What Expats in Germany Need to Know

Among the things that English-speaking expatriates in German-speaking Europe need to know are…

• How do I get a German driver’s license?
• What do you mean, I need to buy a kitchen for my rental flat?
• How do I find childcare or a school for my kids?
• Why is a drafty window considered deadly in Germany?
• How do we navigate the German healthcare and insurance system?
• Why will I get a stiff fine if I only leave a note on the parked car I dinged?

NOTE: The Germany for Beginners book is no longer available, but you may want to refer to our online Expat How-To Guides for Germany covering many key topics.

Sorry, but this title is no longer available. However, you may be able to find used print editions from third party sellers online.

Most of the topics that expats want to know more about are covered by our German Way Expat Blog team members, who have been writing about them since 2008 when this website first went online. The later corresponding book, Germany for Beginners: The German Way Expat Guide, was first published in 2016 as a print collection of the real-life experiences of eight German Way writers who have been there and done that.

Expat life in Germany can include glorious outings to Alpine castles, bratwurst and mugs of beer in the local Biergarten, and weekly shopping trips to the farmer’s market on the colorful local square. But it also can mean isolation, displacement, unemployment, and exclusion. With blunt honesty the authors addressed these issues and many more. How do I deal with homesickness? How can I make friends in my new country? How do I deal with being a trailing spouse? These are vital matters that rarely get covered in your standard expat “how to” guidebook.

Germany for Beginners: Contributing Authors

• Chloë Daniel | Berlin | Yorkshire • London
• Ruth Eichholtz | Stuttgart | Canada • Oregon
• Hyde Flippo | Berlin • Freiburg | Reno • Charlotte
• Sarah Fürstenberger | Heidelberg • Freiburg | Metro Detroit
• Jane Park | Essen • Aalen (Swabia) | San Diego • Pennsylvania
• Jessica Scott-Reid | Hamburg • Zurich • Düsseldorf | Canada
• Judy Bornebusch | Frankfurt am Main | New York City • Virginia
• Geoff Galitz | Eifel region (southwest of Bonn) | California

OUT OF PRINT
Sorry, but our “Expat Guidebook” for Germany is no longer available. It is currently out of print. However, you may be able to find used print editions from third party sellers online. Also take a look at the links below for some similar topics.

Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• Expat How-To Guides for Germany – Key topics that expats find helpful.
• Expat Blog – The German Way Expat Blog discusses issues of interest to expats in German-speaking Europe.
• The German Way Store – Books, DVD/Blu-ray discs, travel items and more for expats or travelers in German-speaking Europe.
• DVDs and Blu-ray – Feature films and television shows in German and/or English related to Germanic culture.
• Expat Repatriation – Re-entry or moving on when the assignment’s over
• Medications Overseas: Potential Hazards – Rx for expats in Europe
• The German Way Expat Forum – Join our forum, where we share info and tips about life in German Europe.
• The Autobahn in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• Driving in Germany – Tips and rules of the road