Eight things Americans need to know before moving to Germany

Many people from the USA choose Germany as a place to settle abroad. 

At the end of 2023, the number of people with an American passport living in Germany stood at 122,475 according to official figures.

So what should you know if you're making the move across the Atlantic? 

Get familiar with visas

You can enter Germany from the USA without a visa if you plan to stay for under 90 days as a tourist (although in future there will be a small fee as part of the ETIAS requirement for all arrivals into the EU). But if you want to live and work in Germany, you need a permit. 

Because you don't need a visa to enter, you can apply for a residence permit at your local immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) within the first 90 days of your stay in Germany.

If you intend on staying in Germany for more than 90 days and you’d rather apply for a residence permit before jetting in, you can do so in-person at the German Embassy in Washington or at a German Consulate in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York or San Francisco.

Passengers with wheeled suitcases at Düsseldorf airport. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Thomas Banneyer

Later this year, people in the US will also be able to use the Consular Services Portal to apply for a visa for Germany from the US online.

"Complete your application online and have it checked in advance by the German mission to ensure that it is complete," says the German Embassy in the US. "This way you will be well prepared for the in-person appointment at the German mission where you will provide your biometric data (fingerprints and photo)."

The types of visas Americans can apply for online will include the new Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) jobseekers visa, the EU Blue Card and various other study and working visas. 

However you're choosing to apply for a visa, make sure to think about which one best suits your situation and needs. 

READ ALSO: How to apply for Germany's new 'opportunity card' and other visas for job seekers

You need to register your address

The address registration rules in Germany may come as a bit of a shock to people from the United States, where you can move from one location to another and stay pretty much under the radar. But completing your Anmeldung is a legal requirement for anyone living in Germany. 

Everyone who arrives in Germany with the intention to live here is required to register their address with their local authority within 14 days of moving in. 

Here are some of the documents you generally need:

• A valid ID Card like a passport
• Proof of address such as a utility bill or your rental contract
• Confirmation of residence - known as a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung which you can get from your landlord or the main renter if you're subletting
• A completed Anmeldung registration form
• Your visa or residence permit
• You may also need to bring items like a marriage certificate or birth certificates of your children 

READ ALSO: Is renting a flat without Anmeldung illegal in Germany?

Once you've registered, you'll get a certificate (Meldebestätigung). Whatever you do, keep it in a safe place because you never know when you'll need it.

A view of flats in Potsdam. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Soeren Stache

You need health insurance

Having health insurance is mandatory in Germany and it works differently to the US.

The key points to know are that Germany has two different systems of healthcare - statutory and private. If you are an employee you are automatically offered statutory health insurance and your contributions automatically come off your monthly salary.

Private insurance premiums are based on your risk (younger people may pay less, for example), and the benefits you receive are according to what’s in your contract. If you’re self-employed, a small business owner, a freelancer, or work in the public service, you’ll most likely have to sign up for this, although there are exceptions. 

There are some expat insurances which are suitable for some visas without work contracts but it doesn't provide as comprehensive coverage as public or private insurance do. 

The aim of the German health insurance system is that you will receive care but won't get hit with an eye-watering bill out of the blue - something that can be an alarming part of living in the United States.

READ ALSO: 10 key things you need to know about healthcare in Germany 

When you sign up to a public health insurer, you’ll be given a Gesundheitskarte (health insurance card). It’s important to always bring this with you when accessing any healthcare services.

You'll have to file taxes to the US

One thing that might alarm US residents is that taxes are higher in Germany - but in return there is a fairly solid social welfare system. 

In Germany, if you're an employee taxes will come off your pay slip automatically (although you can still file a voluntary tax return to try and get some money back). If you're self-employed you will have to file a tax return. 

However, complicating matters is that you will have to file taxes back home. And it's a serious business: Americans are required to file US taxes until death or they renounce citizenship (we don't make the rules). 

Preparing a tax return from abroad is more complex, because the forms are long and the instructions not always easy to understand.

READ ALSO: The tax mistakes Americans in Germany should avoid

There is also the FBAR - an acronym for Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. This is a separate document that anyone who has accounts of any kind in a non-US bank must file. So if you have a savings or any other account in a German bank - including mortgage, life insurance, retirement plans, annuities, etc. - you must declare the highest amount (converted into US dollars) in each of these accounts during the year for which you file.

Get familiar with employment laws and the job market

Many Americans are attracted to Europe because of the renowned work-life balance. And it's true - much of the work culture differs greatly to the US. 

People don't tend to work round the clock and workers tend to use all of their paid holiday days - a minimum of four weeks per year.

In the US, employees usually get a maximum of five paid sick days. In Germany, you are entitled to a significant amount of paid sick leave if you have an illness, including depression or burnout. 

Meanwhile, after you've passed your initial probation period in Germany, your employer can’t easily sack you for any reason. They would need to justify it with a legally valid reason. 

There are also a great deal of parental benefits and support for families.

READ ALSO: Five ways working in Germany is better than employment in the US

Another thing to keep in mind is that Germany is desperate for workers. That means there should be plenty of job opportunities out there so you might have the upper hand in negotiations with employers. 

Just be aware that salaries are generally lower. 

Public transport is very good

If you're heading to one of Germany's cities, remember that you probably don't need a car, unlike in many places in the US.

Public transport, although far from perfect, is fairly reliable and a great way to get around. 

Get your hands on the €49 'Deutschlandticket' for access to public transport across the country and on regional trains (high speed trains are excluded). In Berlin, there's a €29 ticket allowing people to travel on public transport in the AB zone of the city.

READ ALSO: How much could Germany's Deutschlandticket cost in 2025?

Key cultural differences 

Whenever you move to another country, you're bound to notice cultural quirks. 

For Americans coming to Germany, these might be the fact that shops are closed on Sundays, the lack of air conditioning in public buildings and on transport (even though there are high temperatures in summer) and the low bar for customer service. Some would even argue that customer service doesn't exist in Berlin. 

You might also find it strange that Germans go to the sauna without any swimwear, and there are plenty of nude beaches. When you don't bat an eyelid at this (or even join in), integration is complete. 

READ ALSO: 10 things I found shocking as an American after moving to Germany

Get familiar with the German language

Although you won't necessarily need to speak German unless your job requires it, it's a good idea to get to grips with some basic language skills.

It will help you with a lot of the tricky things when moving abroad, such as making friends and dealing with bureaucratic tasks (and, boy, there is a lot of bureaucracy). 

Attending a language class is also a fun way to meet people and make connections. Some workplaces even offer German lessons to their international staff. 

Remember that getting permanent residence - and citizenship - requires at least B1 level German in most cases. If staying in Germany is your long-term goal, get practising those long words. 

READ ALSO: From Elternzeit to midwifes: An American’s view on having a baby in Germany