Expat Checklist 1

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What Expats Need to Know… and Do

The following “expat checklists” cover topics that expats or potential expats in German-speaking countries need to consider in order to have a more enjoyable overseas experience. Some of the topics in the checklists pertain more to expatriates with families, while other items apply more to single people or couples without kids living overseas. You can decide which items relate to your situation, but be sure to look them all over.

ntv HD German news screen - Brexit

Brexit news on the German television news network ntv. Will you be able to watch TV in Germany? See “Appliances and Electricity” below. PHOTO: ntv

Our expat checklist is divided into three sections. The first is for items you should consider before you go to Europe. The second is for things you need to do after you arrive. The third is for expat repatriation or when it’s time to move on to another assignment. (Did you know there’s a thing called “reverse culture shock” – also known as “re-entry shock”? It often happens to expats when they return home. See Expat Repatriation.)

Also see: The German Way Expat Blog

BOOK: Get the book written by expats for expats in Germany. Learn more about…
Germany for Beginners: The German Way Expat Guidebook

Expat Checklist 1 | Before You Go

  • Visas and Residence / Work Permits – What are the requirements for entering Germany as a permanent or semi-permanent resident? Do you need a visa? How do you get a residence / work permit for Germany? It depends on where you’re coming from.
    SEE > Requirements for US Citizens
    SEE > Visas and Residence / Work Permits
  • Documents – Gather all the papers and documentation that you will need in Europe. These include: passports (one for each family member, including children), visas, birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce/custody papers, driver’s licenses, insurance records (for German insurance), and income tax records. You may need a certified German translation of some of these documents. If applicable, bring medical or dental records with you. Leave a copy of your will in a safe place or with your attorney.

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  • Housing and Relocation – Will your employer help arrange for housing, and moving you to Europe, or do you have to do that yourself? If so, be sure to get estimates from several moving/shipping companies. You may want to use a relocation agency if your employer isn’t helping with the move. Don’t forget about your present home. Will you rent it out, sell it, or what?
    SEE > Moving to Germany: Tips for Your Overseas Move
    SEE > Moving to Germany: Top 10 Things to Consider
    SEE > House and Home
  • Insurance – If you reside in Germany longer than 90 days (for which you need a residence permit), you are required to have health insurance. (Your US health insurance is not valid in Germany for longtime residence.) If you don’t qualify through your employer, you still need to get German health coverage. You also need European insurance for your car, if you have one, and for your house or apartment (renter’s insurance).
    SEE > The German Health Care Jungle
  • Banking – The German and European banking systems do things differently than what you may be used to in the States. But online banking can help you manage your US bank account from Germany and do online banking with your German bank. Make sure you have your PINs and passwords.
    SEE > Banks and Money
    SEE > How to Open a German Bank Account
  • Appliances and Electricity – Europeans have 220-volt/50Hz current. Your large and small US appliances won’t work without a transformer; it’s usually wiser to buy German appliances, which are often superior to the ones you have. Computers are okay. See below. Your US TV set won’t work with European television or European video players, even if you use a transformer. We can help with that.
    SEE > Electrical Facts
    SEE > Radio and Television in Germany in Europe

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More on The German Way
Voltage Converters, International Travel
The GW Store: International travel products and appliance voltage converters

More items to consider after you’re in Germany…

  • Computers and the Internet – A computer can be an important link to friends and relatives back home, plus online banking. A US-bought computer or portable device will work fine with 220 volts (with only a plug adapter). Germany and most European countries offer good internet connections.
  • Language – Contrary to what you may have heard, NOT everyone in Germany speaks English. Besides, your life will be much more pleasant and productive if you know at least some German. Even if your job can be done in English, it’s rude to be a typical monolingual American or Brit. Accompanying partners and the kids need to know some German, too.
    SEE > German – the language
  • Medicines and Prescriptions – Although Germany and all western European countries have excellent doctors and medical facilities, drugs and medications (and their names) can vary greatly around the globe. If you require certain prescriptions or medicines, make sure that besides bringing a supply along, you also have a written prescription from your hometown physician. You also need to find out if your medication is available in Europe, and under which name it is dispensed. Note that in Germany even aspirin must be purchased from a pharmacist (der Apotheker). You can’t buy it over the counter, as in the US. For more info…
    SEE > Rx for Drugs in Deutschland (GW Expat Blog)
    SEE > Medications and Prescriptions
    SEE > Health Care in Germany
    SEE > The German Way Expat Forum
  • Family Concerns – Not everyone in your family may be as thrilled about the idea of an overseas move as you probably are. The kids will be losing friends (even if only temporarily) and their familiar, secure surroundings. An accompanying partner may end up feeling isolated in a foreign culture. Talk about it as a family and plan for the required adjustments.
    SEE > The German Way Expat Forum
  • Pets – Yes, you can bring your dog(s) or cat(s) with you to Germany, but you have to plan ahead. Germany and the EU have strict requirements for importing pets, including rabies shots and microchips. Germans love their pets, but they are usually much better trained than those in the US. That’s why they can take their dogs into restaurants and have them ride along on public transport. Make sure your dog is also ready for that.
    SEE > Taking Dogs or Cats to Germany – Guidelines for taking your pet to Germany
  • Schools – If your children are coming along, you need to make some decisions about schooling. (Germany does not allow home schooling.) Will the kids attend an international school (if there is one where you’ll be), a parochial, or a regular German school?
    SEE > Education
    SEE > The German Way Expat Forum
  • Furniture and Bedding – European beds and bedding are different in size and style from what an American is used to. If you move your beds, you’ll also need the bedding. It’s better to buy some furniture in Europe. If you bring items from home, make sure they’ll fit in your new home. As we said before, leave large appliances behind; German-made washers, driers, and dish washers are better anyway. (Note: Kitchens in a new German house or apartment are usually bare. Even the kitchen sink may be missing!)
    SEE > House and Home
  • The Folks Back Home – You should also prepare your friends and relatives for your overseas move. How will you stay in touch? Email is great, but Skype is even better. Stay in touch via voice, video and email.
    SEE > Telephone Tips
  • History and Background Information – If you know very little about the history of Germany, Austria, or Switzerland, read up on it. You also should have at least some basic knowledge of current affairs and politics. Don’t arrive as a total know-nothing! Once you’re there, find ways to stay current. There are English-language versions of some German media, both in print and online.
    SEE > History & Culture
    SEE > Notable Germans, Austrians, etc.
  • Repatriation Preparation – You may think it’s way too early to think about the end of your assignment in Europe, but expats who have gone before you all say the same thing: Planning for your return “home” (or another relocation) is just as important as planning your initial move overseas. Many an expat has returned from an overseas assignment only to discover the company doesn’t know where to place him/her now. There are also many other issues, including reverse culture shock (“re-entry shock”). Learn more in our special section on expatriate repatriation.
    SEE > Expat Repatriation

Next | Expat Checklist 2 (After You’re There)

Expat Connections
AT THE GERMAN WAY

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