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Moving to Berlin with a Job: What You Need to Know

Lana Zee

While many people arrive in Berlin to search for work, there are also a significant number of expats moving to the German capital with a job lined up. If you are fortunate enough to already have landed a job in Berlin before your arrival, then you are well on your way to becoming a fully-fledged Berliner. However, there are still a fair few relocation steps that you need to complete before you can actually start working in Berlin.

In this blog post, we will cover some of the steps to consider if moving to Berlin with a job lined up. From visas and address registration to accommodation and health insurance, there are some important pre-requisites that must be ticked off before you can get cracking in your new role.

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1. Visas for Germany

Unless you are an EU/EEA citizen, you will need to secure a valid work visa before you can start working in Berlin. Here there may be a number of options available to you, including the EU Blue Card and German Work Visa.

EU Blue Card

When it comes to visas and residence permits for Germany, the EU Blue Card is undoubtedly the crème de la crème, the showstopper, the pièce de résistance. It is a visa for highly-skilled non-EU citizens and comes with a number of benefits compared to a standard Work Visa for Germany and will give you the greatest flexibility to work and live in Europe in the long-term.

The EU Blue Card comes with a host of benefits:

  • If applying with an unlimited contract, you will receive an EU Blue Card that is valid for 4 years after which it can be extended.

  • An EU Blue Card permits you to apply for permanent residence in Germany after 33 months. And if you get your German up to a B1 level, then you are eligible for permanent residence after just 21 months!

  • On an EU Blue Card, you are permitted to leave the EU for up to 12 months while maintaining the right to live in Germany.

  • After staying in Germany for 18 months on an EU Blue Card, you are permitted to move to another EU country (except for the UK, Ireland and Denmark).

  • If you have lived in another EU member state on an EU Blue Card, this may count towards your right to permanent residence in Germany.

  • Once you have obtained an EU Blue Card, your relatives will also have full rights to work in Germany.

Due to its many benefits, it is no surprise that EU Blue Cards are not just handed out willy-nilly. To lodge an EU Blue Card application, there are a number of boxes you must tick to be eligible:

  • Generally, you must hold a university-level qualification that is recognised in Germany. To check whether your degree is recognised in Germany, check out our guide on how to search the Anabin database and our guide on applying for a Statement of Comparability.

  • You must have secured qualified employment at a company in Germany with a minimum gross salary of €58,400.

  • If you work in a shortage occupation, you are eligible for an EU Blue Card if your gross salary is over €45,552 per annum.

Once you have proof that your qualification is recognised in Germany and have secured qualified employment in Germany that meets the salary requirements for an EU Blue Card, you are ready to apply for the EU Blue Card.

German Work Visa

If you do not meet the requirements for the EU Blue Card for Germany, then you may wish to apply for its younger brother, the German Work Visa. In most cases, this is your second-best option if moving to Germany for work.

In all cases, you first require a firm job offer in Germany to be able to apply for the Employment Visa.

The German Employment Visa is open to all nationalities and ages. In general, the visa will be awarded if:

  • You have a specific job offer from an employer in Germany and have been issued a work contract.

  • Your employment terms are deemed comparable to that of a German worker in a similar role.

  • You hold a university-level qualification that is recognised as being comparable to a German degree. To check whether your qualification is recognised, see our guide on searching the Anabin database and our guide on applying for a Statement of Comparability.

So, if you have landed a job with a German employer that meets these requirements, you are ready to move on to the application stage!

2. Accommodation and Address Registration (Anmeldung) in Berlin

While securing a visa is essential for starting your new job in Berlin, another crucial administrative task is completing your address registration (Anmeldung) in Berlin. Address registration is the simple process of registering yourself as living at a Berlin address and really forms the backbone of your whole relocation.

So why is it so important?

  • You need to register at an address in order to receive a German tax ID. Without a tax ID, you are able to start your new job but will be taxed at a very high rate until you can provide your employer with your tax ID.

  • You need to be registered at an address in Berlin in order to apply for a visa at the immigration office in Berlin.

  • You also need to have completed your address registration to be able to open most bank accounts in Berlin, sign up for phone contracts, receive your social security number, etc.

In short, it all starts with Anmeldung!

The address registration process in Berlin is complicated by a competitive rental market that can make finding a suitable place to register incredibly tough. This can lead to significant delays to your relocation (and job start date) as you search for somewhere to live in Berlin.

If you need to quickly register at an address in Berlin, then you may be interested in booking a furnished apartment with Smartments. Smartments provide well-located, studio accommodation and offer Anmeldung so long as you book for at least 14 nights. By opting for Smartments, you can get registered within days of arriving in Berlin.

3. Key Documents Required to Start a Job in Berlin

Once you have secured your visa and registered your address, you will be required to provide your new German employer with some documents in order to start work and be fully onboarded. These will include:

  • Tax ID (Steueridentifikationsnummer).

    This is automatically generated once you have registered your address (Anmeldung). Without it, you will be taxed at a high rate until you are able to provide your employer with this number.

  • German Health Insurance Membership Certificate.

    In Germany, it is mandatory to be signed up for German health insurance if working for an employer. Your employer is responsible for paying 50% of your health insurance contribution and will need your health insurance details before your first payroll.

    Our favourite German public health insurer is TK insurance, which is well-rated among workers in Germany. For further information, check out our 6 reasons why TK insurance is a great choice for expats in Germany.

    You can find out more about the German health insurance system here.

  • German Social Insurance Certificate.

    As an employee in Germany, you will be required to make social contributions. Your employer will need your social number before your first payroll. This number can be provided by your German public health insurer (TK).

  • German bank account details.

    Many employers will require that you have opened a German bank account in order to pay you your salary. Our favourite banking options are N26 and bunq, both of which are popular among expats living in Germany.

    For more info about your best banking options in Germany, see here.

Follow the link for more detailed information about the documents required to start a job in Germany.

I hope you have found this post insightful and that it has helped clarify the steps you need to take if moving to Berlin with a job. For further information and tips on moving to Berlin, check out our guides and resources on our homepage.