Some practical considerations for Americans moving to Berlin ✈️ 🇩🇪
After 8 years of living in New York City I moved to Berlin to join Prisma.
While the move itself was fairly straightforward*, there are a number of insights and tips offered by friends and colleagues that helped make my arrival to Germany that much smoother.
I wanted to take some time to write them down and share them. As this article is specifically from my perspective as an American 🇺🇸, YMMV if you’re arriving from another country.
After publishing this piece, I got additional recommendations and resources which I’ve linked to in the article responses! Check it out 😃
*T he move was also straightforward and easy because in addition to being an awesome place to work, Prisma (we’re hiring 🙌) helps a lot with relocation for folks coming to Berlin.
Workplace differences from the US
Full Health Insurance Coverage 🏥
Medical care in Germany is all covered by health insurance and is generally free. Barring some specific procedures, most visits to the doctor have no cost as legally everyone is required to have insurance in Germany.
There are currently two systems of insurance, public and private. Private is both more expensive and can provide expedited service with some doctors, but generally public insurance is fine and is easy to get. With public insurance, a person’s insurance can also cover their entire family (spouse and children). With private (for example, Ottonova), you may need to investigate their specific policies.
Getting insurance is usually a simple affairs as health insurances compete against each other while offering the same minimum standards for coverage.
Some public health insurances to consider:
- Barmer: https://www.barmer.de/en
- TK: https://www.tk.de/en (very popular among expats)
I personally found the experience of going to the doctor the first time almost puzzling. I was seen, my problem discussed (the doctor spoke English), and then once the visit was completed, I was sent on my way without a copay or bill. 😱
Unlimited Sick Days 🤧
Getting sick mandates resting, healing, drinking tea, and getting better. In the interest of making sure that others in the office don’t get sick, and that people have a full opportunity to recover, Germany traditionally ensures that employees have unlimited sick days.
There are some specific policies around getting a doctor’s note, but it’s possible that if you go to the doctor feeling unwell, they may even prescribe days off. These days off are connected to your insurance, and your employer gets reimbursed for the days that you are off.
Parental Leave 👶
As stated on the government website, “In Germany, the State helps you raise your children.”
Germany has a very generous parental leave policy that all companies must follow by law, the details of which you can read on the German government’s website.
Generous Vacation 🏖
Depending on how many days you work weekly, German law lays out a minimum of 20-24 vacation days per year. Prisma, for example, offers 24.
Because vacation and sick days are counted differently, these days exist for you exclusively to rest and recharge. Additionally, if you are sick on a vacation day, you can potentially get that vacation day back.
Good to Know
Thinking of taking the leap? There are a number of thing that are different from home.
Language
First things first, the answer to “Do I need to know German to move to Berlin?” is a resounding no.
In Berlin, at restaurants, stores, bars, etc. you will find that most folks speak English, the menus are bilingual and getting around is straightforward. For highly specific question of working with the Germany bureaucracy, usually a buddy or someone from your work can help.
In generally, familiarity with German may help with filling out forms, dealing with mail, and understanding some basics, as well as traveling around the country. For those interested in staying in Germany long term, knowing German can expedite the process to achieve permanent residency.
German classes and schools abound in the city, with different schedules, intensities, and price ranges.
Employment Laws
Employment laws work differently in Germany than in the US. Whereas most states in the US have at will employment, in Germany, the set up is a bit different.
When starting a new job, the first 6 months act as a probation period. During this time, both parties, for all intents and purposes have at will employment. Either can end the contract. It is an opportunity for folks to investigate, to see if working at that company is for them, and to discover any potential issues.
After six months, the situation changes and there is far greater job stability than in the US. For an employee, this means a longer notice period than the two weeks they may be used to, but also a lot of upfront notice from an employer if they need to let an individual go.
Apartments
Berlin is famous for a very competitive apartment market. The apartments are large, relatively cheap, and everyone wants one. In order to get an apartment, you need to prepare a number of documents in advance (including a Schufa Auskunft— the German version of a credit score) and have those ready to show to an agent showing the apartment.
You may also want to consider what neighborhood you want to live in. Prenzlauer Berg is a calm neighbourhood, very popular with expats. However, other neighbourhoods may be more affordable, be considered more up and coming, or have the features that are most appealing to you.
When looking for an apartment, you can expect to step out of the office pretty often for apartment showings. Unless you are looking to share a flat, the easiest place to seek out an apartment is Immobilien: https://www.immobilienscout24.de
For those coming from New York, I find this map especially helpful!
Registering
In Germany, everyone is required to register where they live, and every time they move. When moving to Germany, you’ll need to make an appointment with the Bürgeramt to complete the process. In general, these appointment should be made far in advance, but the time spent in the office is pretty short. This process only needs to be done when you move and someone local will be able to help you out. ✨
This is especially helpful as apartments don’t usually have numbers — rather the doorbells and mailboxes are identified by labels with the last name of the apartment occupant.
Bank Account
One of the big differences between the US and Germany, is the use of IBAN, and the way that money gets transferred.
While in the US, we are used to using checks for any serious money transfers, in Germany, this money is usually directly debited from your account. This means that one of the most important things to set up, to pay for anything, is a German bank account.
The easiest approach is to open an account at N26 — a bank favored by many expats—which will give you a simple way to pay your rent and bills and accept direct deposit from your company.
Some other banks to consider include Sparkasse and DKB. Usually a German speaking friend can help you open an account in one of these German speaking businesses. For future transactions, banks usually have an English speaking rep.
Cost of Living
In general things in Berlin are a lot cheaper than in most other major cities across Europe and the US. While this means that overall salaries in Berlin are lower, it also means you may find yourself saving far more and at some point not being willing to pay more than 3 euros for a beer. Be prepared!
Mobile Phone/Internet
Getting internet set up may require a bit of help, but overall the installation is fairly straightforward. When arriving to Berlin, you can also get a temporary SIM card until you get an actual phone plan. Vodafone works well for both internet and mobile, and the folks in the Vodafone stores (although not on the customer service line) speak English.
In my personal experience, combining internet and phone plans, like in the US, can get you better rates for both.
Public Transportation
Berlin, amazingly, has four kinds of public transportation: U-Bahn, Tram, and Bus, and S-Bahn. All of these methods of transport use the same public transportation ticket, which costs 81 Euros a month, or 61 Euros monthly if you sign up for a year.
The spacing of the stops means you’ll never end up walking more than a couple minutes once you get to your destination. You can buy the tickets at each station or though the BVG phone app — super simple.
Bikes and Scooters
For those who prefer to bike, Berlin is a mostly flat city and one that is very bike friendly. Bikes can be purchased new or used around the city, or rented long term from something like Swap Fiets.
Alternately, a variety of affordable bike share programs (Deezer, Mobike, Lidlbike, Jump, or Lime) are available year round. With the availability of bikes everywhere, getting stranded without a bike is nearly impossible.
A variety of scooters are also available on Berlin streets. You can find out more on the official Berlin website.
Insurance
Insurance is a must-have in Germany. While in the US, basic insurances are commonplace, for example health insurance, travel insurance, life insurance, Germany has far, far more.
On arriving to Germany, there are a number of insurances, in addition to health insurance, that may be necessary to have:
- Personal Liability Insurance: this is by far the most important! In Germany there is no limit to how much a person can collect for damages against another. This insurance prevents an individual from paying out of pocket and is very cheap! There are a variety of ways to get this. The easiest is a new startup called Get Safe which will provide insurance right on your phone in the app: https://www.hellogetsafe.com/en-de
- Travel Insurance: Generally your German insurance will work across the EU, although not all procedures are covered. Travel insurance will protect you for travel to countries outside of the EU. When traveling to the US, you may want to double check that your travel insurance covers that as well, as the cost of healthcare is so high. You can usually get travel insurance through your health insurance, if you contact them for help about it.
To keep all the insurances straight and to have support throughout the process, you can also turn to an insurance broker. These individuals can advise you on the insurance you might need and handle the paperwork for you. They do not charge you any fees.
Sundays
Be prepared to stock up. On Sundays all the stores shut down and, outside of a very few scattered, very specific places, buying anything is impossible. There are 8 Sundays a year when stores are open, and you can find that list online.
Instead of shopping, Sundays in Berlin can be spent in the park, taking care of house stuff, hanging out with friends, or doing anything that does not require going to the store.
TV/Radio bill
All folks living in Germany are expected to pay for public television through a quarterly, half-yearly or yearly bill. This bill is charged per flat.
If you don’t have a roommate who is currently covering the cost, you can expect to get this bill shortly after moving to Germany and the charge will be deducted regularly from your bank account.
Church Tax
When registering for the first time in Germany, you have the option to list your religion on your registration form. Listing a religion that has a national organization in Germany will cause you to be charged extra tax on top of your income tax that then funds the local religious institutions of your faith.
If you would like to opt out of this tax, you can avoid putting down a religion at your first registration. Once you list your religion, removing this status becomes more difficult.
TLDR: New Berliner Checklist
Here’s what you need to do your first 30 days:
- [ ] Sign up for health insurance: https://www.barmer.de/en
- [ ] Register your presence in Berlin and apartment: https://service.berlin.de/standorte/buergeraemter/
- [ ] Open a bank account: https://n26.com/en-eu
- [ ] Get a mobile phone number: https://www.vodafone.com/content/index.html
- [ ] Get personal liability insurance: https://www.hellogetsafe.com/en-de
- [ ] Begin your apartment search: https://www.immobilienscout24.de
Optional:
- [ ] Optional: Sign up for German Classes: https://www.goethe.de/ins/de/de/ort/ber.html
Wrap Up
It’s been one year since I left New York, and though I miss it fiercely, Berlin (and Germany) has been a welcoming and beautiful new home!
I hope this is useful for anyone else considering the move!
Have additional tips or thoughts on what a move to Berlin might entail for expats and Americans — share them in the comments.
