Welcome: you are in the right place.
Whether you are already in Germany or planning your move; as a student, a young professional or a parent: Settle in Berlin is a trusted resource used by thousands of visitors every day. Here you will find answers on how to beat German bureaucracy, avoid common traps, saving precious time & budget.
What is on this website & how to find it
Each topic is explored via a detailed “How-to” guide, complete with no non-sense tips, alternatives, and a FAQ section. Can’t find the exact answer to your problem? No problem! Simply leave a question in the comments’ section under the relevant article (not this one here), and I will do my best to give you a personal answer, to the best of my ability.
Don’t know to where to start? The main menu is a good starting place. It contains the first few topics everyone should master when moving to Germany. It also contains a link to an overview page, which shows every single guide per category (bureaucracy, insurance, family life, job life, etc). If it all fails, you can use the search function too.
In the meantime, here are suggestions of lesser-known but essential topics:
- Liability insurance: often overlooked but it would be madness not to have one.
- Legal ways to lower your rent: you’d be surprised how often it is possible.
- Read before you sign a tenancy contract: tricks landlords might try to pull on you.
- German TV/Radio tax: the tax you might not know about but can’t ignore.
A bit about Bastien, the author of this platform:
First and foremost: I was just like you once. A newcomer to Germany who knew what he wanted when coming here, but knew very little about coming his way.
My name is Bastien. I’m French, 32 years old, married to a wonderful Danish woman, with 2 kids born in Germany. We all live in Neukölln, Berlin.
I have been running this blog for soon 10 years now. Most of the time, it has been next to my day-time job as a product manager. The story is simple: I kept helping my new-found friends and colleagues to go through the same stuff as I did. I then decided to share my experience online to save time. I kept adding more articles, answering more comments. What started as an humble record of my struggles is now a resource used by thousands of people everyday.
This work is seen as a leading source of trustworthy material. Over the years, it has been featured on Bundesregierung.de, Expat.com, Deutschlandfunk, Süddeutsche Zeitung & more.
To you, I want to be this relative, friend or connection that has been through it before, happy to help the next generation of newcomers. You can read more about my mission & my pledge here.
What sets this website apart:
- Clear & comprehensive how-to guides written by somebody in the same mindset as yours. No loose ends or catch 22 issues.
- Most of the time, guides are built upon thorough research and first-hand real-life experience. Bringing in the best of both worlds.
- Frank, sincere & open information that doesn’t put monetization first (more about how I deal with this topic here). Be informed and take qualified decisions.
- I personally answer any question posted in the comments section for further assistance, to the best of my ability.
See you other places
- You can sign-up to the newsletter, where you will be welcomed with a series of monthly emails. You will also be notified of new posts occasionally.
- You can follow SiB on Facebook for a mix of news, recommendations & memes.
- You can follow SiB on Instagram. for a mix of featured articles, iconic shots & more.
I wish you all the best & a fulfilling life you came here to find. Happy settling.
Bastien
Dear Bastien,
I hope you are doing well !!
Well, your blog related to helping newcomers to settle & how to come to Germany is appreciable. I need your guidance & professional advice regarding how I can find a job in Germany & especially for my profile.
i have more than 10 years of experience in accounting & finance, especially in the chain of restaurants & big fine dining restaurants & I am holding Indian citizenship & currently l live & work in Saudi Arabia.
Here I have some doubts about my profile & move to Germany
*is it possible for my profile to get a job in Germany?
*is it german language compulsory to get a job in Germany related to profile?
*If yes then which is the best way I can get a job in Germany?
J
Hey Amit. It would be best to ask a professional relocating agent or immigration lawyer about this (try
Red Relocators
). I cannot consult on individual cases. Good luck with your move!
I came across your blog by accident and immediately subscribed. I like your writing style.
Hi Bastien,
My wife and I moved to Berlin in 2021. While I started working from 01.10.2021, my wife started working from 01.11.2021.
We wanted to go for Tax Class 3 (for myself) and Tax Class 5 (for my wife). But wrongly, I was assigned Tax Class 1 in Oct 2021, and then it was changed to Tax Class 4 in Nov 2021 (automatically). I applied for a change in my Tax Class (from 4 to 3) on 14.11.2021 on the ELSter website. I received the response from Finanzamt on 08.12.2021 and my Tax Class was changed to 3 — however, I still got my Dec 2021 salary as per Tax Class 4. From Jan 2022, my Tax Class has been 3, and my salary is also in line with that. But, for Oct 2021 – Dec 2021, can I claim the Tax refund (when I file my tax returns) based on the wrong Tax Class that was assigned to me (Tax Class 1 in Oct 2021 and Tax Class 4 in Nov & Dec 2021)?
Hey Prayag. As mentioned in the dedicated post about tax classes, this is only possible because you made an application before the end of Nov 2021. You can get the difference when doing a tax return for 2021. Guide this way.
Thanks a lot, Bastien!
Just to clarify a bit more on this – in Oct 2021 my payroll didn’t have my Tax ID as I hadn’t completed my Anmeldung by then (and hence assigned me Tax Class 1). Further in Nov 2021, when they checked with the Finanzamt, they clarified that my Tax Class was 4 and hence, my salary in Nov 2021 was as per Tax Class 4. I submitted an application for changing my Tax Class from 4 to 3 on 14.11.2021 (got a response on 8.12.2021) — but didn’t receive any retrospective benefit for Oct 2021 – Dec 2021. If I understand you correctly, I can claim the difference when I file the tax return for 2021, right?
Correct. Should be possible.
Hi! Can’t seem to find the link to subscribe to the newsletter?
Hi Melanie. Here you go!
Hi Bastien
I moved to Germany from the U.S. in October 2021 for a new job. I just completed my German tax return on Elster. I just realized after submitting the return electronically that I neglected to include income I earned from Jan- September in the US. How can I correct this?
Hey Jennifer. Well done on using Elster. As pointed out in the Elster FAQ, you can correct this by simply sending it in again, with the corrected data. The last submitted version will be taken into account. Hope this helps.
Hello. I was hoping if anyone will be available for 15minutes quick conversation as I am seeking for an answer.
It’s about foreign income because currently I am working in Australia and still can not go back due to restrictions. So I deposit my salary all into German account and now trying to get a Kredit they say my deposit is not regnosied as income.
Hello there. I’m not a relocation consultant and I don’t offer advice over the phone. Sorry.
Hey Bastien, thanks a lot for what you are doing for newcomers :).
Could you please advise me if I mendatory need the following to get my first contract in Berlin signed off:
– meine Anmeldung ( fisrt available Termine are in April, I am starting the new job in mid-Feb )
– mein Steuernummer
– mein Deutsches Bankkonto ( I have got one in euro via Wise already)
– meine Krank und Sozialversicherung
I have been told that until I provide the above information, it is better to work as a freelancer for the company. Why is that?
Thanks a lot 🙂
Zhana
Hey Zhana. I’m pretty sure you can get an appointement for the Anmeldung in Berlin faster than that. That will make your life easier. If you haven’t registered your residence in Germany yet, it won’t be possible to register as a freelancer either. Your company needs you to be a German resident for tax purposes.
You are doing a nice job here, Bastien. Keep it up!
Though I have interest in moving to Germany especially Berlin even now, I just do not know what pathway to take to achieve it without falling into the hands of scammers.
Thank you Bastien for your work!
Hey Bogdan. Thanks, I appreciate it.
Is 4k / month after tax for a single guy who’s moderately active (activities), sufficient to manage monthly? I used to live in Florida and now in Dubai. Would appreciate some insights.
Hey Vignesh. Yes, that would more than enough.