Moving to Germany: the complete guide

Name: GermanyCompass
Address: DE
Price range: Free

Visas, shipping quotes, blocked accounts, health insurance, housing and the first-month plan: the full pre-arrival to settled roadmap for expats and families.

Last updated: July 13, 2026

What does moving to Germany require?

Moving to Germany requires four tracks run in parallel: a visa/permit matching your situation (EU citizens skip this), proof of funds or a job contract, health insurance valid from day one, and housing that allows address registration (Anmeldung) within 14 days of moving in. Start visa and shipping 3-6 months out; everything else follows a fixed first-month sequence.

What this guide covers

The timeline that works Who needs which visa (the 60-second version)The money to bring Shipping vs selling Documents Germany will ask for repeatedly

The timeline that works

When	Do
3-6 months out	Visa route chosen (overview guide) + application filed; international moving quotes; degree recognition if needed (Anabin)
2-3 months	Blocked account for students; housing search opens (furnished-first strategy); notice on current home; school applications if kids
1 month	Health insurance arranged (guide); flights; documents apostilled + translated (marriage/birth certificates); Wise account for the money move
Arrival month	The first-30-days checklist takes over (guide)

Who needs which visa (the 60-second version)

EU/EEA/Swiss: none - arrive, register, work. Everyone else: Blue Card (€50,700/€45,934 thresholds - guide), skilled worker permit, student visa (+blocked account €11,904 - guide), family reunification, freelance visa, or the points-based Chancenkarte jobseeker card (€13,092 funds). Full decision tree in the visa overview guide. US/UK/CA/AU/JP/KR/NZ/IL citizens may enter visa-free and convert inside Germany.

The money to bring

Realistic solo landing budget: deposit up to 3 cold rents + first month + €1,500-3,000 setup (visa fees, insurance start, SIM, transit, the famous kitchen-less apartment problem, initial furniture). Families: add school/Kita lead times more than money. Move savings via Wise, not SWIFT.

Shipping vs selling

Under ~15m³, European moves: van lines or self-drive win. Intercontinental: container math only works for full households - get 3+ quotes early), lead times run 6-12 weeks, and remember German flats are smaller and kitchen-less; selling and rebuying often beats shipping appliances that won't fit or run on 60Hz.

Documents Germany will ask for repeatedly

Passport (+visa), birth certificates (apostilled, translated by a sworn translator - beglaubigte Übersetzung), marriage certificate (same), degree + Anabin printout, driving license (exchange rules by country - guide), vaccination records, and for some nationalities the APS certificate before any visa (India, China, Vietnam - detail in the student/India guides).

Frequently asked questions

How long does the whole move take?

EU citizens: as fast as housing. Visa nationals: 2-6 months embassy-dependent; India/APS corridors budget 6+.

Can I move without a job?

Chancenkarte (points + funds), student route, family route, or freelance visa with clients/portfolio. Tourist-entry-then-figure-it-out only works for visa-free nationalities and still requires converting within 90 days.

Rent before arriving - safe?

Never wire deposits for unseen flats (scam guide). Book verified furnished housing, hunt long-term from inside.

Bring my car?

EU plates: re-register within a year-ish windows apply. Non-EU imports: customs + TÜV + tax = usually not worth it under premium value.

What about my pension/social security back home?

Germany has totalization agreements (US, and many others): contribution periods link rather than vanish. Non-EU leavers can even refund German pension contributions later - see the pension refund guide.

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