A construction crane with a weight of about 60 tons fell over in Taunusstein before an apartment building and tipped onto a parking area. The crane operator was injured.
Only a couple of meters before an apartment in Taunusstein (Rheingau-Taunus), a construction crane tipped over at 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning and thumped into the ground. The 60-year-old crane driver, who was sitting in the crane driver’s lodge at the time of the incident, was slightly harmed in the accident.
Construction Crane Damage:
Two cars and a bike were damaged. The crane and the asphalt of the parking area were likewise badly affected. The police estimate the damage to be a few hundred thousand euros. The crane had been set up on the construction site for a new apartment building.
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Once you decided to move to Germany, the next vital part is finding accommodation in Germany. Before finding it, it’s also important to know the terminologies.
Zimmer – room
2 Zimmer Apartment – In some cities, the living room also considered a room. 2 Zimmer apartment means 1 bedroom, 1 living room, and of course the bathroom and kitchens are included.
1 Zimmer apartment – 1 bedroom, combined living, and kitchen. But varies in some cities. Please look at the details clearly when searching.
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Being a foreigner, it is not so easy to find one. But, don’t worry this post might show the path to find the accommodation for you.
Now, let’s go through types of accommodation in Germany. Almost all the rental agreement runs for 12 months or 24 months or more.
Private accommodation in Germany:
Private apartments meant renting the entire space. This will be expensive as all the costs bear by you. The price variation depends on the region and you can choose outside of the city which costs a bit less if you are not a regular traveler.
Facebookgroups – This is one the best way to find accommodation in Germany. There are a lot of Facebook groups as per region. Please post your requirements or find ads posted in the groups.
immobilienscout24
meinstadt.de
Shared accommodation in Germany:
The shared accommodation is really famous in Germany, also called WG (Wohngemeinschaft) and it’s sharing the apartment with others. This can be strangers who will become friends later 🙂 or you can share with your friends. You will get a separate bedroom with shared kitchen and bathroom.
Where you can find:
wg-gesucht.de
Facebook groups
Student accommodation in Germany:
The student accommodation is quite cheap than all others. If you are a student, look for help at your university. Basically, this is applicable only for students with student id. However, some students go on vacation for a few months, then they will do subletting their space. If you are lucky, you might get one which is cheaper than any other accommodation
Where you can find:
wg-gesucht.de
Facebook groups
University portals
Friends at University
Temporary accommodation in Germany:
This can be your last choice. After trying all other accommodation options, if you still not holding any rental agreement then you can book temporary accommodation on websites like Airbnb, hostels, hotels, booking. Remember, you can’t do Residence registration which is required if you are staying more than 3 months in Germany and should be done before 14 days of your arrival.
The landlords also get hundreds of emails like employers. It’s very hard to shortlist the tenants. All you need to do stand as unique in the competition. You have to include all your details in the email while sending it to the landlord. There should not be any question mark about you. Let’s have a look of sample email in German:
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
Ich arbeite als {Your Position} bei der {Company details} (Or mention what you do in Germany, for example student)
Und interessiere mich für Ihre Wohnung, gerne möchte ich sie zeitnah besichtigen.
Termine kann ab dem {Date} ich zu folgenden Zeiten einrichten:
Vormittags bis {Time} Uhr
Abends unter der Woche ab {Time} Uhr oder
An Wochenenden
Telefonisch erreichen Sie mich unter: {Your contact number}
Also, mention about your hobbies, habits and how long you are living in Germany.(This could give an clear idea about you for landlord) and easy to shortlist you.
Herzlichen Dank vorab und viele Grüße,
{Your Name}
Important tips:
Always read the contract carefully and completely, some landlords add rules like need to stay for 24 months if leaving early need to pay 3 months rent, etc.
If you don’t know to speak the German language, then it’s quite difficult to find accommodation quickly. As most of the landlords expect you to speak German. In this case, you can look for new projects or projects maintained by companies. Those companies look for the valid id, employment that you can pay the rent and good SHUFA score.
FAQ:
Can I pay before visiting the apartment?
No, don’t ever pay the deposit or rent amount before visiting the apartment. You will get a lot of spam emails like saying that they are not in Germany and will send keys by post. Please ignore such emails.
Can I sign the contract on visiting day?
No, normally the process here: The landlord invites a lot of people at different dates and different timings. After inviting all and landlord chose the best for their apartment and this process can take some days. If the landlord is asking to sign the contract on visiting, then you must think something wrong. If you have doubts about the apartment, please check the landlord details in Rathaus based on the region.
Can I pay as a cash to landlord?
No, basically all landlords expect the payment once you move into the apartment and signing the contract. And, to pay via the bank transfer. Don’t ever pay with cash as you will not be having any proof too.
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Germany is a favorite with travelers from all over the world. A destination that presents you with a wealth of tradition and leaves you with everlasting impressions. Germany is a beautiful country and one of the largest countries in Europe by population and area.
Here are the 5 best cities in Germany to live and work
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Berlin:
Berlin is one of the most fascinating urban areas and isn’t just Germany’s capital and biggest city, it is likewise the social center point of the country. Berlin has an energetic culture and a developing populace of over 3.76 million individuals. It is home to the biggest populace of ex-pats from a wide range of countries, including the U.S., Italy, and Turkey.
Berlin is energetic and tense and is Germany’s middle for a lively blend of style, structure, music, and craftsmanship.
A social city consistently progressing and a spending voyager’s heaven, the German capital has something for everybody, from throbbing nightlife to in excess of 170 world-class exhibition halls, displays, and philharmonics, and from masterful relics that despite everything recount to the tale of its violent past to all the guarantees of a sparkling future.
Berlin is the startup capital of Europe and Berlin’s startup fascination depends on a blend of reasonable day to day environments, the general dynamic and inventive culture, a various pool of ability, and aptitude, just as appealing financing programs.
With around 500 new tech new startups every year, Berlin would be your next destination to live and work
Berlin startup ecosystem is ranked 1 in Germany and 7 globally.
Frankfurt:
When anyone hears about Frankfurt, skyline pops in mind. Frankfurt is conveniently situated at the core of both Germany and Europe.
Frankfurt is an extraordinary strolling city, and most by far of its midtown goals might be reached by walking. Its international airport, which is directly accessible from all across the globe, is just a couple of minutes from Frankfurt’s primary train station, one of the biggest in Germany.
With a population of 753,056+, there is a well-developed public transport system, which connects Frankfurt with the surrounding Rhine-Main Region both quickly and easily. Frankfurt is a global hub for finance and education. In Frankfurt, you’ll find HQs for the European Central Bank, German Federal Bank, Commerzbank, Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and Deutsche Bank.
As the startup ecosystem is growing rapidly, it can be your next destination to live and work in Germany
Frankfurt’s startup ecosystem is ranked 4 in Germany and 94 globally.
Munich:
Munich is the capital of Bavaria and one of the most excellent and reasonable urban areas in Germany. It is one of the most lovely and enchanting urban communities in the entirety of Germany and is documented with exhibition halls and wonderful engineering. It is generally acclaimed for being the focal point of the Oktoberfest celebration, which pulls in more than 6 million guests consistently.
Munich is a cultural hub with a population of 1.47 million residents. With the most remarkable economy in Germany, Munich is home to outstanding corporates and prominent universities and research establishments. Simultaneously, its startup biological system is esteemed at $4.5 billion, as indicated by 2018 insights by Startup Genome.
Munich startup ecosystem is ranked 2 in Germany and 41 globally. Can it be your next destination to live and work in Germany?
Stuttgart:
Stuttgart was chosen as the least stressful city in the world and the heart of the automotive industry in Germany. It’s a home for global corporations such as Daimler AG, Porsche, Bosch, Dinkelacker, and many more.
Stuttgart is likewise a vehicle intersection and has the 6th biggest air terminal in Germany. And might be your next destination live and work in Germany
Stuttgart startup ecosystem is ranked 7 in Germany and 195 globally.
Hamburg:
Hamburg is the second biggest city in Germany. With a population of roughly 1.84 million individuals, it is likewise a famous goal for sightseers from around the globe. Home to numerous elite athletics groups, Hamburg is an enormous financial city, and it is the most loved among ex-pats searching for occupations in finance.
Hamburg is a major European science, research, and education hub, with several universities and institutions. It has architecturally significant buildings in a wide range of styles and no skyscrapers
According to Wikipedia, The many streams, rivers, and canals are crossed by some 2,500 bridges, more than London, Amsterdam, and Venice put together. Hamburg has more bridges inside its city limits than any other city in the world
Hamburg’s startup ecosystem is ranked 3 in Germany and 61 globally. Would you consider Hamburg as your next destination to live and work in Germany?
Which among these fabulous cities would you choose to live and work in Germany? Let us know in the comments.
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Germany is one of the most powerful countries in the world. There is a lot of facts in Germany, home of more than 80 million people diversified in different ethnic groups. We will talk about the top 6 in this post.
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Punctuality:
Germans are very punctual and expect others to be. They always make it on time or 10-15 mins earlier for appointments. If you ever meet a German or have a date with a German girl or boy, make sure you arrive on time or earlier.
Planning:
Most Germans like to plan their day earlier. They like to have a schedule each day of things they have to achieve and things they want to get done by the end of the day.
Following rules:
Most Germans are systematic and stick to the rules. If you break the rules like crossing the traffic signal when red, they might get offended. Over time, Germans have established a set of rules to manage every part of life.
Beer:
Beer has a long tradition in Germany and is crafted only from 5 ingredients. Every city is proud of its own beer brand. Germans love beer on every occasion. All restaurants serve beer mostly regional brands based on region. And a lot of bars, restaurants advertise which beer they sell. You may not find water, but definitely beer 🙂
Language:
Germans love to speak their own language Deutsch and expect you to speak the same. Different parts of Germany has different dialects.
Coffee:
Most Germans are coffee lovers and Germany is the 3rd largest market for coffee in the world.
There are still many more interesting facts about the Germans. But these top 6 facts give you some idea. What do you think about the facts? Please add in comments if you know more
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This post gives you a list of some possible ways to extend Job Seeker Visa if your visa is due for expiry soon.
Germany’s Job Seeker Visa is to encourage more qualified professionals from abroad to come to Germany. With this Visa, you can stay in Germany for six months and search for a job and you cannot extend it further than that period as per law. However, there are some possible ways to extend Job Seeker Visa and we shall see that in detail in this post.
A lot of people take a risk and come to Germany for 6 months to search for a job with Job Seeker Visa. But, at the end of these 6 months if you end up with nil offers on your hand, you need to head back to your own country which can be very disappointing for some.
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If you are lucky, one of these ways can help in extending your visa.
Please note that these methods are not approved by law and therefore are not reliable. There is a probability that these might work as it had already worked for some people.
Upcoming interviews to extend Job Seeker Visa:
If your visa is about to expire and you have some interviews lined up already post the expiry date of your visa, there is a possibility that you can extend your visa. All you need to do is collect proof of email copies and head to Auslandebehörde. Submit your email copies and explain that you need more time to stay in Germany and finish your interviews. If you are lucky and convincing enough, it will be considered and they will extend your visa for up to 3 months or more. Keep in mind that it may not be considered for everyone. But, it’s worth trying your luck.
Remember, you need to show the proof of funds in your bank account for the months extended
Ausbildungsstelle to extend Job Seeker Visa:
Ausbildungsstelle means Apprenticeship in English. This is basically you getting trained in a skill and in return, some companies pay a small amount as salary or you simply get work experience for no pay. Find and apply to some companies that provide such training/internship and once you get a contract, submit the same in Auslandebehörde explaining the nature of work. They will likely consider this and convert your visa to a student visa. You can search for these training/internship type jobs on stepstone or job portals.
If you know of any other ways, please add those in comments so that it can be useful to others who look for extending their visa. Remember that this will only work depending on various factors including the city from which you apply. However, if nothing works do not be disappointed to return to your country. Prepare well, brush up your german skills, and apply again after 6 months..
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Moving to Germany from another country and to work have to go through a lot of formalities and it is also important to know which income tax class you belong to. Before that, make sure you have Tax Id
All employees are classified into tax categories for the wage tax deduction (Einkommensteuer). The income tax is paid to the government from your gross salary and it is automatically deducted from your monthly paycheck.
The minimum taxable gross income is €9,169 (no tax is charged under this amount). The tax rate starts from 14% and goes up to 45% for the highest earners (over €265,327).
The income tax class depends on your marital status and divided into 6 tax classes (Steuerklassen)
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Class I:
All employees who are single, living in a registered civil partnership, divorced, widowed or married unless they fall under tax category II, III, or IV.
Class II:
Applies to employees who are single parent
Class III:
Applies to employees who are married and
Spouse reside in Germany
Spouse doesn’t earn a wage or Spouse earns a wage and classified under Tax Class V
Class IV:
Applies to married couple and earns a equivalent income and reside in Germany.
Class V:
Applies to married employees and earns a less income than partner (classified under class III)
Class VI:
Employees who are receiving multiple wages from more than one employer (Multiple jobs)
How can you change Tax Class?
When you married and your spouse is residing in Germany, then you are eligible to change the tax class.
You can visit Finazamt or send a post based on your residence
They will process the form on the spot and give you newly printed Lohnsteuerkarte with new tax class
Important tips:
If spouses belong to class III and V, it’s better to file as a Joint tax return and will receive only one tax assessment (Steuerbescheid), also will receive a refund to one account if any.
If one of the partners earns a higher income (income ratio of 60:40), then it makes sense to change class to 3 and 5 and this might increase the net salary(Nettogehalt) of the higher earner.
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One of the most common words you hear in Germany is Anmeldung also Registration. In this post, we will talk about the Residence Registration/City Registration that has to be done after your arrival in Germany.
If you are planning to stay for more than 3 months in Germany, you need to register yourself as a resident within 2 weeks of your arrival at the registration office (Anmeldeamt, Bürgerbüro or Bürgeramt) of the city you arrived in.
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Why Residence Registration is important?
The residence registration certificate also known as Anmeldebestätigung or Meldebescheinigung is required for many purposes:
Tax ID – After registration is completed, you will get the tax id in the post within 3-4 weeks which is required for your employer and for tax claims
Health Insurance: once you arrive in Germany, Health insurance is one of the mandatory things and without proof of residence certificate, it is not possible to apply for Health insurance.
Bank account: Without a residence registration, you cannot open a bank account in Germany.
Credit Card without Bank account – Some banks provide the Credit Card without a bank account. Residence Registration is required to apply for such credit cards.
Landline internet
Vehicle registration permit
Pet registration – You read it right and the residence registration certificate is required to register your pet
And many more
Documents required for Residence Registration:
You need the documents below to receive your certificate of registration as a resident in Germany
Valid Passport or national ID card (original required)
Rental agreement from your Landlord (also called Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)
The registration form signed by landlord (Anmeldeformular/Meldeschein), you can get this form from the Bürgeramt
Visa if you have one (optional)
Marriage certificate if applicable
How and where to register?
Check your city website and get an appointment or directly visit Bürgeramt which can take more time especially in larger cities.
Please check the timings before directly visiting the registration office
Important things to note:
At the time of registration, you will be asked about your religion. If you belong to either Protestant (evangelisch) or Catholic (katholisch), You are required to pay church tax (Kirchensteuer) which is about 8-9% annual income based on the region.
According to law, Lately, registration or incorrect address details can make you pay fine up to 1000 euros
You need to repeat the registration whenever you are moving to a new residence address.
If you are moving out of Germany permanently, it is also mandatory to deregister within 2 weeks
After your registration, You will also receive the Rundfunkbeitrag, the national TV and radio tax which costs €17.50 per month.
After spending efforts on documentation for your Job Seeker Visa interview, if you don’t prepare well for the questions asked in the interview, it can lead to rejection.
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Here are some commonly asked questions. Make sure you prepare well and attend the visa interview
Questions asked in Job Seeker Visa Interview:
1. Introduce yourself?
2. Why do you want to go only to Germany? Why not other countries like the USA or Australia or the UK?
3. What is your motivation to go to Germany?
4. Did you research the job market in Germany?
5. Do you know anyone in Germany?
6. Where will you stay in Germany?
7. Did you already apply to any jobs?
8. How confident are you to get a job after reaching Germany?
9. Will you come back after a few years or stay in Germany?
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The aim of the Blue Card is to make it easier for workers to come to Germany without having to go through the bureaucratic demands of regular visa applications.
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However, there are some advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of Blue Card:
The Blue Card/work permit can be issued for up to 3/4 years
A permanent residence permit (Niederlassungserlaubnis) can be obtained after 33 months of employment or after 21 months with proof of good German language proficiency (B1)
The Blue-Cardholder can stay without a visa for up to 90 days in all Schengen countries
After 18 months, the holder can travel to another EU country and within one month can apply for the Blue Card EU in that country (not valid for Great Britain, Ireland, and Denmark!)
Eligible to stay in a country outside the EU for up to 12 months
The family reunion is possible and Blue-Cardholder must demonstrate that they have the financial resources to support those family members and that the family members have the required health insurance and suitable accommodation.
Family members may immediately work without restrictions.
Disadvantages of Blue Card:
The Blue Card is just a work permit to stay and work in Germany. If you lose the job, it is essential to find a job as soon as possible otherwise you have to return back to your country.
Staying more than 12 months outside of the EU is not valid anymore
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If you are worrying about the obligation letter, this post explains everything about the Obligation letter and documents required for it.
Most foreign guests who do not belong to the European Union require a Job Seeker Visa or Employment Visa or any visa to enter Germany. To obtain a visa, however, it is essential that the applicant has sufficient money to finance his stay in Germany.
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However, if the foreign visitor does not have sufficient financial means, there is an alternative option for a person living in Germany to make a Verpflichtungserklärung(declaration of commitment) to the immigration office. Also, we call as an obligation letter
Is Verpflichtungserklärung/obligation letter helpful to get the Visa?
Yes, With this obligation letter for the foreign guest or student, the person who invited the applicant to Germany agrees to bear the maintenance costs for the applicant. The host is then used to cover all maintenance costs that the visitor may not be able to bear. In this way, the German state can ensure that the foreigner does not incur any costs.
An obligation letter, therefore, makes it easier to issue a visa at the German embassy or consulate abroad, even if the applicant himself does not meet the financial requirements. The legal consequences of an obligation letter are regulated in Section 68 of the Residence Act.
In order to issue an obligation letter for the invitation of foreigners who are subject to a visa, the immigration authority responsible for the respective residential area of the inviting person must be visited. There you will also receive the form required for the obligation letter, which must be completed and signed by the host. For the issuing of an obligation letter, the immigration authorities charge a fee of approx. €29
Documents required for Obligation letter:
From the Host:
Processing sheet for the Obligation letter (This can be found in respective residential area website)
ID card or valid national passport
current proof of income (e.g. proof of salary, pension notification or, for self-employed and freelancers, a current tax assessment)
Certificate from the employer that there is an employment contract without notice and that there is a prospect of continued employment.
From Foreign Guest:
First name and surname
Date and place of birth
Home address in the home country
Citizenship of foreigners
Passport number
After the obligation letter has been approved by the immigration authority, the foreign visitor must present it to the embassy or consulate responsible for issuing the visa.
Important things to keep in mind:
If the foreign visitor has used social benefits or public funds (e.g. accommodation costs, care costs) during his stay, the person who signed the declaration must reimburse the costs incurred.
If the visitor is forcibly obliged to return to his home country, the obligor must also bear all costs incurred on the return trip.
In order for a visa to be issued for Germany, the visitor also needs travel health insurance for all Schengen countries. This insurance can also be taken out in Germany by the person who made the commitment.
The health insurance must have a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros.
Sweet note: If you get this letter, you no need to show any financial proof or blocked account while applying for the visa. You just need to bear the costs of visa fees and flight tickets. Also, you can find more details here in German
