Starting Fresh in Berlin: How to Relocate and Settle In

Ranked among UNESCO's "design cities", Berlin charms its residents with its modern flair, multiculturalism, and excellent conditions for a long-term move to Germany. The German capital is among the most promising European cities, and the population has been growing in recent years. Moreover, the place is often described as a "young city," as more than half its inhabitants are under 45. So starting fresh in Berlin could be an excellent idea for both students and expats building families and careers.

What to consider first when starting fresh in Berlin

Before you finally decide on moving to Berlin, we advise you to consider the following aspects of life in the German capital:

You must have a residence permit.

A long-term stay in Berlin would be impossible without first obtaining a residence permit. Arrivals from all countries except EU member states, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway need a residence permit for stays longer than 90 days. There are different types of (and respectively, basis for issuing) residence permits.

For those who have been offered a job in Berlin: there is a work visa, a blue card (valid for university graduates and for IT professionals with more than 3 years of professional experience), a working holiday visa (valid for one year and intended for arrivals from certain countries aged 18-30), a youth mobility visa (valid for one year and intended for Canadian citizens aged 18-35) and an au pair visa (intended for people under 27 who are employed as helpers for non-small families).

For jobseekers in Berlin: There is a so-called "opportunity card" - with this you can look for a permanent job for a year while working 20 hours a week. Once you find a full-time position, you need to get a work visa or blue card. Another alternative for permanent job seekers is a job seeker visa, which gives you 6 to 18 months to find a job. The key here is that it doesn't allow you to work hourly like an opportunity card. A work visa or blue card is also required when starting a permanent job.

For those wishing to study in Berlin, there is a student visa and an internship visa. A condition for the former is that you are enrolled at a university in Berlin. The internship visa is for students who want to do an internship in Berlin. It is valid for 6 to 12 months.

For those relocating with their family. For this, you must have already obtained a residence permit in Germany. A family reunion visa allows your partner and children to work and study in Germany.

Consider your budget when starting fresh in Berlin

Getting a fresh start in Berlin involves careful planning of the necessary budget. We advise you to review your savings and make sure you have sufficient funds.

Basic moving costs:

• Relocation services
• Rent
• Furnishing the home
• Housing deposit - Kaution (usually equal to the amount of three months rent)
• Groceries
• Essential goods (medicines, clothes, household supplies)
• Telephone and internet costs
• Household bills

Take care of your health insurance.

Health insurance is usually linked to starting work in Germany and is one of the requirements for a residence permit. When you start working in Berlin, your new employer should cover half the cost of your health insurance - or between €75 and €300 per month, depending on your salary. If you are moving to Berlin from an EU country, you can use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC card) until you find a job.

Open a German bank account.

A must-have that will make relocating to Berlin easier. We advise you to investigate the possibility of opening a German bank account at so-called expat-friendly banks, which offer services in English, speed up the account opening process, accept foreign identity documents and do not require a residence permit. Expat-friendly financial services include:

• N26
• bunq
• Wise
• Monese
• Tomorrow
• Vivid

Starting Fresh in Berlin: Apartment hunting

Getting a fresh start in Berlin would not be possible without finding a suitable apartment. Traditionally, the process is considered difficult and slow, so we advise you to start your research several months in advance.

Get to know the neighbourhoods of Berlin.

In addition to price and size, key criteria for choosing a home in Berlin include the location of the property, the safety of the neighbourhood and its connectivity. In this regard, we advise you not to overlook the more remote neighbourhoods of the city, which could offer different advantages. Among the most famous neighbourhoods of Berlin are:

Mitte

It houses Berlin's oldest university, Humboldt University, and the offices of many well-known and start-up companies. This is the reason why it is home to mainly young workers of different nationalities and students. Located in a communicative location, the neighbourhood offers many possibilities to get around by public transport, but you may still find it noisy and crowded due to the abundance of tourists. It ranks among the most expensive areas of Berlin, with rents ranging from €780 (room) to €1,700 (apartment) by the end of 2024.

Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf

With numerous parks, theatres and cabarets promoting the arts, this neighbourhood is among the right ones if you're planning a family move. Socialising wouldn't be a challenge, as Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf is home to many expats living in Berlin. The Berlin British School is also located there. Rents in the area amount to 800 (room) to 1,800 euros (apartment) by the end of 2024.

Pankow

Known for housing affordability, the neighbourhood houses young families and freelancers. There are many co-working spaces, restaurants and cafes, making it an excellent choice in terms of leisure activities and meeting friends away from the hustle and bustle of the central area. It is also in Pankow that a large part of Berlin's local population lives. The neighbourhood has been defined as safe and monthly rents range from 650 (room) to 1650 euros (apartment) as of the end of 2024.

Among the documents that could speed up the process of finding suitable accommodation in Berlin are:

• Employment contract
• Bank statements (proving income for the last quarter)
• Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung (or letter of recommendation from your previous landlord)
• Document proving the amount of money needed for the deposit (usually 3 months' rent)

Consider moving into shared accommodation (WG - Wohngemeinshaft)

If you are starting a new life in Berlin, you may want to consider moving into shared accommodation. The advantages include relatively low room rates (500 - 700 euros per month), the opportunity to socialise by living with other housemates, and the fact that you share household chores and bills with other people. However, if you value your personal space and want to avoid potential conflicts, we advise you to look into renting a self-contained flat.

Take care of the administrative aspects

Renting an apartment in Berlin goes hand in hand with some important activities, such as:

Address registration

Registration (or Anmeldung) gives you access to child benefits (Kindergeld) and free childcare (through the so-called "Kitagutschein", which provides free daycare for children up to the age of 6) and is necessary when you enter into contracts with a bank or mobile phone operator. It is also required for the issue of a tax number. The tax number is also needed by your employer when calculating the tax due on your wages. Note that some banks (like the expat-friendly ones already mentioned) may open an account for you without a tax number.

Waste sorting

In every apartment building, you will find containers of different colours: blue (for paper and cardboard), yellow (for plastic and metal), brown (for biodegradable waste), grey (for non-recyclable waste, sale or donation), glass containers (brown for brown coloured glass, green for green, red and blue coloured glass, and white for clear glass). These are just the basics of waste sorting, and here is more information about recycling in Germany.

Taking out liability insurance

in addition to the health insurance already mentioned, one of the useful tips for making a fresh start in Berlin is to take out personal injury insurance. This would cost you around €5 per month and covers damage in various cases - if you damage the floor of the apartment you're renting, accidentally scratch someone's car, or your child breaks something. More than 80% of Germans have this type of insurance.

Socialising as an aspect of starting fresh in Berlin: