labor Market
Foreign nationals who are not from The European Union (EU), The European Economic Area
(EEA), or Switzerland, require a residence permit that explicitly authorizes them to take up gainful
employment.
in decisions regarding individual visa applications, nor does
it have any knowledge of the status of individual applications
Visa application forms can be obtained from the mission free of
being processed by the missions.
charge (in the local language). Applicants may also download
the forms here (right sidebar). The forms submitted must be
Follow this link to find a detailed list of countries and addresses.
original versions in the appropriate language of the mission in
question. Application forms may also be downloaded free of
charge from the website of the relevant mission.
Foreign nationals other than European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss
nationals may reside in Germany for the purpose of taking up gainful employment if they have the
required residence permit. To work in Germany they must in principle have a residence permit
that explicitly authorizes them to do so.
Australian, Israeli, Japanese, Canadian, South Korean, New Zealand and US citizens may obtain
such a residence permit from the relevant foreigner’s authority after their arrival in Germany. It is
important to note however, that they may not commence their intended employment until they
have the permit.
All other foreign nationals must apply for a work visa at their local German mission before coming
to Germany.
Time Required to Process a Visa
Application
Entry of Your Spouse or Children
As a rule, missions require between two and ten working days
to decide on an application for a short stay visa. Applications
How can your spouse or children travel/migrate with you? The
for visas entitling the holder to a longer stay or to take up gainful
answer to this question depends above all on your nationality,
employment may take several months to process. During the
their level of education, your own visa and many other individual
peak travel season there may be a waiting period for making
factors. Therefore, we cannot give you any legally reliable
an application to a German mission. Persons requiring a visa
information. Please ask your respective German mission for
to enter Germany should therefore submit their applications
detailed personal instructions.
well in advance.
How quickly and easily your labor permit will be issued depends
EU Nationals
Non-EU Nationals
EU nationals do not require a visa to enter
Generally speaking, all other foreigners require
Germany. For further information about the
a visa for stays in Germany. A visa is not
Schengen agreement, follow this link to the
required for semi-annual visits (6 months) of
relevant page on the Auswärtiges Amt’s
up to 90 days for nationals of those countries
website.
for which the European Community has
abolished the visa requirement.
to a considerable extent on your profession.
At the moment (2015), certain shortage occupations are high
in demand. Among these professions are: Scientists in natural
science disciplines, mathematicians, architects, urban and
traffic planners, designers, engineers, scientific engineers,
physicians (except dentists) and those with academic
qualifications in information and communications technology.
For a table of countries whose citizens require
/ do not require visas to enter Germany, click
here.
Application Procedure
As a rule, applicants must submit visa applications, together
with all necessary documents, in person at the German mission
responsible for their place of residence.
glispa.com
6
Must I Have My Qualification
Recognized?
Blue Card to Work in the EU
The EU Blue Card is a residence permit issued by an EU
For many qualifications, it is helpful to have them recognized.
member state in accordance with the new EU guidelines on
For others, it is an actual requirement for being able to work in
highly qualified workers from abroad. It especially benefits
Germany. That depends on what your profession is.
professionals planning to take up work in Germany. They will
gain easier access to the labor market if they can produce a
binding job offer with a gross annual salary of at least €48,400.
Who needs recognition?
For skilled workers in shortage occupations, the threshold is
set at €37,752.
In Germany, certain professions are “regulated”. Germans and
foreign nationals may only work in these professions if they
In addition, professionals can apply for a visa without producing
have a very precise qualification. This applies to professions
a binding job offer; once issued, this visa will entitle its holder
such as doctors and lawyers. It also applies to masters of
to stay in Germany for up to six months to seek employment.
manual trades if they work as independent contractors. If you
There are even more simplifications which apply to students
want to work in one of these regulated professions, you need
as well as to people starting up businesses or undergoing
to have your professional qualification recognized in Germany.
vocational training. In implementing these measures and
by further simplifying visa application and right of residence
processes, the German missions abroad are making an
For whom is recognition helpful?
important contribution to attracting and retaining highly
qualified workers from outside the EU.
Most professions are not regulated. For example, to work as
a business manager, IT specialist or baker, you do not need
Please follow this link to see detailed information about the
any specific professional qualification. For this reason you are
requirements and the application process. For a list of the
not obliged to have your qualification recognized in Germany.
requirements and required documents, please check this link.
However, it can still help – even in cases where the qualification
On the lower right side of the page, you can book an appointment
is only equivalent in part. That way companies can see what
with the Foreigners Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) to
you are able to do from your application – and you make a
get your EU Blue Card. Note however, that you need to have a
good impression during the application procedure.
registered residence, so the Ausländerbehörde can send your
confirmation letter.
Please note, however, that the recognition of a foreign
vocational qualification does not automatically permit you to
take up employment in Germany. Certain requirements must
be met to obtain a residence permit that allows you to work
in Germany.
If you wish to have your qualification recognized, please follow
these links:
Make it in Germany
Anerkennung in Deutschland
Chamber of Commerce: Foreign Skills Approval
glispa.com
7
Where to Live
Furnished, short-term apartments:
Whether you’re looking for a trendy, urban lifestyle, nightlife,
parks, forests or anything in between, Berlin’s got it.
Generally speaking, Berlin’s family areas are Prenzlauer Berg,
Schöneberg, Zehlendorf and Steglitz. For a more international
scene and a taste of Berlin’s famous nightlife, Kreuzberg,
Friedrichshain and Neukölln are the better options.
Home Company
Only Apartments
Crocodilian
Urban Apartments
Rooms in shared apartments (furnished and unfurnished):
If you’re still unsure of where to live, a good overview and
updated description of the individual neighborhoods and
general tips on where to move can be found here.
WG Gesucht
WG Suche
You will find lots of abbreviations regarding apartments in
What should I pay?
newspaper adverts and online. Here is a short glossary:
This link shows rough rent levels for apartments in Berlin.
Using the vertical slider on the left, you can set your after-tax
income as well as the room count. The map then shows you
affordable areas based on average rents. Red means living
there will be nearly impossible.
2 ZKB - 2 rooms, kitchen, bathroom.
2 ZKBB - 2 rooms, kitchen, bathroom, balcony.
EG - Ground floor
2. OG - Second floor
DG - Roof or loft apartment
VH - Front of the house
Online Apartment Search
HH - Back yard of the house
Long-term apartments are typically unfurnished, but furnished
places are available at an elevated price. Unfortunately, some
pages are only available in German.
Living in Berlin
SF - Refers to a wing of the building
EBK - Refers to built-in kitchen cabinets
qm - Square meters, describes the size of the apartment
KM - Kaltmiete (cold rent; i.e. rent without heating costs)
Unfurnished, long-term apartments:
NK - Nebenkosten (ancillary costs). These are extra costs
for refuge disposal, street and house cleaning costs as
well as heating and water costs
Immobilienscout24
Immowelt
WM - means “Warmmiete” (warm rent; this is the cold rent
plus the “NK” ancillary costs)
Immonet
Pankow
Reinickendorf
Public Transport
Bikes
Berlin’s local public transport network consists of several
integrated systems. These include the U-Bahn (underground)
and S-Bahn (overland) urban rail systems, regional railway
services, a tram system, a bus network and a number of ferry
services. There are a large number of common interchange
stations between the different modes of transport. Tickets
must be bought at a ticket machine on the platform in
advance and must be valid (validated) before boarding (the
exceptions are the trams and buses, where a ticket is bought
on board). Travelling without a ticket is not permitted and
incurs a fine of €60,00.
For a map of Berlin’s urban rail system, click here. To look at
the city’s tram system, click here.
It is not recommended to leave expensive bikes outdoors in
Berlin, even when locked up. Bikes often get stolen in Berlin.
It’s best to find a cheap, simple bike for commuting to work or
around the city. Another option is Deutsche Bahn’s
Call-a-Bike system. The service offers city bikes available at
stations located throughout the city. An annual membership
costs about €48. Berlin offers an amazing network of safe
bike paths and trails.
Spandau
Mitte
Charlottenburg /
Wilmersdorf
Lichtenberg
Marzahn /
Hellersdorf
Friedrichshain /
Kreuzberg
Tempelhof /
Schöneberg
Steglitz / Zehlendorf
Neukölln
Treptow / Köpenick
For more information on how to get around the city, on
fares and on tickets, follow this link for information on public
transportation.
glispa.com
8
Deposit
As a rule, a deposit must be paid as security for the landlord.
The deposit is typically 2 or 3 months ‘cold’ rent and is not
permitted to be more than 3 times the net cold rent. The
deposit has to be placed in a bank account to which neither
party has access. The deposit is returned to the tenant after
moving out of the apartment. The landlord is allowed to deduct
money from the deposit to pay for any repairs to the apartment
upon vacating it.
Most German landlords ask for a SCHUFA certificate. This is
a certificate usually issued by banks, stating that you do not
have any debts from previous tenancies. This link leads you to
the homepage with detailed instructions. You can also get it at
some post offices.
If you can obtain any other official document stating that you
are free of debt, this would be sufficient as well. Try to obtain
the SCHUFA or an equivalent form before you start looking
for an apartment. It might take a while before you receive the
respective documentation. In addition, most landlords ask for
As of November 1st, 2015, these are the documents you need
to show at the Bürgeramt:
your 3 latest pay slips. They want to make sure that you will be
able to settle the monthly rent. If you do not have any pay slips,
take along a copy of your employment contract.
You found an apartment - What now?
Residence Registration
The most important step after finding an apartment, is to get
your Anmeldebestätigung (residence registration).
Everybody who lives in Germany for more than three months
has to be registered within the city they live in. This regulation
applies to Germans and international residents alike.
You have to register with a registration office (Meldestelle) at a
Bürgeramt (Resident’s Bureau) within 14 days after you move
in.
• A written confirmation from the landlord that you moved
in. It needs to contain the following information: Name
and address of landlord, move-in date, address of the
apartment and names of people to be registered. Your
landlord is obliged to supply you with this.
• Rent contract
• Your passport
• The following form. The form is in German.
• Any documents that show your case is urgent
(i.e. employment contract)
• When they ask if you have your name on the letter box,
say yes!
Unfortunately, Bürgerämter are usually fully booked for a month
or two in advance, so you will probably have to go without one.
Look up which Bürgeramt is responsible for the district your
apartment is in here. Go there in the morning with a document
that shows your case is urgent and should be processed
quickly (for example, your employment contract).
Also, if you know anyone that speaks German, try to take
them with you, because most employees there don’t speak
languages other than German.
Should you move and change addresses during your stay in
Berlin you have to re -register and inform the Meldestelle of
your new address. For a first-time registration in Berlin, the
authority might ask you for a birth certificate. If you are moving
and registering with your family, the authority might ask for a
marriage certificate as well.
As of October 2015, for the Bürgeramt, everybody needs an
appointment. You can find a list of all Bürgerämter in Berlin
here. To book an appointment, click on “Termin berlinweit
suchen”.
glispa.com
9
Telecomms
Insurance
Landlines
TV and Radio
In Germany, there are various possibilities for setting up a
telephone line. Apart from a simple landline connection, which
is used exclusively to make telephone calls, combinations with
Internet and/or television are also offered. These packages
mostly offer flat rate prices for use. This may be cheaper than
billing per minute. The largest providers are Deutsche Telekom
and Kabel Deutschland, although there are further providers. It is
recommended to research thoroughly which offer is most suitable.
Furthermore, you can also ask the landlord, which line and/or
provider is most suitable for the apartment. Always check if a
provider offers service to your building before settling on an option.
Every household in Germany is required to pay the so-called TV
license fee (“Rundfunk-beitrag”) every month. It is charged by ARD,
ZDF and Deutschlandradio. You can find the registration form in
banks or on the website of the fee service: www.rundfunkbeitrag.
de. Even if you don’t have a radio or TV you will be required to pay.
Always check with the WG if you move in, so they can give you the
ZDF account number of the apartment you live in.
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones in Germany are usually referred to as “Handys”.
There are a number of companies that have different prices,
phones and conditions. Unlike most landline operators, contracts
with mobile phone providers cannot be terminated at short notice.
Contracts normally run for 12 or 24 months. Our tips:
•
Buy a sim card from Aldi or Lidl, they are the cheapest and
easiest non-contractual option
•
AllNet includes all calls, texts and has 500mb of data for 20
euros a month.
•
Congstar allows you to set up how much data, how many
minutes, and how many SMSs you want, so you don’t pay
very much and get the exact combination you want.
•
Blau is another good option, 9.90€ for 1 GB data package
Common Internet / TV Provider
Kabel Deutschland
1und1
O2
Telekom
For TV & movie streaming - Netflix has recently launched in
Germany and has a large selection of English-language shows and
movies. With proxies you can access the content of Netflix in other
countries. Germany has strict copyright laws. Illegal downloading
of music, movies and TV shows online is frequently found out and
met with a hefty fine.
Apart from the obligatory social insurance there are several
options for obtaining private insurance to cover a number of
different things. Every insurance policy you take out costs
money. So you should consider carefully what you really need
before agreeing to an insurance contract. If you own a car or
motorbike it is mandatory to have motor liability vehicle insurance (KFZ-Haftpflichversicherung). Personal liability insurance
Privathaftpflichtversicherung) is also very important. This type of
insurance will pay out damages if you cause unintentional injury or
damage of another person. Here are the two most important types
of insurance.
Household Insurance
Household insurance (“Hausratversicherung”) covers costs
incurred in the case of burglary or other incidents. The insurance
coverage should correspond to the actual cost of the items insured
in the household. You can a get a good overview of providers at
Check24.
Personal Liability Insurance
Personal liability insurance (“Haftpflichtversicherung”) covers
the insured in case of accidental damage to a third party. This
insurance also covers accidental damage caused in other homes.
This type of insurance policy provides coverage against financial
ruin in case of claims for compensation by third parties.
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10
BANKS
Many banks offer the possibility to open current accounts
(Girokonto), instant access savings accounts (Tagesgeldkonto), limited access savings accounts (Sparbuch),
securities accounts (depot) etc. without even entering
one of their offices (although you will have to go to the
Post office for an ID check). Most banks offer accounts
with different levels of service and different monthly
charges, ranging from €0 per month (Comdirect, Commerzbank, Postbank, Hypovereinsbank, DKB) to about
€8. Accounts without a monthly fee will include free
internet banking and EC-cards, but will charge for any
transactions made in the branch. Some banks offer Visa
debit cards as well for free. Most banks charge extra for
credit cards. The most widely accepted are MasterCard
and Visa. American Express is not so popular in Germany
but still has its advantages.
Overdrafts are usually only granted after a 6-month
history with the bank (or another German bank) and
a positive SCHUFA rating. They will usually grant you
between 2 and 3 times your usual net salary. The
disadvantage is that you may not be able to navigate the
websites and find the type of account that best suits you
if your German is limited.
In our experience, it’s easiest and quickest to set up
an account with either Deutsche Bank or Berliner
Sparkasse. Also, going to their offices is a good idea, as it
only takes about an hour to set up a bank account in person.
Choosing the Right Bank
Which bank to choose depends entirely on your situation and needs. If you require simple online banking and
access to cash machines (Geldautomaten), you have a
wide choice. Cash machines in Germany are grouped
into two large networks that allow free withdrawals
within their own network. Some smaller banks and
foreign owned banks also offer free withdrawals from any
cash machine. Your location might play an important
role. Customers in smaller towns and villages will tend
to be limited to their local Sparkasse. Some banks offer
services which many expats find interesting (e.g. Citibank
offer US$ accounts or online banking in English). Some
banks (Citibank, Comdirect and Deutsche Kredit Bank
DKB) offer free access to all cash machines worldwide
through a Visa card as an alternative to restricted cash
machines. Remember to read the terms and conditions
for each account to find out if there are hidden costs.
Cashgroup
Cashgroup consists of the big national banks and their
subsidiaries along with Deutsche Post’s Postbank. Cash
machines are widely available in all larger towns and
cities throughout the country. The following banks are
members of Cashgroup: Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank,
Commerzbank, Hypovereinsbank, Postbank, Comdirect,
Norisbank, Berliner Bank.
Sparkassen
Each city, town and/or local municipality has a
state-owned bank called a “Sparkasse”. These banks
are the bank of choice for those who enjoy a more
personal relationship with their bank. The banks usually have strong relationships with local businesses and
offer more branches, especially in smaller towns and
villages. However, many people find these banks to be far
too bureaucratic and inflexible, especially when it comes
to international transactions. Every local Sparkasse is a
member of the Sparkassenverbund, so customers can
withdraw money without charge in any Sparkasse cash
machine in the country.
For a step by step guide on opening a bank account
online, take a look at this link.
Opening a Bank Account in Person
Tax Classes
If you prefer the personal touch and perhaps require
some advice before opening an account you can drop
into any branch, though some banks require you to make
an appointment first, so it is best to check at the branch.
Banks (and branches) vary in the paperwork they require
from you but as you can see from the online application, the minimum is your identity card or passport and
„Anmeldebescheinigung“. Some banks also require you
to provide proof of earnings, so it isn’t a bad idea to bring
along your employment contract stating your earnings.
Some banks even require a rental contract to prove your
address, though this is rare. If you want an overdraft and
credit cards you have to prove a credit history in Germany, so as a new arrival, this may not be possible for the
first 6 months. It is probably a good idea to maintain your
account and credit cards in your home country at least
for the first 6 months (or your entire stay if you plan on
returning).
Employees are classified into tax categories for the wage
tax deduction. The tax category is particularly important
when it comes to determining the wage tax deduction
amount. It depends on your marital status and whether
the wage tax deduction is for your primary or another
employment contract. Six tax classes exist.
Tax Identification Number and
Lohnsteuerkarte
Your employer will need your tax identification
number in order to pay your salary. You will receive this
number from the German Central Office of Taxes as soon
as you are registered at the Bürgeramt. Afterwards, the
Bürgeramt will submit your data to the taxes office and
they will send a letter to your registered address.
If the letter doesn’t arrive on time, use this link (only in
German, unfortunately). The link says: Your Tax ID will be
sent to the address currently registered. Sending it via
email is not possible. The processing time may be up to
12 weeks. You can also call the Finanzamt and they might
tell you on the phone.
As soon as you receive this letter you have to contact
your Human Resources Team directly and forward them
this ID number. You might want to keep the respective
letter in a safe place, since it is issued only once. This
number is reserved for you and you might need it on future
occasions.
Should you come across the term “Lohnsteuerkarte”:
This used to be a card employees had to hand in with
their employers. Since the German Central Office of
Taxes is changing this to electronic data administration,
you will not receive a card like this, and you will not need
one either.
Tax class I
Applies to employees who are single, living in a registered
civil partnership, divorced, widowed or married, unless
they fall under tax category II, III or IV.
Tax class II
Applies to the employees mentioned in tax category I if
they are entitled to the sigle parent’s allowance.
Tax class III
Applies, upon request, to married workers if both spouses
reside in Germany, are not living permanently apart, and
•
the worker’s spouse does not earn a wage, or
•
the other spouse also earns a wage, but is classified
under tax category V upon request by both spouses,
•
and to widowed workers, for the calendar year
following that of the spouse’s death if both were
residing in Germany, and were not living
permanently apart, on the day of death.
Tax class IV
Applies to married workers if both spouses earn a wage,
reside in Germany, and are not living permanently apart.
Tax class V
Applies to one of the spouses instead of tax category IV
if, at both parties’ request, the other spouse is classified
under tax category III.
Tax class VI
Applies to workers receiving multiple wages from
more than one employer, in order for wage tax to be
withheld for the second and any additional employment
contracts.
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11
Basic Introduction
In Germany there are numerous types of doctors, from GPs (“Allgemeinmediziner”)
to specialists (“Fachärzte”) such as eye specialists, dermatologists etc. Most
people have a GP as their “family doctor” (“Hausarzt”). This doctor can transfer
people to specialists if necessary. In certain cases you can visit a specialist without
consulting your family doctor first. Doctors have specific visiting hours when
patients can seek advice. It is always recommended to make an appointment as
waiting times can be long. If a doctor is needed urgently, it is not necessary to
make an appointment.
Health insurance is obligatory for everyone residing in Germany who is employed
full-time by a company (always necessary, no exceptions). The company pays
half of the insurance contribution, the other half comes out of the employee’s
salary. The employee’s half usually totals around 10% of their gross salary.
There are two types of health insurance in Germany. These are the “public” and
“private” systems. Full details are given below.
Public Health Insurance
IIf you are employed in Germany and you are earning less than the threshold
(Versicherungspflichtgrenze) of €54,900 gross per year (€4,575 gross per month),
you are automatically insured in a public health insurance scheme.
Health Insurance
You are only exempt from mandatory public health insurance as an employee
working in Germany if you are seconded (German: “entsendet”) by a company
which has its HQ in a member state of the EEA (= European Economic Area;
including all of the EU plus Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway) or in certain
contracting states (among them being Canada, PR of China, Israel, Japan and
the USA; for the complete list please check with DVKA.de). “Secondment”
exists if the employee goes abroad for work purposes on instructions from his/
her employer and the work is time -limited in advance, inter alia because of the
particularity of employment or by contract.
The compulsory membership in German public health insurance while working
here is protected by European Regulation No. EEC 1408/71, among others. It is
furthermore laid out in the German SGB (=Sozialgesetzbuch), 5th book, § 257.
Ultimately, what this means is: if you are employed by a German company or
any other foreign company in Germany and you earn less than €4,575 gross
salary per month, you are a mandatory member of the German public health
insurance system. Roughly half of the insurance premium plus 0.9% will be
deducted from your gross salary and your employer pays the other half of your
insurance premium. As of 2009, the premium has been standardized for all
public health insurance companies at 15.5% of gross salary up to the threshold
(Beitragsbemessungsgrenze) of €49,500 (€4,125 a month).
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12
This means that as an employee with a gross salary of more than 4,125,- €
a month, you will pay
•
•
•
Public health insurance capped at 338.25,- € (8.2% of 4,125,- €)
Public nursing insurance capped at 52.60,- € (1.275% of 4,125,- €)
if you are childless
OR 42.28,- € (1.025% of 4,125,- €) if you have a child
Your employer’s contribution will be roughly the same, adding up to 15.5% for
public health insurance and 2.3% for public nursing insurance (2.05% if you have
a child).
The chart below is a ranking of public health insurance companies in 2014/15:
Krankenkasse
Rating
Grade
TK Techniker Krankenkasse
AAA
1,0
SBK
AA+
1,2
HEK Hanseatische Krankenkasse
AA+
1,4
Barmer GEK
AA
1,6
IKK Brandenburg-Berlin
AA
1,6
(1 very good - 6 = lacking)
Public health insurance is great if you earn only a small amount (because you get
a lot of insurance for a relatively low cost) or if you are married and have a spouse
and children with you - because they are covered by the public health insurance
too. If you want to have your family insured along with you, keep your marriage
certificate and birth certificates of any children at hand – you will need it for the
application.
But beware: since a lot of services from the public health insurance system
have been downgraded or cancelled in recent years, you might want to consider
getting additional private insurance to cover some services like 1- or 2-bed rooms
in hospital or full dental services/replacement etc. Even then you might still have
to pay extra in the case of complex procedures or treatment by a specialist, as
additional insurance also has caps on coverage.
Private Health Insurance
If you earn more than the threshold of €4,575 gross salary per month, you can
elect to leave the public health insurance system and get private health insurance
while employed in Germany. Your employer will contribute roughly half of its cost,
this share will be up to €338.25 for health insurance and up to €52.60 for nursing
insurance, since this is the most the employer would have had to contribute if you
had remained in public health insurance.
Here the comparison between different offers is a bit more complicated, and
you may want to get the advice of a professional advisor or broker. You cannot
just compare one quote with another and say that the cheaper one is the better
choice - it may vary strongly regarding the insured coverage. The best way to
start a comparison is to ask private insurers to send you a quotation “Analog
GKV”, meaning with the same coverage as the public health insurance. Then you
can compare the insurance quotations on an even footing.
You can also lower your premium by using “excess options” (Selbstbeteiligung).
This means that you are willing to pay up to €300 out of your own pocket and you
will receive reimbursement only if the costs exceed the €300. Since most private
insurance offers to repay 1 or 2 monthly premiums after one year of not having
used the insurance at all, you should add this repayment amount to the excessoption-amount agreed upon in your contract and then you know at what medical
cost per year it makes economic sense to hand in all invoices to the insurer during
any given year.
If you take a very high excess option, you will receive similar coverage to most
expat health insurances: you are covered for all serious medical problems, but
you will pay out of pocket for all prescriptions and ordinary doctors’ consultations.
However, if you are married with children and your spouse does not earn any
income here in Germany, public insurance covering all family members with your
own premium can be the better deal. And, if you want to have better coverage
than public insurance offers, you can always get add-on insurance from private
insurance companies, where you cover certain medical issues that you deem to
be important for you. Note: if you opt-out of the public health insurance system,
you cannot return to it at a later point.
Regardless of where you live, you are free to choose an insurance provider from
all over Germany.
Health Insurance for Freelancers
The self-employed are responsible for arranging their own private insurance.
Since 2007, even the self-employed are legally obliged to have health insurance
coverage. Advice from an independent agent is recommended. Health insurance
costs are tax deductible (at least the amount that corresponds to basic coverage
as offered by public health insurance providers). An insurance agent or financial
advisor will be able to advise you on this.
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13
Schooling,
Kindergarten,
& Daycare
Doctors
To find English-speaking Doctors, you can use Jameda or KV Berlin, here
you can klick “erweitere Suche” and search for English/French/Dutch etc.
speaking doctors.
Parents who have one or more children receive state support for their child
recommend their students to a particular school
called “Kindergeld”. The benefit is staggered, increasing as the number of
based on such things as academic achievement,
children increases. Child benefit is paid even if parents are not in employment.
self-confidence and ability to work independently.
It must be requested from the child benefits office of the job center.
However, in most states, parents have the final say
as to which school their child attends following the
The German education system is different in many ways from the ones in
fourth grade.
other countries, but it produces high-performing students. The overwhelming
majority of German students attend public schools. The catch of course, is
in case of an
Emergency
call - 112
that the classes are conducted in German, which is usually all right for school
beginners but becomes more and more of a problem as the children get older.
But, there are also many private schools. Although education is a function
of the federal states, and there are differences from state to state, some
Kinderkrippe is specifically designed for children
generalizations are possible.
up to three years. It is not free and costs may vary
(Medic / Firefighter)
call - 110
(police)
Kinderkrippe
according to region and salary.
All children in Germany must attend school, and they normally begin school
at the age of 6. Certain conditions permit parents to apply for a place at school
earlier or later than 6 years of age. Local school offices provide information on
schooling. The new school year begins in Germany after the summer holidays.
Children aged three to six, may attend kindergarten. After that, school is
compulsory for nine or ten years. From grades 1 through 4 children attend
elementary school (Grundschule), where the subjects taught are the same for
all. Then, after the 4th grade, they are separated according to their academic
ability and the wishes of their families, and attend one of three different kinds
of schools: Hauptschule, Realschule or Gymnasium. Grundschule teachers
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14
Grundschule
differ from school to school, but generally include
Children attend Grundschule for four years, with the exception of the states
and design), music, history, philosophy, civics, social
of Berlin and Brandenburg, where Grundschule lasts six years. On their first
studies, and several foreign languages. In recent years
day at Grundschule, children bring a Schultüte (school cone) which is a large
many states have changed the curriculum so students
decorative conical parcel filled with candy and little presents and the older
obtain their “Abi” at the end of the 12th grade.
German, mathematics, computer science, physics,
chemistry, biology, geography, art (as well as crafts
school children put on a performance for the new students and their families.
In addition to the ‘3 R’s’, the children learn about science, local history and
geography.
Realschule
Gymnasium
The Realschule (grades 5-10 in most states) leads to
The Gymnasium leads to a diploma called the Abitur and prepares students
academic achievement at the Realschule to switch to
for university study or for a dual academic and vocational credential. Curricula
a Gymnasium upon graduation.
part-time vocational schools and higher vocational
schools. It is now possible for students with high
Kindergarten
Kindergarten (for children between 1-6 years) is not a part of the regular
This link leads you to an overview of the forms and
public school system and is not required or free. Tuition is normally based
explanations for applying for KITAs offered by the
on income. Space is often limited and even though it’s not mandatory, the
Berlin Senate. However, most of these forms are
majority of three to six year olds attend them.
available only in German. If you need advice and
help to fill out the forms, do not hesitate to contact
There are two Kita networks in Berlin, which also offer free places (only in
us.
German): Kitanetz, Kita Berlin
Here is a link to the general Kita list in Berlin (you can sort the places
depending on the area you want to move to).
Schulhort
If you want to send your child to a multilingual Kita, this one comes
Schulhort is designed for pupils of elementary
recommended, or simply ask your colleagues.
school to provide daycare before and after school
hours.
In addition, you can also look for a day nanny (Tagesmutter) who looks after
more than one child.
Hauptschule
Gesamtschule
The Hauptschule (grades 5-9) teaches the same
The Gesamtschule, or comprehensive school, is only found in some of the
subjects as the Realschule and Gymnasium, but at
states. It takes the place of both the Hauptschule and Realschule. It enrolls
a slower pace and with some vocationally-oriented
students of all ability levels in the 5th through the 10th grades. Students
courses. It leads to part-time enrollment in a
who satisfactorily complete the Gesamtschule through the 9th grade
vocational school combined with apprenticeship
receive the Hauptschule certificate, while those who satisfactorily complete
training until the age of 18.
schooling through the 10th grade receive the Realschule certificate.
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15
Non-German Students
Berufskollegs
The school grade into which foreign pupils are placed when they arrive in
The German education system also includes
Germany depends on how well they speak German. Children who do not
vocational schools called Berufsschule or
speak German at home and who have not attended a German Kindergarten
Berufskolleg, where students normally aged
often repeat the first or second grade.
between 16 and 19 (but in some cases also up to
23 years) can undertake a range of work-directed
Since the number of non-German students has constantly risen over the years
studies such as economics and specific business
some adaptations have been made. Children who were not born in Germany
studies. These studies are usually directly related to
or whose parents do not speak German at home are offered additional lessons
an apprenticeship.
in the form of preparatory classes, bilingual classes, intensive courses and
remedial classes depending on the State.
This link is for a forum of English speaking parents
who have asked themselves the same questions
School Hours
about schooling. You might find an answer for your
specific inquiry or maybe a contact to chat and
exchange experiences with.
The school day starts at 8am and is generally over by 1pm with the schools
tending not to offer anything much in the way of extracurricular activities.
There are of course a host of school groups such as theatre and sport
associations. But, there are also a range of after-school and sometimes
pre-school facilities, which mind children up to the age of about 12 and which
International Schools
are sometimes provided on the actual school grounds. Once again a fee is
There are a variety of international schools
charged based on income.
available in Berlin. The Berlin Business Location
Center put together a collection of links and
The School Year
information so you can pick the school you would
like to know more about.
The school year consists of two semesters and normally starts around the
middle to end of August. There are longer breaks at Christmas and in the
summer. Shorter breaks are around Easter and in autumn. There is no school
on public holidays. The Christmas break is usually 2 weeks and the summer
break is about 6 weeks. The exact dates of the various vacations and breaks
are set by the individual German cities.
This website provides the exact dates for school holidays in Berlin.
Private Schools
The exception to the rule in this whole system is the private schools. There
are currently about 3,000 private schools in Germany, many of them boarding
schools. These schools often have a longer school day. There are also
international schools at which the classes are taught in English.
glispa.com
16
USEFUL
ADDRESSES,
LINKS
&
APPS
Moving Companies
When moving apartments, you have a number of options:
•
•
•
Rent a vehicle from Robben & Weintjes, drive it yourself and get help from friends and
colleagues.
Call Zapf Umzüge and get everything done by professionals.
Search eBay Kleinanzeigen for “Umzug Berlin” for more casual helpers and drivers.
Apps
CityMapper – Travel app for differents cities:
Öffi – Shows you the most convenient public transportation connections. (Android)
Other Useful Links
Craigslist Berlin – furniture, people, meet-ups, everything!
Toytown Expat forum
eBay Kleinanzeigen – Online classifieds
glispa Berlin Office (HQ)
Important Government Offices
Auswärtiges Amt Berlin – Federal Foreign Office
Ausländerbehörde – Foreigners Authoritiy
Residence Office – Bürgerämter
Youth Welfare Office – Jugendamt
Sonnenburger Str. 73
10437 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)30 555 713-00
EMail: [email protected]
Web: www.glispa.com