Relocating to Germany
Understand the country before you commit to the move.
44% verifiedGermany is a Western European federal parliamentary republic, EU/Eurozone/Schengen member, and one of the most common destinations for skilled-worker relocation in Europe.
Ask about moving to Germany
Answered only from Atlas's verified Germany guides — if it's not covered yet, we'll say so rather than guess.
Life in Germany
What will life actually be like?
Where should I live?
Living: Major Cities
What will daily life cost?
Living: Cost of Living
What is healthcare like?
Healthcare: Average Costs
What about schools?
Living: Education
How will I bank?
Banking: Best Banks
How will I get around?
Living: Transportation
Cities
Where should I live?
Munich, Frankfurt, and Hamburg are Germany's most expensive cities but offer the strongest job markets, international school access, and (for Munich specifically) the top safety ranking among major German cities. Berlin has a significantly lower cost of living than other major European capitals and Germany's other big cities, while offering a large expat community and cultural scene, making it a popular starting point for newcomers despite somewhat lower average safety rankings than Munich/Nuremberg/Augsburg.
Read the cities guide →Residency
Find your residency route
Your best route depends on how you plan to live, work and invest. These are the guides Atlas currently holds for Germany.
How do you plan to support yourself in Germany?
Residency: Citizenship
Foreign nationals may become German citizens through naturalisation after meeting the legal requirements established under German nationality law. Applicants…
Residency: Digital Nomad Visa
Germany does not currently offer a dedicated Digital Nomad Visa in the same way as countries such as Portugal or Spain. However, many self-employed professio…
Residency: Permanent Residency
Germany allows eligible foreign nationals to obtain permanent residence through a Settlement Permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis). Unlike temporary residence per…
Residency: Processing Times
Processing times for German visas and residence permits vary depending on the type of application, the applicant's nationality, the workload of the responsib…
Residency: Required Documents
Document requirements vary according to the type of visa or residence permit being requested. German immigration authorities may request additional documenta…
Residency: Retirement Visa
Germany does not operate a dedicated Retirement Visa for foreign nationals. Individuals wishing to retire in Germany generally need to qualify for another re…
Residency: Visa Overview
Germany requires most non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals to obtain a residence permit for stays exceeding 90 days. The type of permit depends on the pur…
Residency: Work Visa
Germany offers several residence permits for employment depending on an applicant's qualifications, profession and salary. Common categories include the EU B…
Property
A home is a relocation decision
Taxes
Understand the cost of your move
Banking
Banking
Healthcare
Healthcare
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Business
Business
Business: Accounting
Verified guideBusiness: Annual Compliance
Verified guideBusiness: Company Formation
Verified guideBusiness: Hiring Employees
Verified guideBusiness: Limited Company
Verified guideBusiness: Payroll
Verified guideBusiness: Social Security
Verified guideBusiness: Sole Proprietorship
Verified guideFrom the Journal
Latest on Germany
Germany's New Opportunity Card for Developers: Key Points for Relocation
Germany is introducing a new residence permit called the Chancenkarte for non-EU/EFTA nationals, …Readers' Favorite Holidays in Germany: From Berlin to the Black Forest
Discover the best travel tips from The Guardian's readers, who share their experiences of explori…Hidden Costs of Studying in Germany: What Indian Students Need to Know
German universities may offer low tuition fees, but students still face significant expenses such…Ready to turn this into a plan?
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