Formalities and Official Matters

Moving to a new city can feel like a massive shake-up, not to mention the questions and concerns that arise with moving to a new country! It doesn’t have to be as much of a worry, however, if you educate yourself on the ins-and-outs of what the move entails and get some help during the initial moving process. In Bonn, you already have the natural choice– relocation assistance with HereLocation. There is no better time than now to move to Germany– just bear in mind that not knowing the language will make the transition tough.

EU citizens 

For EU citizens, the freedom to move to Germany is a huge perk, but it still can come with unexpected challenges beyond language differences, including finding an apartment and knowing how and where to file paperwork, among other things.

Non-EU citizens

Non-EU citizens will need to have a couple more items (most notably a job or job offer) in place before you will be able to get the visa paperwork to support your move. For a more detailed outline of the process for non-EU citizens, please read our Formalities and Official Matters page.

Let’s start with the fact that each country has its own rules and regulations and Germany is no different. There are a series of protocols to follow, and, when done in the right order, you’ll find that you are much better off in the long-run. You will find the transition easier and you will most likely feel at home quicker, knowing that you’ve been able to get through all the tasks in a logical (and legal) manner.

When relocating to Germany, one of the first things you will find yourself needing to do, is to register with the local Bürgeramt or Rathaus (Registration Office). With this registration, you are telling the local area that you are here, so they will start a file for you and you will be able to use this proof-of-residence to continue some of the other necessary paperwork and services, from your immigration paperwork to your internet setup.

The next most important step is to open a German bank account. With one, you’ll be able to make transfers or send an Überweisung (bank transfer) in order to pay your bills. German accounts are part of a Europe-wide network of banking connections, which makes for a more strategic manner of sending and receiving funds, wherever you are in the European Union.

One thing about Germany that can differ from your home country is how long it takes to get internet. In most cases it will take about 3-6 weeks for a technician to come to your home and get the service set up. Getting internet will require some of the basic paperwork to be finished first, such as the Anmeldung (city registration) and the immigration paperwork. Once you have that sorted, getting internet, (among the other services such as a mobile phone, setting up your electricity, gas, and water) should be no problem.

Finding a place to live can be one of the most fun parts of the whole move. If you‘re coming from outside Europe, the German architecture is either going to be an Altbau (old building) or Neubau (new building). There are two prices to look at if you are looking for a place to rent. Kaltmiete is the price you pay for the apartment itself. Warmmiete is the price of the apartment with the addition of utilities. These utilities normally include gas, water, electricity, waste disposal and sometimes taxes. In German they are called Nebenkosten.

All in all, the intricacies of relocating are simplified ten-fold when you have someone by your side, working with you and accompanying you from start to finish. By taking the guesswork out of the process, you can rest assured that you are going to get through the bureaucracy and any hurdles that might present themselves. A pain-free move is all you really want, and to that end, HereLocation is there to help.