Moving to Germany?
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Complete relocation guide for Germany: Anmeldung, health insurance, Blue Card and work visas, blocked accounts, bank accounts, taxes and housing. No middlemen, practical steps that work in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and everywhere else.
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Recently added guides
The newest practical guides for expats settling in or moving to Germany.
Lingoda vs Babbel: live classes or an app?
Babbel is €7-13 a month of self-study, Lingoda €9-13 per live class with a teacher. Babbel Live shut for individuals in 2025 - what that means for your German.
Moving from the Netherlands to Germany: the Dutch-resident edition
Losing the 30% ruling with no German equivalent, BRP deregistration at 8 months, the BPM export refund almost nobody claims, and a 2%-a-year AOW gap.
Buying property in Germany: costs, mortgages and the process
Grunderwerbsteuer 3.5-6.5% by state, 2% notary and Grundbuch, the halved agent fee, how Zinsbindung and Tilgung work, and the nine steps from viewing to keys.
Running an online business in Germany: the complete setup guide
Gewerbe vs Freiberufler, the 2025 Kleinunternehmer limits, EU VAT and OSS, the Impressum and legal pages that dodge Abmahnungen, hosting, payments and taxes.
Essential guides for expats
Step-by-step guides covering the most important aspects of moving to Germany
Anmeldung
Register your address within 14 days: documents, appointment tactics, and what the Anmeldebescheinigung unlocks.
Health insurance
GKV costs about 17.5% of gross in 2026, employer pays half. Public vs private, enrolling, and English-friendly insurers.
EU Blue Card
The skilled-worker fast track: €50,700 threshold 2026 (€45,934 shortage list), process, family perks and PR after 21-27 months.
Bank account
Open a German account as an expat: online banks without Anmeldung, traditional branches, and the SEPA rules that protect you.
Blocked account
The Sperrkonto explained: €11,904 for a year in 2026, €992/month released, and the provider comparison students need.
Tax return
Deadlines (31 July 2026 for 2025), the €1,095 average refund, and why expats who arrived mid-year almost always get money back.
Apartment hunting
ImmoScout, WG-Gesucht and the application folder (Schufa, payslips) that makes German landlords say yes.
First 30 days
The complete arrival sequence: SIM, Anmeldung, bank, insurance, tax ID, Rundfunkbeitrag - in the order that actually works.
Calculators and tools
Run your own numbers before you sign anything
Net salary calculator
Brutto to Netto with every deduction explained: tax class, church tax, GKV, pension.
GKV vs PKV helper
Public or private health insurance? The decision that follows you for decades, modeled.
Blocked account calculator
How much your Sperrkonto needs (€992 × months) plus provider fee comparison.