Moving to Berlin: 50+ Practical Tips

This guide was written as a compelte guide for University College Cork alumni interested in relocating to Berlin. If you have any more questions, please contact me!

⭐ Quick links: the 8 things you should do in your 1st week in Berlin

Moving to a new city is a very exciting time! There’s a lot to see and do, but there’s also a lot of ‘life admin’. This guide has tons of advice on the things you’ll need to do over the first few months… 

But here are the 8 highest-priority things you should get cracking on as soon as possible:

  1. Start looking for an apartment & get your documents ready
  2. Register your address to get your tax number
  3. Start looking for a job
  4. Set up your health insurance ASAP (mandatory!)
  5. Register with a GP
  6. Open a bank account
  7. Get a public transport pass
  8. Join the UCC Alumni Whatsapp Group to meet people and get job/apartment tips

And then, there’s detailed advice on everything else:

🏡 Finding an apartment 

👀 Register your address (Anmeldung) & get your tax number

💼 Work

🧑‍⚕️Health & health insurance

💲Taxes, banks & insurances 

🇩🇪Learning German

🚌 Public transport

👶 Kids & families

Finding an apartment

Finding an apartment is one of the biggest hurdles in an international move. Coming from Ireland, we know all about difficult housing markets. The Berlin housing market is extremely competitive, and has a lot of quirks you won’t have seen before in Ireland.
Finding an apartment in Berlin can seem like a mythical quest, but millions of people have done it! As long as you get organized and stay on top of it, you will manage.

😎Temporary apartments for people who just arrived in Berlin

I’ll be honest: finding an apartment when you’ve just moved to Berlin, don’t have all the documents, and don’t have a job, will be close to impossible. Landlords will only rent to you if you earn 3x the rent. Even if you have a job, most landlords will reject you straight away since you are still in the probation period. But don’t fear. There is a way around it.

⭐Find a temporary apartment. You can save yourself a lot of stress by booking a temporary apartment for your first 6 months in Berlin. You can find a room in a houseshare or a whole apartment available temporarily on websites like HousingAnywhere, Wunderflats, or any of the coliving spaces. New ones are popping up all the time, so do some Googling. 

🔍Where to find an apartment

Immoscout24.de is the most popular apartment-hunt website. I would recommend getting a premium account. If you have a premium account, you will see ads 48 hours before unpaid users. Most landlords delete their ads after a few hours, so sadly, paying for premium is the only way to get in there. 

Other platforms you should join include Kleinanzeigen, Immowelt  and WG-Gesucht (for houseshares).

🗂Documents you need to have for your house hunt

Germans love paperwork, so before you begin this quest, get all your paperwork ready. You will not be invited to view apartments if you don’t have the right documentation.

Having all this together will save you a lot of time later. I would also suggest you combine all these documents in a PDF, which you can then send to landlords.

Documents you will need:

🛂Passport: as a form of ID.

👍SCHUFA: this is like a credit rating that shows a list of any bills, fines or other payments companies reported you for not paying. Landlords won’t rent to you if they see you have skipped out on paying for stuff before. Request your SCHUFA report now to make sure you have it in time for your search. If you haven’t lived in Germany before, you’ll still need the SCHUFA report as a formality, but it will just be blank. 

💸Proof of income: Your work contract, and/or the 3 most recent payslips, will do here. 

🤑Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung: This is a document from your current landlord where s/he states that you do not have any rental debts or other issues. Landlords don’t usually ask for references, but they often ask for this. If you haven’t rented in Germany before, and the landlord insists on seeing something, offer them a reference from a landlord or employer in Ireland.

💳If you are not an EU citizen: Visa documents. 

🏠Tip for couples and groups: The person who speaks the best German should handle any phone calls. But since we know many landlords only want to rent to people with stable jobs, sign off all messages/applications as being from the person with the most ‘stable’ job.

✍️How to write an apartment application

As a general rule of thumb: you need to check apartment sites as often as possible, and send your application within the first hour it’s online (many ads get taken back after that time).

🇩🇪What language should I use? If the apartment ad is in German, write in German. You can use ChatGPT to do a rough draft, and ask someone who speaks German well to review it. If it’s in English, or the ad explicitly says that they speak English, you can write in English. 

✔️Save your standard message in Google Docs or email. Write a draft and save it somewhere you can easily access on your phone. Then you can copy and paste, and quickly apply while on the go. If your message is in German, and you don’t speak German well, ask a native speaker to check it before you start sending it out.

✨Share your story. Landlords are often very curious to ‘size you up’ before meeting you. Tell them why you came to Berlin and when, tell them about your work, your hobbies, and any other information that could set you apart. Things they like to see include: traveling a lot/rarely at home, very quiet person with quiet hobbies like reading or knitting, no pets, non-smoker, stable or traditional job. Goes without saying – don’t lie, but only mention details that make you look good. 

✨Phrases to use in your apartment application messages

Here is a standard paragraph that should be in every message. 3 standard phrases everyone should include in their application:

Sehr geehrte Herr/Frau X,

Mein Name ist X. Ich komme aus Irland (EU-Bürger) und lebe seit (YEAR HERE) in Deutschland. Ich arbeite seit (START DATE HERE) als (JOB TITLE HERE) bei (COMPANY HERE). Mein monatliches Netto-Einkommen liegt bei etwa (SALARY HERE). Ich bin an einem Mietvertrag von mindestens 2 Jahren interessiert. 

Translation: My name is X. I come from Ireland (EU citizen) and have been living in Germany since (YEAR HERE). I have been working as a (JOB HERE) at (COMPANY HERE) since (START DATE HERE). My monthly net income is around (SALARY HERE). I am interested in a rental contract of at least 2 years.

Every landlord wants to know your citizenship, job, and monthly income. They can only rent to you if your monthly income is 3x the cold rent, so this is very important to mention. Some landlords prefer tenants interested in longer stays 9as finding new tenants is a hassle), so mention you are interested in 2+ years.

⚠️Common scams to be aware of

Berlin is a tough housing market, so scammers really pull out all the stops to take advantage of desperate newcomers. Even when you’re under pressure to find an apartment, try to keep a cool head, and don’t believe offers that seem too good to be true.

There are a few GENERAL scams you should be aware of, and a few BERLIN-SPECIFIC ones. Please pay extra attention to the Berlin-specific ones! Even if you’re an experienced renter, you could be caught out by them.

General scams that are common in berlin:

🧐Be skeptical of people who offer you good deals. If you post about your apartment search in a Facebook group, and someone immediately messages you with a too good to be true offer.. It probably IS too good to be true.

💸Do not pay a deposit before seeing the apartment. Be suspicious if the landlord is living abroad or cannot show you the apartment, for any reason.

🚨Even if you go to see the apartment.. Don’t hand over money! Scammers rent AirBnb flats, invite 100s of people to come view them, and then pretend to offer them contracts. Desperate people pay the deposit! The next day, the ‘landlord’ blocks their number and goes away with thousands.

How to avoid common Berlin scams:

⛔No anmeldung? Don’t go there. If they say “you can’t do Anmeldung (register) here, but you can do it at my parent’s/friends place” or “Anmeldung only after 6 months”.. Don’t move in here! You need Anmeldung, so you can get your tax number and social security number, and start working. Something shady is going on! 

⚖️ ALWAYS hire a lawyer to review your rental contract before you sign it (check this list of English-speaking lawyers in Berlin). This is truly worth the money! I know people who didn’t do this, and were scammed in complicated ways they could never have predicted. Legally, when you receive a contract, you are allowed 4 days to review. Someone who pressures you to sign now is definitely trying to do something illegal.

💸Ask to pay the deposit in 3 installments. Paying your deposit in 3 different installments is extremely common in Germany. Discuss this with the landlord. If they aren’t open to it, they are most likely scamming you.

🛋️Do not sign any agreements to buy the current tenant’s furniture. Sometimes, when you go to viewings, the current tenant will tell you they will only send your application to the landlord if you sign an agreement to ‘take over’ their furniture when they move out (this could cost thousands). Do not sign anything! Their plan is to sue you for the price of the furniture even if you don’t get the apartment. If the apartment seems legit, tell them you will only sign an agreement after you have been offered the apartment and reviewed the contract with your lawyer. Scammers will immediately back down.

⭐⭐⭐The #1 golden rule: find out who the real owner is. The scam artist ‘landlord’ or subletter may give you ‘the property owner’s phone number’ or a ‘contract’. This is often fake. When you visit an apartment, go to the elevator or lobby and look for any sign or note from the Hausveranwaltung (house management). You can call the Hausveranwaltung (Google them if their phone number isn’t mentioned on the sign) to verify if the landlord/subletter’s story is actually true. Keep this phone number, as you will need it later.

🏘️ Subletting: a minefield you need to know about

Sublets, sublets, everywhere. Subletting is widespread in Germany, so if you see a nice apartment, and it’s a sublet, don’t immediately be put off.. BUT. BEWARE. There are plenty of illegal and semi-illegal subletting scams going on, so you need to be extra cautious. 

If you’re confident the sublet is a real offer, there are still a few common problems you should be aware of:

⭐⭐⭐The #1 golden rule of subletting: find out who the real owner is. The scamming ‘landlord’ or subletter may give you ‘the property owner’s phone number’ or a ‘contract’. This is often fake. When you visit an apartment, go to the elevator or lobby and look for any sign or note from the Hausveranwaltung (house management). You can call the Hausveranwaltung (Google them if their phone number isn’t mentioned on the sign) to verify if the landlord/subletter’s story is actually true. Keep this phone number, as you will need it later.

📄Make sure the landlord/subletter gives you a real Wohnunggebersbestatigung. You will need it to do Anmeldung (register your address) at the Burgeramt (local authority), get your tax number, and many other issues. 

⚖️Know the law about sublets. Some contracts will have ridiculously long notice periods or other conditions that make things harder for you. Read up on the law and know your rights. If the subletter tries to evict you – speak to a lawyer. 

💸Check if their price is fair. Sublets are allowed to charge the rent they pay, plus maximum 20% for use of the furniture. Use this rent calculator to check if their price actually seems fair, or if they’re taking you for a ride. Many subletters have old rental contracts which are extremely cheap. They sublet their place at a massive profit (e.g, they pay 200, but charge you 1,200).

💡If your subletter demands money for bills, confirm the real price with the house management first. Subletters may tell you you owe them 900 euros for a heating bill. Do not blindly pay it, this is probably a lie. Tell them you are confirming the details with the house management (Hausveranwaltung) first.

💪Don’t be afraid to stand up to your subletter! If they demand more money or harass you, tell them you will report it to the owner. They are the one doing something illegal – you have the upper hand here. They will almost always back down.

I’m sorry if this section scares you off subletting. There are some legitimate offers, but with so many shady ones on the market, it helps to stay on guard. The key takeaway here: always find out who the real owner is. If the sublet is legit, they won’t have a problem with this.

🤪Weird things about renting in Germany

There are a few things that surprise newcomers.

🥶Cold rent vs warm rent: Cold rent is the price of the rent without heating and all utilities. If a place is advertised as ‘warm rent’, this means everything is included.

💸You need to earn 3x the cold rent. Most landlords will only rent to you if you earn 3x the cold rent. If you don’t earn a lot, you have a few options. Finding a room in a WG (shared flat) or teaming up with a friend could work. If you happen to have a German friend or family member with a higher salary, you could ask them to be your guarantor – most landlords are very open to this.

🤑The deposit is normally 3x the cold rent. If you’re planning to move into a new apartment, save up for that deposit! You will need to pay 3 times the rent. One positive thing, you are allowed to pay this in three installments so it doesn’t hurt your bank account as much. Tell your landlord you want to do this and they are obliged to say yes.

🛏️ Unfurnished apartments. Many apartments will be unfurnished or only partly furnished. If you’re in Berlin short-term, getting a furnished place will save you a lot of hassle. If you need it, you can get basic furniture fairly cheaply from places like Ikea, Jysk and Otto.de. Local secondhand marketplaces like Ebay Kleinanzeigen and Facebook groups are very popular, and you can find almost anything secondhand in Berlin.

🍳Apartments that don’t have kitchens. Some apartments don’t even have a kitchen! This means you will need to install everything, a sink, cupboards, oven, fridge, maybe even floorboards. These apartments are usually cheaper, but it can be quite expensive and a lot of hassle. I would recommend only searching for apartments marked ‘mit EBK’ (‘mit Einbaukuche’, meaning ‘with in-built kitchen’).

🔑WBS apartments: This means that only people who qualify for Wohnberechtigungsschein, a kind of social welfare support, can rent the apartment. If you don’t have WBS, you shouldn’t apply. If you’re new in Berlin and/or work full-time, you probably don’t qualify for WBS. Find out more about WBS and if you qualify here.

🔐Insurances you need to take out for renting

Germany is the land of insurance! You can get insurance for almost anything. But these 2 are by far the most common, and the most important:

💥Personal liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung). Many landlords want to see proof that you have this insurance before you move in. It covers you if you unintentionally damage someone’s property, for example it pays out if you break something in the apartment, or if you lose your keys (it can cost thousands to replace these in Germany!). The good news is this costs just a few euros a month, and insurers like GetSafe and Feather offer this service in English.

⚖️Legal insurance (Rechtschutzversicherung). Germany is a very litigious country, and most people have legal insurance! Dishonest people assume internationals don’t have legal insurance and will try the wildest scams ever with us (for example, saying you haven’t paid rent when you have, refusing to return your 3,000 euro deposit, demanding you pay them to repaint the apartment, evicting you without cause, and other crazy schemes). Legal insurance also covers you for disputes with your employer (employers not paying foreigners, and hoping they don’t have legal insurance/can’t afford to sue them is worryingly common!), the tax offices, and more. Save yourself a lot of trouble and get legal insurance from Feather or GetSafe.

⭐My number one tip: get legal insurance early on. It takes 3-6 months to come into effect, so get it far before you need it. Almost everyone I know has had a situation where they were taken advantage of, because they couldn’t afford to sue the company/landlord/someone else.

✉️ Getting mail at your new address

When you move in, ask the Hausveranwaltung (house management) about putting your name on the mailbox, and on the front door/doorbells. You need to do this so you can receive mail at that address. If your your name isn’t on a mailbox, it will just get returned to the sender.

💰Reducing your rent

If your rent is too high, you might be entitled to a reduction under the law.

🧮Berlin’s rent cap calculator: use this rent calculator to check if your rent actually seems fair.

💪Hire conny.de to fight for your rent reduction: Conny.de will pursue your rent reduction case for free, you will only pay them after your case is successful. The good thing is Conny will handle most of the paperwork for you, the bad thing is this process can take a very long time (up to a year) and could create animosity with your landlord. 

🚿Rent reductions for temporary situations: If the quality of living in your apartment goes down, for example, there are problems with hot water, electricity or noise levels, you are entitled to a rent reduction. The reduction depends how many days you had the issue for, and how severe it was. Your landlord will not automatically give you the reduction, you need to tell them in writing that you think X% is fair. Jur-law has more info.

😕 Should I find an apartment first, or find a job first?

This is a famous chicken/egg question! I’ll be honest: finding an apartment when you’ve just moved to Berlin, don’t have all the documents, and don’t have a job, will be close to impossible. 

The easiest thing to do is to book into a temporary apartment (more info here).

However – I also recommend you at least start your job search before heading over. Apply for jobs online (more on how to apply for jobs in this section), and see how it’s going. This will help you get familiar with the hiring process in Germany, and figure out how your job prospects are. You don’t want to be here for months, bouncing from sublet to sublet, and still struggling to get hired. Do some research in advance and you’ll save yourself a lot of stress.

👀 Anmeldung & getting your tax & social security numbers

This one is very important! If you plan to stay in Germany longer than 3 months, you must go to the local Bürgeramt authority and register your address. Every time you move, you need to do this process again. This is the same for everyone, Germans and internationals alike.

❗Why is it important to do your Anmeldung ASAP?

🏦Firstly, you will need to do Anmeldung to get your social security numbers. You can technically start working without it, but you will go on emergency tax, and reclaiming it is a much more complicated process than it is in Ireland.

📄You’ll need the proof of registration form, called a Meldebestätigung, later on. Keep it in a safe place. Scan it or take a photo in case you lose it. You will need this document to do things like open a bank account, get a SIM card, enroll your child in daycare, etc.

⏰You are legally required to do it within 2 weeks of moving. If you can’t find an appointment that soon, don’t worry. The authorities know it’s hard to find an appointment, so they don’t really enforce fines, especially if you are only a little bit late.

❓I don’t have an address yet, but I need to start work. How can I get my tax number?

You can technically still get your tax ID without doing Anmeldung – but it doesn’t always work out. I haven’t personally tried it. Allaboutberlin.com has more advice for you here.

🔍How do I get an Anmeldung appointment?

The website interface is very out-of-date and buggy, so have patience, this may take a while. Here’s a guide explaining how to look for an appointment, plus other options, like paying someone to do it for you.

My tips:

⏰Try to do your Anmeldung before you start working. This way you avoid emergency tax, and don’t need to take time off work to do it.

🇩🇪The appointment will most likely be in German. You will need to do the paperwork at home in advance anyway, so if you understand everything you’ve written, you will be ok! Most employees won’t speak English, so if you’re nervous, ask someone who speaks German to come with you.

💍If you are an unmarried couple or roommates, you need two separate appointments. If you’re married, you can register at the same appointment.

📄What documents do I need to bring to my Anmeldung appointment?

⭐Anmeldung form: You need to print this out and fill it out at home. Then, bring it to the Burgeramt. Get the form here.

🖊The rental contact: so they can confirm any details.

✔️Wohnungsgeberbestätigung – this is a document from your landlord (or person you’re subletting from) confirming that they agreed to rent you the apartment.

🌎Your passport/ID: if you aren’t an EU citizen, you should also bring your Visa documentation.

💍Marriage certificate: if you are married.

👶‍Birth certificates of your children: if you have children.

🌐 Can I do Anmeldung online? 

Sadly.. The answer is “usually no”. You must do the traditional trek to a Burgeramt to wage war with a cranky employee who really doesn’t want to help you, as millions have done before you. If you are moving from somewhere else in Germany, and you already have a BundID, you may be able to do the appointment online starting in 2024. More info here.

⛪ Church taxes & Anmeldung

When you do Anmeldung, you will have to state if you have any religion. If you say you are part of a church, the state will deduct 1% from your salary and give it to that church as your membership fee. If you don’t want to donate to a church, say ‘no religion’. 

Beware the Catholic church does exchange data internationally, and they can find out if you’re a member! They can technically demand you back pay unpaid taxes. If you don’t want to be part of the church any more, contact your bishop in Ireland to discuss leaving.

💼 WORK

❓How do I find a job in Berlin?

Finding a job in a new country is exciting, but it has its challenges! While it’s true that speaking German helps a lot, there are still plenty of job opportunities for people who don’t speak the language fluently. Berlin is a hotspot for startups, tech, and international businesses, but there are also many English-speaking jobs in areas like childcare, hospitality and customer service.

Here are the most popular job websites. You should check these often and set up alerts for jobs in your field.

Tips to find a job in Berlin:

 😀 Use LinkedIn. Love it or hate it, using LinkedIn can help you land a job in a new place. Set your location to Berlin, and try to connect with anyone who could help you – search for other UCC alums, or ‘2nd connections (people who know someone you know) who are based in Berlin. 

🙌Take advantage of referral programs. Ask your new linkedin connections, friends of friends, or anyone else, if they’d be willing to refer you to their company. Many people will do this, as they get a cash reward if you are hired. 

💬Use Facebook and Whatsapp groups. Join Facebook or WhatsApp groups related to your interests (there are ones for Irish in Berlin, GAA, dance classes, art, international women, new parents, etc,), as people often share open jobs at their companies there. If you see an interesting job at a big company, ask in your group chat if anyone works there and could refer you.

🤝Go to meetups or networking events. Look for networking events or socials for people working in your field. Events exist for things like tech, marketing, or healthcare.

👔Work on your CV and interview skills. This advice is good in every country! Having an easy-to-read, optimized CV and building confidence in interviews will help you a lot.

⏰ How long will it take to get hired?

Recruiting processes in Germany are notoriously slow. Arriving on Monday and walking into a job on Tuesday is almost impossible.

💬Expect several rounds of interviews: even for junior or entry level positions, you could be looking at 4+ rounds of interviews, spread out over weeks or even months. Don’t be disappointed or stressed if companies take a long time to get back to you. If anything, try to see it as a positive: you have more time to get to know the company, ‘shop around’, and make sure you get a good offer.

🔍If you can, start your job search before you arrive in Berlin. Start applying to jobs before you arrive. If anything, this will give you an idea of how the job market is, and how many interviews you can hope to get. 

🎉Don’t celebrate a job offer until the contract is signed. Companies may make a verbal offer over the phone, and then not send you the contract. There could be administrative or funding issues stopping the final signoff from happening. It’s better to not completely celebrate until the ink is dry.

💵 Salaries & negotiation

So, how much should you get paid?

💰Minimum wage: The minimum wage in Berlin will be 13.69 euros per hour, starting May 2025. This is a little higher than in Ireland, but you will pay a bit more tax. 

👀Find out what people with similar job titles are earning: Search for the company you have in mind on Glassdoor, and see if anyone with a similar job title has posted their salary. If not, check competitors or similar companies. You can also Google the job title + ‘salaries Berlin’, and try to get a benchmark figure. This will ensure you get a fair market rate.

📖Look for guides related to your industry. Honeypot.io published this guide to salaries for developers in 2023. Settle in Berlin published these rough estimates for salaries for juniors (which could be anywhere from a fresh grad to up to around 3 years experience).

💪Always negotiate. Companies may offer you a lowball salary just to see if you’ll accept. Keep in mind your skills, experience and what you have to offer, and try to get yourself the best deal possible. Good luck!

What else can you negotiate?

🌴Vacation days. Employees in Germany are entitled to at least 20 days vacation per year, but many companies offer more than this. If you don’t think you can negotiate for more salary, try asking for more vacation days, as the company may be more flexible on this.

🎁Perks. Many companies offer perks like a free BVG (public transport) ticket, free or discounted meals, Urban Sports or gym membership, and more. Don’t accept a too-low salary, just because these perks are offered.. But it is something to keep in mind when weighing up the job offer overall.

🌎Working from home, or from abroad. Many companies in Berlin have flexible or hybrid policies. If working from home is important to you, or you want to be able to work from Ireland or another country now and then, try to gauge how possible this is. Some contracts will expressly state you need to be in the Berlin office, but others may be more flexible.

✔️Probation periods

Most German companies have a 6-month probation period (“Probezeit”) where you and the employer are ‘trying each other out’, and seeing if it is a good fit. At the end of the probation period, you are a permanent employee and unlock all the protections associated with that.

Here are a few things to know about the probation period:

⌛6 months is normal: if your contract is shorter than 12 months, the probation period will be around half the length of the contract (e.g, if you have a 6-month contract, your probation period will be 3 months).

⏰Notice period is quite short in this period: usually 2-4 weeks. Your notice period will probably be either 2 or 3 months, once you’re permanent. Keep that in mind if you are planning to change jobs.

🔥Around 25% of people are fired during probation. This 6 months can feel like a testing time, as you try to learn everything and prove yourself to your colleagues. Just do your best and rest assured that if you don’t pass, something else will come your way.

👶Discrimination laws still apply: Most protections do not apply during the probation period – but discrimination laws still apply. For example, you cannot be fired if you are pregnant.

🔒Once you pass the probation period, it is very difficult to fire you. You are very protected by law. If your employer tries to fire you, or offer you ‘an attractive offer to leave’, do not sign it. Always check with a lawyer. Many employers will try to trick you into signing a contract that says you left voluntarily or did misconduct, which means you lose out on any severance payment.

👩🏽‍🎓Internships & Student Jobs

If you are a student or recent graduate, internships could be the way to go. They are less competitive than permanent jobs, and offer you a way to get a foot in the door at a company. There are a few different types of contract you should know about:

❓Voluntary internships: This is an internship you choose to do, because you want experience. With this contract, you will be guaranteed minimum wage (I know, it’s confusing! Voluntary is the one that’s paid). The contract is usually 3-6 months. Sometimes, it may be possible to get a permanent ‘Junior’ position if they are happy with your performance. 

🤔Mandatory internships: This type of internship is only open to you if you are currently a student, and your university requires you to do a placement/internship. Because you’re required to do the internship, the minimum wage rule doesn’t apply. Some of these are unpaid, or just pay a stipend. 

🎓Working Student (Werkstudent.in): This is a part-time job (max 20 hours a week) and is only available for students. It is usually an entry-level job, assisting more senior team members. They have to pay at least minimum wage, and you may be able to negotiate for more. If you’re a student, this is the easiest way to gain some work experience and get your foot in the door at a company.

🌎Erasmus+ funding: Are you a UCC student who needs to do a placement? If you find a placement in Germany, you will be able to get an Erasmus+ grant every month. It is not means-tested, which means everyone gets it, even if you don’t qualify for SUSI in Ireland. Calculate how much you could get.

🛡️Employee protections in Germany

Germany offers many employee protections you should know about. There are far too many to mention here!

Read expatrio’s guide to employee protections for more.

Employers often assume internationals don’t know their rights, and will try crazy things with you. Know your rights and also speak with a lawyer if something sounds suspicious. 

🔥Getting laid off in Germany

After you have passed the six-month initial probation period at your job, it is very difficult to fire you. However, layoffs are sadly very common, and companies are trying to cut costs everywhere. Know the law and make sure you get what you’re entitled to.

⭐⭐⭐Always consult a lawyer before signing a severance agreement… even if HR tells you everything is standard! Don’t sign anything until you talk to an employment lawyer (google ‘Rechtsanwalt Berlin English’, there are 100s of them, and many of them offer a free 30-minute consultation). Companies often try to trick you into signing a contract that makes it look like you left voluntarily or did misconduct. If you sign the wrong thing, you could lose out on a severance payment, and unemployment benefits.

💸What is the normal severance payout? Normally, if a company fires you, they need to continue paying you for the rest of your notice period (this is 2 or 3 months in most contracts). You are usually ‘on garden leave’ and not required to work during this time. After your 2-3 month paid holiday, you should receive a one-off severance payment, the amount depends on a few factors. Ask your lawyer! Beware – if you want to get a severance payment, you will need a lawyer. Companies rarely pay without being pressured. This is another reason to get legal insurance.

😵Unemployment benefits in Germany

If you have worked in Germany for more than 12 months, you are well protected in case of a sudden job loss. You can apply to the Agentur fur Arbeit and receive ALG1, an unemployment benefit equal to 60% of your salary. Your health insurance will also be covered for you in this time. AllaboutBerlin has a good overview of the system.

If you don’t qualify for ALG1, you may qualify for Burgergeld (300-500 euros per month).

While you’re unemployed you may be eligible for free courses like German language, or skills bootcamps covering topics like programming, data science and more. Ask your case worker about this when you go to ‘sign on’.

💻Freelancing in Germany

Freelancing is very common in Germany, especially among software developers, marketers, language teachers, creatives and other professionals. You may see many more freelance jobs advertised here than you would in Ireland.

A few key things to know:

✨Freelancing on the side: If you work full-time (40 hours a week), you can freelance up to 8 hours per week in your free time. Technically, you need to inform your employer and get their permission to do it. If you work part-time, you cannot freelance more hours than you work at your main job. This is a tricky technicality. Keep it in mind when planning your freelance projects.

➕The upside: Freelancers generally earn (much) more per hour than ordinary employees: Freelancing on the side could significantly top up your income, be a way to explore new projects & industries, and make connections that can lead to new job opportunities in the future

➖The downside: High taxes and bureaucracy. If you’re an employee, your employer pays half of your costs. If you’re a freelancer, you pay the full thing. Basically, your taxes seem twice as expensive. You also might pay extra costs and insurances related to your business. 

😊Many people consider working part-time and freelancing on the side to be ‘an ideal situation’. Your part-time job provides you a guaranteed income, and your employer covers half of your social protections and health insurance. You have the stability of a job, but enough free time for freelancing.

👀Are you planning to freelance in Berlin? iamexpat.de has a more detailed guide which includes advice on how to register as a freelancer and handle your taxes.

🧑‍⚕️Health & health insurance

💪How do I get health insurance?

Health insurance in Germany works a little differently. In Ireland, USC and taxes are directed directly from your salary to fund the public health service. In Germany, you pay into a ‘public health insurer’ of your choice’.

⭐I recommend Technicker Krankenkasse (TK), this is one of the most popular health insurance companies. It’s extremely easy to set up, and can all be done online. They also offer customer service in English, which is a lifesaver if you ever need it. All companies charge MUCH the same rates and there are very differences between them.

✔️Your health insurance contribution will be automatically deducted from your salary. Your employer pays half, and you pay half. You don’t need to worry about transferring anything.

⏰Do it ASAP. You are legally obliged to set up health insurance, so sort it out early on and then you don’t need to worry about it any more. 

Public vs private health insurance 

👍Most people choose a ‘public health insurance’ company, as they accept everyone, and follow very strict laws. Honestly, there are very few differences between them. 

🏢Private health insurance: Private health insurance companies only accept people who earn €69,300 per year (as of 2024). Weirdly: private health insurance is usually cheaper than public insurance, but it might ‘cover’ fewer things, depending on your package. If you earn over the threshold, it may work out as good value for you. Read expatrio’s guide here.

🦷Optional extra insurances: If you earn less than €69,300, you can still take out ‘supplementary’ private insurances for things like dental care or eye care. Check with your insurer, or with companies like Feather and Getsafe, to see what offers they have.

👨‍⚕️How do I find a GP?

Finding a GP (Hausarzt) in Berlin is nice and simple!

Here is how to find a GP:

  1. Go to doctolib.de or download the Doctolib app (it’s available in English, too).
  2. Set up your account.
  3. Search for ‘Hausarzt’ (GP).
  4. You can filter the results by language the doctor speaks, neighborhood, ‘availability within the next 3 days’ or other preferences.
  5. When booking the appointment, select ‘Erstuntersuchung Neuer Patient’ (first checkup for a new patient) or ‘Allgemein’ (general). 
  6. Select your appointment date and time.
  7. Bring your health insurance card and ID to the appointment to complete the registration.
  8. In the appointment, you will get a general check up. You can also ask about any general health issues.
  9. Take a photo of the GP’s ‘Akut-Sprechzeiten’ or ‘walk in hours’ (this is usually at the front desk or on the door). If you get sick, come to the doctor during their walk-in hours and they will see you quite quickly.

❓Why do I need to register with a GP (even if I’m not sick)?

Even if you don’t get sick often, registering with a Hausarzt (GP) early on is a good idea. 

Two main reasons:

⚠️If you already have a GP, you can usually be seen the same day. All GPs have ‘Akutsprechzeiten’ (emergency consultation hours), usually 4-5 days a week. If you’re already registered as a patient, you can rock up to the GP during the Akutsprechzeiten and be seen that day, no appointment needed. This saves you a lot of stress.

🤒Getting a sick note (Krankschreibung)will be a lot easier. Most employers require you to submit a doctor’s note from the 3rd day of being out sick (if you’re new to the job or some other special situations, they may demand you hand it in from the 1st day). If you don’t hand in the note, you won’t get paid while sick, and you could get in trouble for violating the rules of your work contract. Having a GP who can see you quickly will help you a lot here.

💊Extra things to know about health in Germany

😊Cool thing: going to the GP is totally free in Germany! Seeing other specialists is also free so take advantage of it and put your health first.

💻Some GPs offer ‘Online Sprechzeiten’. Check in Doctolib, you will be able to see this when booking an appointment. Online appointments are handy if you want to ask about something that doesn’t necessarily need an in-person visit. Also, if you aren’t in Berlin (maybe you’re on holiday, or get sick while working remotely from Ireland or somewhere else), your GP can still give you a sick note via online appointment.

🩺GPs only handle the most general health issues. For anything else, they will tell you to see a specialist. If you already know which specialist you need, go ahead and book that appointment in Doctolib yourself. If you aren’t sure, or if there are no appointments available today and you need an urgent referral, go to your GP first, and s/he will usually be able to get you an appointment quickly.

🩺Why do I need to register with a gynecologist?

It isn’t a thing in Ireland, but in Germany, you are supposed to go to the gynecologist once a year! They will give you a general checkup for free (including Pap smear, screenings, breast cancer check, routine checks). You need to find a gynecologist and book the appointment yourself – don’t wait for them to send you an invite.

In your first appointment, they will give you a general checkup. The two most common reasons you’ll need to go a gynecologist after that are:

🦷Going to the dentist in Germany

Getting a dentist appointment is the same as getting a doctor’s appointment. The same thing, try to register with a dentist before you have an emergency. If you’re already registered with a dentist, and you show up with an issue, they’ll see you almost straight away. If you need to find an appointment with a new dentist in an emergency, you could be waiting a long time.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Download the Doctolib app (it’s available in English, too).
  2. Search for ‘Zahnarzt’.
  3. You can filter the results by language the doctor speaks, neighborhood, ‘availability within the next 3 days’ or other preferences.
  4. When booking the appointment, select ‘Erstuntersuchung Neuer Patient’ (first checkup for a new patient). 
  5. Select your appointment date and time.
  6. Bring your health insurance card and ID to the appointment to complete the registration.
  7. In the appointment, you will get a general check up. You can also ask any questions.

😄Do I need to pay for dental procedures?

Basic dental procedures are free and covered by your public health insurance, but more complicated procedures cost a lot. 

⚕️Specialists for people with chronic/ongoing health issues

If you have chronic or ongoing health issues, registering with a specialist should be one of your first priorities when you arrive in Berlin. 

IMPORTANT: Don’t wait until you have an emergency or flare up. Book a first appointment/checkup with a specialist ASAP so they get to know your case.

If you have an issue or flare up during your specialist’s working hours, call your specialist before going to the hospital. They can do many clinical tests, ultrasounds etc, in their practice. This is less stressful than going to a hospital, and if it’s urgent, they will usually see you quickly. 

Gynecologists, cardiologists, urologists, ENTs, whatever it is, it is possible to book this appointment in Doctolib. You don’t (generally) need to go to a GP and get a referral. Just book the appointment in Doctolib yourself. 

Registering with a good specialist who knows your situation will help a lot. Here’s how to find one:

  1. Download the Doctolib app (it’s available in English, too).
  2. Search for the specialist you need (go some Googling and find out what it’s called in Germany. The thing you need might be covered by a different type of doctor here).
  3. You can filter the results by language the doctor speaks, neighborhood, ‘availability within the next 3 days’ or other preferences.
  4. When booking the appointment, select ‘Erstuntersuchung Neuer Patient’ (first checkup for a new patient). 
  5. Select your appointment date and time.
  6. Bring your health insurance card and ID to the appointment to complete the registration.
  7. In the appointment, you will get a general check up. You can also ask any questions.

If you aren’t diagnosed with any chronic conditions, but think you might have one – you may still be able to visit a specialist. If you’re not 100% sure which specialist you need to see, start by going to a GP. They might be able to tell you which specialist you need to see.

🚨Accidents and emergencies

In urgent situations.. You have 2 options: ‘kassenärztliche Bereitschaftsdienst’, (mobile emergency doctors) and the ‘Notaufnahme’ (emergency room).

🇩🇪 Kassenärztliche Bereitschaftsdienst (mobile emergency doctors): If you speak German, call 116 117. You can speak with a medical professional. In some cases, they will tell you to wait at home, and they send a doctor to you. In others, they tell you to go to the emergency room. Note: this service is ONLY available in German. If you don’t speak German, go to the emergency room.

🚨 Emergency Room (Notaufnahme): 

🚑 Calling an ambulance

If you need an ambulance, call 112 (it’s like the German 999). IMPORTANT – Most 112 operators won’t speak English, and are very grumpy! Don’t panic. To get around this, don’t give details, just say ‘Krankenwagen, dringend’ and say the address clearly. Say what floor or house you (or the person who needs the ambulance) are in. If you don’t understand the operator, repeat this again. They will get the message. 

💊Emergency/24 hour pharmacies

Pharmacies are generally closed on Sundays and in the evening. But don’t worry, it is still possible to get to a pharmacy if you need something urgently! Different pharmacies take turns at being the one who stays open – check the Apotheker Kammer to find out where is open.

💪Therapy and mental health in Berlin

If you are looking to do therapy, the good news is, there are plenty of English-speaking therapists in Berlin. The bad news is you will most likely need to pay for this yourself.

Your health insurance will only pay for therapy in special, emergency circumstances. Otherwise, you need to find a private therapist and pay your own way.

🏦Bank account

One of the first things you will need to do is set up a bank account. Some companies won’t pay you in a foreign account, so you’ll need a German IBAN.

N26 is by far the easiest bank to sign up with. The registration can be online quickly and easily. Their basic account is free. Other easy options include Tomorrow Bank and ING.

⚠️Warning: don’t keep all your money in one account. Online banks like N26 are notoriously difficult to contact if you get locked out of your account. Keep money on another German account, or your Irish bank account.

🏙️Old-school brick-and-mortar banks also exist. Deutsche Bank, Targo Bank and Sparkasse are all options. Note you will need to go in person to set up the account. Ask them what paperwork you will need to bring. You will usually need at least your ID, rental contract, Wohnungebersbestatigung, work contract and last 3 payslips.

☂️Insurances you need to take out 

Germany is the land of insurances. You’re obliged to have health insurance, pension insurance and care insurance, but don’t worry too much about those – your employer takes them directly from your payslip, the same as taxes.

Most Germans have several other ‘extra insurances’ – the average person sends around 1600 per year on them!

It seems there is an insurance for absolutely everything, but here are the most common ones you should think of getting:

🔑Personal Liability insurance (Pflichtversicherung): this is considered the ‘must-have’, and is usually quite cheap, starting at only a few euros a month. Some landlords will not rent to you unless you have this insurance. It covers you if someone sues you for damaging their property (your landlord or neighbor may do this), if you accidentally injure someone, or if you lose your house keys. This is an odd one! Replacing your keys in Germany can cost literally thousands, so it’s good to have this insurance for that reason alone.

🦷Dental insurance: this is one of the most common. Dental procedures cna get quite expensive. If you’re concerned, take out a supplemental dental insurance. It’s usually only a few euros a month.

🏠Contents insurance: This protects the contents of your apartment if they get stolen, or damaged by fire or water. It is also only a few euros a month.

⚖️Legal insurance. Germany is a very litigious country, and most people have legal insurance! It’s especially important for internationals. Landlords and companies often assume internationals and young people don’t have legal insurance, so they will ‘chance their arm’ and try clearly illegal things they would never try with Germans — for example, your boss might try not paying you this month, and seeing if you’ll actually be bothered to sue them. Your landlord might send you a random bill or rent increase, assuming you won’t sue. Once these people see you have legal insurance, they will usually back down immediately. 

💲Taxes

📝Reading your payslip

Understanding your first German payslip and the complicated charges can be a challenge, even if you speak German. There are a lot of charges, insurances and other deductions which may not make sense at first. Firma.de has a detailed guide on how to understand your payslip and all the random abbreviations.

💶I got emergency taxed, what should I do?

Don’t worry, it’s possible to get it back! The process can take weeks so get on it ASAP. You must file a tax declaration. I have used the app TaxFix in the past for this. The app is in English and makes the process a lot easier for you.

Pro tip: Even if you didn’t get emergency taxed, you should still do a tax declaration with TaxFix at the end of the year. You may have been taxed too much (especially if you didnt work the full year). You can also claim back expenses for things like heating costs from working from home, commuting costs, etc. 

⛪Church tax (Kirchensteuer)

When you register for Anmeldung at the Burgeramt, you will be asked for your religion. If you say you’re part of a church, you will pay 1% of your salary in tax directly to that church.

Warning: there are urban legends about the Catholic church finding out you were baptized in Ireland and chasing you up for unpaid taxes. The church can share its member list with all countries in the EU. In theory, the German Catholic church can identify you as a member and demand you ‘back pay’ taxes to them. If you don’t want this to happen, you can leave the church. Contact your bishop in Ireland to formally do it.

🇩🇪Learning German

Berlin is a very international city, you will be able to socialize and do most things through English. Many international or technology companies work through English. However, learning German will help you a lot when it comes to fully integrating. Handling bureaucracy will be much easier, and you’ll unlock a lot of new job opportunities.

🏫Where can I learn German?

🐝Do 1-on-1 classes online with Chatterbug. This is what I did. You buy a subscription to the platform, and choose the number of 1-on-1 classes you would like to have per month. You can choose the date and time of the classes, you aren’t tied to any schedule. What I liked about it was you get to know the instructors, and since it’s 1-on-1, they really focus on the topics you want to work on.

💬In-person classes: there are plenty of schools around Berlin offering in-person classes. The upside is you meet people, the downside is you need to commit to going there at the same time every week, which doesn’t fit if you have a busy schedule. Speakeasy and Goethe Institut are 2 of the most popular schools.

🪜What level class should I sign up for?

Most schools break up their classes by ‘CEFR levels’. A1.1 is for complete beginners, then A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. If you are a beginner, you should join A1.1. If you already know some German, and aren’t sure of your level, the school will probably make you do a placement test. You can do a quick test online to get a rough idea where you’re at.

🚌Public transport

Public transport in Berlin is extensive! You can get almost anywhere without needing a car.

⭐BVG, the public transport authority, is constantly changing its ticket prices – so your best bet is to check their website. You can get a ticket in their app (download it here).

🏙️Company tickets (Firmentickets): If you are working for a bigger company, ask HR if the company offers BVG Abos or subsidizes them. This is a perk a lot of companies offer.

📅Monthly tickets: If you’re paying for yourself, usually, getting a Berlin monthly Abo is the best deal. There’s also a Deutschland ticket, which covers all public transport in Germany (but note: it doesn’t include the high speed intercity trains. Just local transport. This comes in handy if you’re frequently in Brandenburg or other states).

🚗Miles cars: If you need to rent a car or van for a short time (e.g, one hour, to move some furniture), Miles cars are the cheapest way to do it. You can see which cars are available in your area and just hop in. You will need to set up your account in advance, and of course, have a valid full driving license.

How to get from Berlin Airport to the City Centre

✈️Going to Berlin Airport: At the airport, go to Terminal 1 and find the train station (take the elevators to the basement, it’s down there). Find the next train going to the city center (it’s quite frequent so no need to plan ahead).

Make sure you get a ticket that covers Zone C (the option on the ticket machine might say ABC). Your normal Berlin monthly ticket only covers zones A and B. If you need to go to the airport, buy an extension ticket for zone C (usually less than 2 euros).

⭐Tip: you can reserve a timeslot to go through security at the airport. This can sabea  lot of time. Do it here.

Faredodging

⚫Faredodging (Schwarzfahren): There are no ticket controls on transport in Berlin, you can walk on and off freely. However, there are ticket inspectors (kontrollers) and they can be quite aggressive. Pay your fine quickly. If you don’t, it will end up on your SCHUFA, and will hurt your chances of finding an apartment.

⏰The 2-minute rule: some ticket inspectors say there is a ‘2 minute rule’, your ticket must be active for at least 2 minutes before you enter the train. Is this true? No one knows. But some ticket inspectors will try to catch you on it.

🏢‘Wrongly’ given a fine: If you left your ticket at home, or the ticket inspector says it isn’t valid, when you think it is, you can contest the fine. Go to BVG’s offices in Alexanderplatz to do it.

Travelling around Germany and Europe

🚌Flixbus: If you’re going to Prague, Poznan or any of the other bus-able distances from Berlin, Flixbus is your most reliable (and possibly cheapest) bet.

🚆Deutsche Bahn: find journeys between cities on DB’s website. Be warned, the stereotype of German trains always being on time is just a myth 🙂

👶 Kids & families 

Berlin is a family-friendly city in many ways. There are playgrounds on every corner, and childcare is free. I don’t have any kids, so I’ll hand you over to people/resources with more experience.