Germany

Often referred to as “the land of poets and thinkers,” Germany has much to offer its residents. From large cities to small villages, the German landscape is one of mountain ranges, sea shores and lush forests. Individuals who decide that moving to Germany is right for them can look forward to living in a country with a long and rich cultural history.

Moving from one continent to another is a tremendous undertaking and one that can be best managed with thoughtful planning and a commitment to organization and time management. Although moving to Germany will require a considerable amount of work, it will be worth it in the end when you are able to relax at your new home, knowing that all of your hard work has paid off.

Purchasing a second home in Germany will offer you the best of both worlds—you will have the stability of your American home and life while adding the enjoyment of living in Germany on a part time basis. Many individuals and families divide their time between two countries and find that arrangement offers a unique perspective on the cultures of both countries.

As you begin to make your dream of moving to Germany a reality, it is important to carefully plan and execute each step of your move. The more organized you are throughout the moving process, the greater success you will have in conducting an efficient and cost effective move. You will first need to create a list of jobs to do. These jobs will include aspects of packing and physically moving yourself and your belongings to Germany, but also tasks that need to be completed to comply with the residency requirements of living in a foreign country and managing both homes in the future.

Before you get into the work involved in this move, make sure that you are able to meet Germany’s residency requirements. To learn about the policies in effect for visiting or staying in Germany, visit the website of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office. Here you can learn about visa and passport regulations, as well as the country’s asylum law and the law governing foreign aliens.

If you know you want to live in Germany, but are not sure which area will best suit your needs and tastes, take some time to research the different areas of the country. You can find peace and quiet in the rural countryside or the excitement and fast pace of city life in one of Germany’s many metropolitan areas.

Once you are certain that you can live in Germany and know where you want to be, you can begin finding your new home. If you are interested in buying a new home, work with a local real estate agent to assist you with this process. If you are intending to rent an apartment or house, use the internet to locate classified ads in the town you wish to call home.

Now that you know where you will be living, you can make more detailed plans for your move to Germany. You can create a timeline based on the availability of your new home and determine how much time you have to pack and tie up any loose ends in the US. You will need to make arrangement for your American home to be tended to, as well as provide your new address to personal and business contacts.

You will next need to determine which of your belongings will be moving to Germany. Perhaps you have rented a furnished apartment and need only your clothes and personal items. If you have purchased a house or need to furnish your new home, consider the costs of buying when you arrive in Germany versus transcontinental shipping. There may be a few items that you will want with you in your new home, so make arrangements to have those items shipped.

Now that you have all of your affairs in order in the Unites States and Germany, you can take the big leap and move in to your new home. Once you are there, you may need to do some shopping to furnish your new place and make it feel as comfortable as your home in the US. Before that, you may want to just get out and explore. Take in the sights and sounds of the area with attractions that may be targeted to tourists. Explore museums and libraries to get a feel for the history of your new home. You may want to take a class in the German language or join a local group of new residents to more thoroughly join your new community. After moving to Germany, you will feel like you’ve made the right decision once you are connected to your new community.

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