Moving to Germany as an Expatriate
You might already know that many musicians and poets come from Germany. The education system produces many top performers. Beer and cars are included in their specialties list and their economy is one of the most powerful in the world, behind by only a few other countries in the world. But this alone might not be reason enough to convince you when it comes to moving to Germany. Here we discuss and highlight some of the many reasons people decide to immigrate to Germany as a foreigner.
Each year the HSBC Expat Explorer survey gives international travelers better insight into where they should relocate. Data is collected from current expats and compared across the board in the following three categories: Economics, Experience, Raising Children.
Why People are Immigrating to Germany
Based on all three categories Germany ranked in 4th place out of the list of 34 countries and here are a few reasons why:
In the category of raising children Germany ranked 3rd overall – a few strong areas include children learning a new language (1st), health and well-being of children (5th), cost of education available (5th), and quality of available education (6th). Looking at Economics Germany was ranked 7th overall. Satisfaction with the host economy ranked 3rd while personal disposable income ranked 9th. In reviewing the report on expat experience (10th overall) Germany had a number of strong categories including opportunities to travel (2nd), travel around locally (3rd), feeling welcome at work (3rd), and healthcare (4th).
Curious as to what Germany did not rank well on? Here they are:
- Household income (14th)
- Diet (27th)
- Enjoying local food (29th)
- Making friends (29th)
- Assisting children in becoming more outgoing (31st)
- Social life (37th)
If you do decide to relocate to Germany and need to know what to keep in mind when keeping your move legal, this will help:
EU/EEA/Swiss Nationals: Great news, you will not need a visa or resident permit in most cases as an EU/EEA/Swiss National.
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss Nationals: If you will be moving to Germany for more than 90 days and are not a citizen of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, or the United States you will need to apply for a visa and a “residence title” permit. You will also want to review travel insurance for visitors to Germany.
For more information on getting your visa for Germany, you can visit the German Foreign Office. You might also be interested in reading our information about Hospitals in Germany.
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Moving to Germany for a Career Change
If you are looking to relocate to a European country to pursue a career change, you will want to investigate Germany. Although at a slow pace, the German economy continues to show growth according to reports from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose 0.4 percent in the second quarter of 2015 in comparison to last year’s second quarter.
Many expatriates reported moving to Germany for career-driven motives and have a positive outlook on the current economic situation within the country according to the HSBC Expat Explorer Survey. Ninety-one percent of expats believe that the German economy is either staying the same or is getting better and 86 percent are satisfied with the current economic state.
Many individuals who become an expatriate in Germany have relocated specifically to pursue a career transition, instead of specifically for a new expat experience or to retire like expats in many other European countries such as France and Spain. This can be seen in HSBC Expat Explorer Survey:
Percentage of Expat Retirees in Europe
- In Germany: 7%
- In France: 41%
- In Spain: 32%
Percentage of Expats who Relocated to Germany for Their Career
- In Germany: 55%
- In France: 33%
- In Spain: 29%
Those who become an expatriate in Germany are able to see the financial benefit of this transition as well. One in every four expatriates in Germany has an annual salary of $100,000-$200,000. The top three occupation fields for expats in Germany are IT (14%), science/research (10%), and construction (12%).
Individuals who become an expatriate in Germany find that there are financial benefits, but it doesn’t stop there, many find it to be a well-rounded experience and a great place to raise a family as well (52%).
One Final Reason to Move: Germany in December
Are you looking for a memorable winter experience? With the plethora of festivities and natural scenery about, it isn’t difficult to find something to do to pass the time in Germany in December. Perhaps one of the biggest draws to Germany in December is the numerous amounts of Christmas Markets. Throughout Germany in small villages and large cities alike, many gather for this annual gathering.
Christmas Markets bring a variety of handmade crafts and tasty German treats together to be experienced all in one place. For those visiting Germany in December, the Christmas Market might seem like a crash course or sneak peek into German Tradition. Whilst browsing through the intricate handmade items such as wooden smokers and ornaments, you are able to sip on warm mulled wine while nibbling on sausages and chestnuts. Most of these items are freshly prepared by those who live locally.
Although most Christmas Markets will have similar goods, visiting just one Christmas Market might not give you a good enough glimpse into this extraordinary pastime. From the most elaborate Markets in the bigger cities to the more personal Markets in the smaller villages, all have their unique touch that makes the shopping experience a fresh one with each visit.
If you are visiting Germany in December solely for the purpose of Christmas Market hopping, the Atlas Travel Insurance plan can provide international travel health insurance that includes doctor visits, hospitalization, lost luggage, emergency medical evacuation, trip interruption, etc. Only have one or two markets in mind you want to visit? You are able to purchase the Atlas Travel plan for a period as short as five days.
Whether your plans consist of visiting the Market of Frankfurt, Munich, or Berlin, each brings its own individual spin on the holiday season tradition of the Christmas Market in Germany.
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