In this article, we have combined the basic steps of moving – from submitting documents to the embassy or consulate to registering and finding accommodation in Germany – to give you a step-by-step guide to immigration.
Step 1: obtaining a National visa (D visa).
Whatever the reason for your move, you will initially have to obtain a National D visa yourself, which entitles you to stay in Germany for 3 to 6 months.
To do this:
- Make an appointment at the consulate
- Prepare your visa application package (general civil and international passports, proof of higher education, education certificate, work contract, curriculum vitae, work record book, health insurance – two copies each translated into German and certified by a notary)
- Write the visa application form (2 copies)
- Fill in the questionnaire in German (available at the embassy’s website), paying attention to all the fields (there should not be any blank fields), in duplicate.
- Prepare 3 current photos (put two of them on the application form, take the other one with you)
- Appear at the consulate in person with the package of documents and pay the processing fee.
- Await a response within two weeks to six months
Step 2: finding accommodation and moving to Germany.
If you receive a positive answer from the consulate, you will leave your home country as planned in order to build a life in Germany.
However, it is best to find and rent accommodation before you arrive. You can do this by searching online and registering on one of the German property services, checking social networks, or contacting your employer.
Once you have found a suitable accommodation for you, make an appointment with the landlord and book tickets.
Step 3: registering at your place of residence.
When you arrive, you will need to obtain a residence registration.
To do this:
- Ask your landlord for a completed residence permit form (you can download the form from the City Hall website)
- Go to the local Registration Office in the Town Hall and present your residence permit, enclosing your international passport with a visa and a copy of your freehold or leasehold title
- At the Town Hall you will be given an A4 sheet of paper – the so-called German registration at the place of residence
Do not forget: you have to register within 10 days of moving in!
GERMAN EXPERTS HELPS AT ALL STAGES OF THE RELOCATION TO GERMANY
Step 4: opening a bank account.
Everyone who lives and works in Germany should have a bank account, or Girokonto, to which the state and employers make transfers to private individuals.
It can be opened in any bank, and the number of parallel accounts at different banks is unlimited.
To open it you must provide:
- Passport (to confirm the age of legal majority)
- Proof of income
- A residence permit that you obtained from the City Hall
It is very convenient to open Girokonto online: this way you can choose the best conditions for your card.
Step 5: obtaining a tax ID.
In order for the state to collect payroll tax, you need to obtain a so-called class and tax ID. To do this:
- Go to your local Tax Office and get an appointment with an employee of the authority on a first-come, first-served basis
- Fill in questionnaire
- An electronic record will be created in the database and your employer will be notified
Step 6: applying for the Blue Card.
In order to enter and stay in Germany, persons from non-EU countries must obtain a residence permit.
It can be:
About a month after you have moved you will need to return to the office, which is located in the local Town Hall, and file a request for a residence permit or EU Blue Card.
Of course, all of the above mentioned activities are usually accompanied by minor nuances and circumstances that are almost impossible to foresee in advance and can be difficult to solve on your own.
In this situation, the best option for you would be to contact our experts who will support you at each stage of the move, will help with filling out and translation of documents, will select the best options for renting accommodation, which would greatly speed up the process of moving and processing of necessary documents. The more so that the cost of our services will pleasantly surprise you, and the experience will not leave you indifferent.