Info for movers to DE

Author: Date: Version: Status: Noble paul,CFIP1 2012-07-02 1-3 Published

Welcome to Germany

This document is intended to make the life easier for new arrivees to Germany.
All the content is based on my personal experiences over the last two years in Munich and hence subjective.

Main topics covered:

Residence registration Finding accomodation, Health Insurance Other important insurances Cars and License Banking Electricity,Gas & Water Mobile /Handy TV & Internet Practical tips

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Residence registration
When moving to Germany to take up permanent residence, i.e. staying for more than three months, you must register your address with the authorities within seven days of arrival in most Bundeslnder with the exception of SchleswigHolstein, Sachsen, Brandenburg and Berlin, where you register within two weeks, and Rheinland-Pfaltz, where you must register "unverzglich" or immediately. In German this is called Anmeldung. This applies not just to foreign nationals, but also to local German citizens. Germans and foreigners alike, when moving between cities within Germany, must register their new address on arrival in the new city. When leaving Germany one must deregister again. In German this is called Abmeldung. Residence registration / Anmeldung: The residence registration is handled at offices called the Einwohnermeldeamt. In Munich the Einwohnermeldeamt is alternatively known as the Kreisverwaltungsreferat, or KVR for short. Note that registration of residence and address is the very first paperwork task to be done on moving to Germany. Visa applications and residence and work permits come later.
Source: http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Residence_registration
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Finding Accomodation
Finding an accomodation in Munich is very challenging. Most houseowners rent via maklers(agents)/companies(Immobilienhndler) who typically charge 2 months rent + 19%VAT. Most house owners demand a kaution/deposit of 2-3 months which legally they are obliged to put into a separate account from their savings and give the tenant any interest accrued from it. There is an organization called Mietverein/ renter's association who can support with problems against landlords after membership. Websites with more details: http://www.justlanded.com/english/Germany/Germany-Guide/HousingRentals/Contracts http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/housing.html http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Apartment_rental

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Accomodation Common abbreviations-I

Rental Advertisement Abbreviations 2 Zi. Whg = 2 Zimmer Wohnung = 2 room apartment (i.e one bedroom and one living room) mbliert = furnished EBK = Einbaukuche = Kitchen is included (stove, cabinets, fridge, sink). Without EBK means the kitchen is an empty room with pipes and wires sticking out of the wall! 2 OG m. Lift = Third floor (US English), second floor (British) (2nd Obergeschoss) with elevator Miete = Rent Splm. = Splmaschine = Dishwasher WaMa = Waschmaschine = Washing machine ca. 100 qm (or m2) = About 100 square meters kalt/warm = Heating and other costs included in the price (warm) or excluded (kalt) +NK +TG +3MM KT = Plus maintenance costs (Nebenkosten), plus charge for underground garage (Tiefgarage), plus 3 months' deposit
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Accomodation Common abbreviations-II

Provisionsfrei = No agency fees + Prov. = Plus agency fees Nachmieter = Follow-on tenant. ab. 1 Mai = Apartment is available from 1st May Topausst. = Top quality furnishings ab sof. = sofort frei = Available immediately WG= Wohnung Gemeinschaft = Suitable as a flatshare. ZH = Zentralheizung = central heating Ex: Sendling: 70qm, EBK, Splm., Laminat, Bad mit Fenstern & Wanne,grosszgig geschnitten, hell & rhg., sgt. Anbindung (S2, A99, A8)Nicht WG-geeignet, ab 1.5., KM + 740,- +100, -NK PLZ 809 Translated: Sendling (district): 70 m, with kitchen and washing machine, laminate flooring, bathroom with window and bath, spacious floor plan, bright, quiet location, good connections (S2 S-Bahn, A99 and A8 motorways), not suitable as a flatshare, free from May 1, rent: 740 per month excluding all bills (which cost about an extra 100 per month), located in postal district 809.
Source: http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Apartment_rental
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AccomodationSources to find own accomodation

immobilienscout24.de kalaydo.de Wohnungsbrse.net www.studenten-wg.de Quoka.de www.immonet.de www.mrlodge.de immobilienmarkt.sueddeutsche.de/ www.wg-gesucht.de www.immowelt.de http://www.checkin-muenchen.de/ http://www.toytowngermany.com/forum/index.php?showforum=212 www.easywg.de Hostels http://www.hostelworld.com http://www.hostelbookers.com

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Health Insurance
Health insurance is obligatory for everyone residing in Germany who is employed full-time by a company. There is mainly
Public insurance: If you are employed in Germany and you are earning less than the threshold ( Versicherungspflichtgrenze) of 50.850,00 per year or 4.237,50 Euros monthly you are automatically and compulsorily insured in a public health insurance scheme. Main companies: TKK,AOK etc Private insurance: If you are earning more than the threshold of EUR 4,237 gross salary per month, you can elect to leave the public health insurance and get a private health insurance while employed in Germany. This option is cheaper for younger people and normally include International coverage. I changed from Public to Private insurance(to a company called Hallesche who offered good service and International coverage) via an independent consultant Derreck Loehr saving me about 200/month. He can provide Hallesche and all other private companies for different kind of insurances with competitive pricing. Based on my great experiences, I highly recommend his services. He can be contacted at below address.
Optimum Capital Management Hohenzollernstrasse 22 A 80801 Mnchen Mobil: 0179-9186219 Tel: 089-99749627 dl@optimumcapital.de
Cassidian More More ininfo:

http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Health_insurance
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Other important insurances

Privathaftpflichtversicherung/Personal Liability Insurance: It is insurance in case you (for example) hit someone whilst riding your bike or knock someone down the stairs. (I also bought it via Derreck from Zurich Insurance) Legal Insurance: Legal insurance will cover your legal fees in many situations, regardless of whether you are a defendant or a plaintiff in a case. Household Insurance: Insurance against fire, flood etc is normally the responsibility of the owner of the property, not the renter. Travel Insurance: If the health insurance does not cover it. Car Insurance: Online companies are cheaper than more established ones. The cost depends on SF class and gets lesser with each free accident free/no claims years. (Had good experiences with admiraldirekt and Allianz.)
Car Insurance comparison : https://kfzversicherung.financescout24.de/

Bicycle Insurance: Normally covered by a household insurance, if not its good to have one against car damages,accidents etc.
Source: http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/German_insurances

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Cars and License

Driving schools in Germany are called fahrschule.It is possible to take the German driving exam in English. There might be an exemption in the number of lessons if you have a previous nonEU license. Check with the local vehicle office or driving school. Some of the non-EU countries have an agreement with Germany and you can convert your license 1 to 1 and/or with an eye test and/or with a theory test.So ask the local Vehicle Registration Office(Kraftfahrzeugzulassung und Fahrerlaubnisbehrde)
Websites to buy a used car
http://www.autoscout24.de www.mobile.de/?lang=en http://www.auto-m.com/

After buying the car first thing to do is to get the insurance for the car. Before a person can register a car in Germany he or she must have proof of third party liability coverage for all damage or injury to another person, car or object. Internet companies are cheaper than the more established companies. Website for car insurance comparison.
https://kfzversicherung.financescout24.de/

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Insurance follows an SF class system which gets reduced with every nonaccident/non-claim year. Some insurance companies accept record of non-claims from other countries.
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Cars and License

After getting the insurance, proceed to get the number plates from the Vehicle Registration Office. Sometimes there is a possibility to get the fancy numbers which can be booked beforehand. When visiting the local motor vehicle registry (Autozulassungsstelle) proof of ownership, proof of insurance and, if the car was purchased in Germany, the Kraftfahrzeugbrief, a document that is supposed to accompany the car through all owners from assembly line to scrap yard. Car tax depends on the emission.Normally petrol engines have lower taxes. It is good to get a membership in the ADAC(Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club e.V)(Automobile club). It costs from 70-120/year depending on the plan. This offers some discount in fuel,other accessories,cheaper insurance costs and service from the ADAC including emergency assistance. Every two years the cars in Germany have to be tested by the TV(Technischer berwachungsverein) for driving certification. Include tires, emission, handling etc. Another important thing is the changing of summer/winter tires according to season. Wrong tires could lead to loss of insurance in case of accident. Accidents occurring at speeds of over 130 kph on the autobahns can result in insurance payment claims being annulled regardless of who was at fault.
http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/driving.html

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Banking
Most banks ask for Anmeldung and passport to open a bank account and send the bank details to the address in about 2 weeks. Some banks have free accounts(Ex. Comdirect, Commerzbank, Postbank, Hypovereinsbank, DKB) and others like Kreissparkasse charges about 5/month.(I have an account with Kreissparkasse and is happy with them)

Source: http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Banking_in_Germany

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Electricity,Gas & Water

Electricity and Gas: SWM (Stadtwerke Munchen) is Munich citys public works organsiation. They offer competitive and eco-friendly options for gas and electricity supply. Mstrom is electricity provided by SWM and offers safe supply of electricity at a reasonable price. The average customer rate is
customer charge: 7.44 Euros/month plus kilowatt-hour charge: 16.66 cents/kilowatt-hour http://www.swm.de/en/products/mstrom.html

Water: Munich boasts of some of the best drinking water in Europe. It comes directly from the Lower Alps and is fresh and clean without any additives. Cost of water is roughly 1.33 euros for 1m of drinking water. The SWM (Stadtwerke Munchen) is responsible for all matters concerning drinking water and waste water management. http://www.swm.de/en/products/mwasser.html
Comparison site: http://www.tariftip.de/
Source:http://www.easyexpat.com/en/munich/moving/gas-electricity-water.htm

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Mobile /Handy

The four key mobile operators in Germany are:

T-Mobil (www.t-mobile.de): operated by the former state monopoly Deutsche Telekom. Vodafone(www.vodafone.de): Formerly Mannesmann. E-Plus ( www.eplus.de): It positions itself as an low-cost provider, offering a wide range of calling plans for people who use their mobiles infrequently. O2( www.o2online.de): The youngest competitor in the market; can be an attractive option if you don't want to get a fixed line or want a single phone number.

Pre-paid cards:
Provide the option of connectivity without contract problems. I had good service from blau.de(application can be made online and they sent SIM via post) Others include: Simyo, maxxim, Lidl Mobile etc Comparison site: http://www.handytarife-rechner.de/
Source: http://www.easyexpat.com/en/munich/moving/tv-internet.htm

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TV & Internet
In Germany if you own a radio, a television or a computer, then you are obliged to pay the TV license fee (Rundfunkgebhr), once per household, which is used to pay the German public broadcasting services. This fee is collected by GEZ (Gebhreneinzugszentrale). To receive cable television all you should need is a TV antenna cable. This connects the normal antenna socket on the television, or other receiver such as a video recorder or digital receiver, to the cable socket in the apartment wall. Most apartments in Munich are already wired for cable television. Sometimes the entire apartment block will be subscribed to the service by the landlord. Other times it is the responsibility of the individual tenants to subscribe and have their connection activated. To find out if you are subscribed simply plug your television aerial into the wall socket - if you see cable channels then you know you are subscribed.
Iesy : http://www.unitymedia.de/ Kabel BW: http://www.kabelbw.de/ Primacom : http://www.primacom.de/ Telecolumbus : http://www.telecolumbus.de/ Kabel Deutschland: http://www.kabeldeutschland.de/ 1&1: www.1und1.de/
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Source: http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Television_license http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Cable_television

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Practical Tips
Quoka.de Is like a local eBay where you can buy used things. Bierfests come in many names and forms(starkbierfest,Octoberfest) and they are not to be missed. The public transport system normally has some discounts for employees of EADS. But beware there is penalty for cancellation during contract period. http://www.mitfahrgelegenheit.de/ Gives the possibility of ride sharing within and outside Germany. Do not ignore the official letters from any official/government bodies. They do not disappear but rather comes back with bigger punch just when you dont expect. There are many groups like Internations who comprises of expats in Germany. After all have fun!

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Thank you for your attention!

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