Moving to Germany

Relocation and immigration guide for international professionals planning to move or settle in Germany.

Germany is the EU's largest economy, offering an excellent infrastructure, a clear path to permanent residency for skilled professionals, and strong worker protections.

🇪🇺 EU Member 🛂 Schengen Zone

Moving to Germany: what you need to know

Verified facts on visas, salaries, housing, tax, and arrival steps for non-EU professionals — sourced from official sites, with confidence noted where limited.

Use the jump links above or scan the sections below; topic guides and profession rails follow.

Immigration and work permits

Germany offers several non-EU work and family routes, with the EU Blue Card as the main highly-qualified path and a skilled-worker title under §§18a/18b. Fees shown are the standard national (D) visa application fee (€75, Auswärtiges Amt); local Ausländerbehörde residence-permit issuance can differ. A long-stay visa may take several months.

  • EU Blue Card — typical processing ~2–4 weeks
  • Skilled Worker Visa (§18a/§18b) — typical processing ~4–6 weeks
  • Opportunity Card — typical processing ~4–8 weeks

→ Full Germany visa and immigration guide

Salaries and cost of living

Average gross pay is about €4,784 median gross monthly earnings (Destatis, April 2025). Minimum wage: €13.90/hour (national minimum wage from 1 January 2026).

→ Jobs and salary benchmarks in Germany

Housing and rentals

German rental markets are competitive in major cities, with clear tenant protections and a legal cap on deposits.

→ Housing guide for Germany

Tax for new arrivals

Germany uses progressive income tax bands, standard VAT, and strict filing deadlines, with special freelancer registration requirements through Finanzamt and ELSTER.

→ Germany tax guide

How to settle in Germany

After your permit is approved, register for a tax ID, banking, and healthcare — the checklist further down covers the full sequence.

  • Register address at Einwohnermeldeamt (Anmeldung) within 14 days — you need a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from your landlord
  • Steueridentifikationsnummer (Tax ID) is sent by post automatically after Anmeldung — allow 2–4 weeks
  • Open a bank account: N26 can be opened before Anmeldung; traditional banks require it
  • Enrol in statutory health insurance (GKV) with AOK, TK, or Barmer promptly after arrival (cover is required; do not wait for a formal grace period)
  • Apply for EU Blue Card or residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde — book early; local appointment wait times vary widely

Everything you need to settle in Germany

Guides by profession

Salary ranges and demand signals — open a guide for visa routes and qualification notes for your field.

💻 Software Engineer

€46,500-€64,500

Explore guide →

🩺 Doctor (General Practitioner)

High

€68,665-€88,263

Explore guide →

👩‍⚕️ Nurse

High

€42,124-€51,665

Explore guide →

⚖️ Lawyer

Medium

€59,400-€79,900

Explore guide →

📊 Accountant

Low

€41,900-€59,100

Explore guide →

📚 Teacher

Medium

€57,112-€81,176

Explore guide →

🏗️ Civil Engineer

Medium

€47,300-€65,700

Explore guide →

📈 Data Scientist

Medium

€49,200-€68,100

Explore guide →

💹 Financial Analyst

Medium

€46,600-€64,800

Explore guide →

💊 Pharmacist

Medium

€49,500-€66,000

Explore guide →

🦷 Dentist

High

€54,700-€74,500

Explore guide →

🏛️ Architect

Low

€37,500-€54,200

Explore guide →

👥 HR Manager

Low

€45,800-€64,100

Explore guide →

📣 Marketing Manager

Low

€38,100-€55,000

Explore guide →

🤝 Sales Manager

Low

€47,200-€65,600

Explore guide →

📋 Project Manager

Low

€47,300-€65,800

Explore guide →

🔬 Research Scientist

Low

€47,000-€65,600

Explore guide →

⚙️ Mechanical Engineer

High

€46,300-€64,700

Explore guide →

⚡ Electrical Engineer

High

€51,900-€71,400

Explore guide →

👨‍🍳 Chef

High

€28,300-€38,000

Explore guide →

🔌 Electrician

Very High

€33,000-€47,100

Explore guide →

🔧 Plumber

High

€33,100-€45,500

Explore guide →

🪚 Carpenter

Medium

€32,400-€41,500

Explore guide →

🧑‍🏭 Welder

Medium

€32,500-€45,900

Explore guide →

🤲 Care Worker

Very High

€34,886-€43,551

Explore guide →

🚛 HGV Driver

High

€29,700-€40,700

Explore guide →

👷 Construction Worker

Medium

€30,000-€44,700

Explore guide →

Arrival checklist for Germany

Arrival Checklist

Register address at Einwohnermeldeamt (Anmeldung) within 14 days — you need a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from your landlord

★ Required

Steueridentifikationsnummer (Tax ID) is sent by post automatically after Anmeldung — allow 2–4 weeks

★ Required

Open a bank account: N26 can be opened before Anmeldung; traditional banks require it

★ Required

Enrol in statutory health insurance (GKV) with AOK, TK, or Barmer promptly after arrival (cover is required; do not wait for a formal grace period)

★ Required

Apply for EU Blue Card or residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde — book early; local appointment wait times vary widely

★ Required

Enrol children in the local school via the district Schulamt

★ Required

Set up an ELSTER account for online tax filing

★ Required

Import or register a car at the Kfz-Zulassungsstelle within 3 months

★ Required

Set up your GEZ/ARD Rundfunkbeitrag broadcasting fee account (mandatory per household)

★ Required
📊

Real Migration Numbers — Coming Soon

Be among the first to share your experience. We need 5 submissions to show aggregated data here.

Share your data →

Migrations by path

Immigration news