@Charlotte Luise
English expat in Germany
About me
English
Registration: 09 July 2024
Articles written by Charlotte Luise
Studying in Germany is a rewarding and fulfilling experience, which may open many doors to professional opportunities in Germany and abroad. Like any capital city, Berlin offers an abundance of options to students in higher education, and that's why it is a top destination for thousands of international students.
06 May 2024Frankfurt ranks among the top preferences of international students who want to study in Germany. The city not only offers world-class study programs and significant employment opportunities to fresh graduates, but it also guarantees fun and unique student life experiences, as studying in Frankfurt doesn't mean just holding a book and striving for good grades.
06 May 2024Studying in Frankfurt and receiving a degree from a university in Frankfurt is a long-term investment in your career and personal development. Besides offering well-recognized, world-class degrees, universities in Frankfurt open the doors to many networking opportunities with people from all walks of life and give direct access to job openings in some of the biggest organizations in the world.
06 May 2024Berlin is the largest city in Germany, with over 3.7 million people. Eighty-nine thousand new individuals became Berliners last year, most between the ages of 18 and 35. This means that Berlin is attractive to fresh graduates and young professionals who are eager to enjoy the city's vibrant social life, diversity, and relatively low cost of living.
03 May 2024When starting out in a new city, it's really important to understand the work culture before your first day at a new job. Generally speaking, each company in Berlin establishes its own work culture, according to different values and how they think productivity can be fostered. With such a vast array of sectors in Berlin, you can expect work culture to differ a lot. The culture at a new tech startup isn't going to be the same as at a more traditional bank, and it's important you know what to expect.
03 May 2024Berlin is Germany's biggest city and Europe's second-highest populated city, meaning that it comes as no surprise that it is an international hub and one of the most popular expat destinations worldwide. One of the reasons for the latter is that Berlin offers high rates of employability and a wide range of successful work sectors, allowing many career growth opportunities.
03 May 2024Berlin is a lively capital city with a range of cultural diversity and professional and networking opportunities. Whether you arrive in Berlin alone or with family, you will be able to enjoy a high standard of living, quality time, as well as favorable circumstances for career progression and lifelong learning.
03 May 2024Berlin offers great networking opportunities to professionals from all kinds of sectors as the city hosts talented people and experts from all over the world. Even though it is common knowledge that building a professional network can help you advance your career, not everyone is confident in their abilities to expand their network and make the most of it.
03 May 2024Berlin offers great networking opportunities to professionals from all kinds of sectors as the city hosts talented people and experts from all over the world. Even though it is common knowledge that building a professional network can help you advance your career, not everyone is confident in their abilities to expand their network and make the most of it.
03 May 2024Many expats in Berlin have claimed it has been hard to meet new people and expand their social circle during their first months in Berlin, especially if they tried to socialize with German people. Of course, this is not unusual for big cities where people have established their social circles and get on with their lives without paying too much attention to newcomers or showing eagerness to grow their social circle.
03 May 2024Berlin, the capital of Germany, is an enchanting city full of culture, history, great food, diversity, and nature. As far as destinations for expats go, you can't get much better than Berlin (as long as you're not looking for sunshine every day).
03 May 2024Frankfurt has a strong and healthy labor market, as it is Germany's financial center and the largest city in the Hessen state. Thus, the most available jobs in Frankfurt are senior roles in the economic sector, which thrives in the city's center, in the Bankenviertel area with the skyscrapers, known as “Mainhattan”. Frankfurt is also home to the European Central Bank and the German Central Bank (Bundesbank).
03 May 2024Frankfurt has a prosperous economy and offers a great environment for multinational companies to establish their headquarters and regional offices in the city. Given the diversity of sectors that thrive in Frankfurt (e.g., media, advertising, financial sector, etc.) and the number of professional expats and foreign talent in the city, the work culture in Frankfurt is a mix of influences and is characterized by flexibility and mutual respect.
03 May 2024Frankfurt is a city full of professional expats due to its identity as the financial center of Germany and one of Europe's most prosperous cities despite its smaller size. If you are serious about joining Frankfurt's labor market, chances are you will come across several work opportunities that will take your career to the next level.
02 May 2024Frankfurt is an amazing city and a popular choice for expats from all over the world. Not only is the city Germany's financial hub, but it's also full of history, green spaces, cultural exhibitions, and plenty of fun things to do on the weekend.
02 May 2024Setting up your life in a new city is challenging. Overall, Frankfurt is not a very difficult environment for expats, as it is pretty international. However, there are specific things that one can familiarize oneself with to integrate into the way of living in Frankfurt and enjoy the city as the locals do. Furthermore, adaptation is important, both for international students and expat professionals looking to blend in the new environment and make the most of their new surroundings. Luckily, living in Frankfurt means having a lot of fun.
02 May 2024Developing your professional network will be among the first things that concern you when moving to Frankfurt for work. Most likely, you will have to create a new network unless your company is transferring you to their headquarters or offices in Frankfurt, and you have already been in touch or worked with the team in Frankfurt before, even if it is just remotely.
02 May 2024Despite being a small city, Frankfurt is Germany's most significant financial, educational, and cultural center, attracting a considerable amount of international talent and, therefore, offering plenty of opportunities for developing your social circle. Overall, you won't have issues meeting new people as many expats in the city are in the same position as you (i.e., looking to make friends).
02 May 2024Frankfurt is such an exciting city, and in order to make the most of your expat life here, you should dedicate some energy to creating a social and professional network. The networking etiquette in Frankfurt is not that different from the etiquette in other major cities in Germany.
02 May 2024Berlin, Germany's capital and largest city, stretches out, covering an area of 891.8 km². Getting around Germany is easy and comfortable thanks to the extensive public transport network. Similarly, getting around Berlin is convenient as the city offers a well-connected public transport system, which includes trains, U-Bahn (i.e., subway), trams, buses, taxis, and bicycles.
22 April 2024Germany is one of Europe's best countries to develop your career and gain international work experience. Many expats choose Germany because of its low unemployment rates, great healthcare, diverse food, and nice people.
05 April 2024Munich is a charming, multicultural city that has gained popularity among expats and international students. Firstly, it hosts prestigious universities (i.e., Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Technische Universität München, the Munich University of Applied Sciences, and the Academy of Fine Arts), offering courses in most disciplines, leaving no one behind. Then, the city offers student-friendly activities and bustling nightlife. Last but not least, the employment prospects are bright, and students may find the opportunity to work in the city they studied, maintaining a good quality lifestyle.
05 April 2024Nationals of the EU and EEA can travel to Germany as short-term visitors without restrictions, with a national identity card or a valid passport. Similarly, citizens of many non-EU countries (e.g., Guatemala, Japan, the UK, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, and the UAE) are exempted from the visa requirement as long as they are not staying in Germany for more than 90 days in a six-month period, and are not engaged in employment during their stay in Germany. The list of visa-exempt countries for entering Germany is available on the Federal Foreign Office website, which is provided in the Useful Links section below.
05 April 2024Once you have settled in Germany, familiarising yourself with your new city and the region will happen gradually as you are going out to work, university, or for leisure activities. The big cities such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich have efficient public transport networks, and the whole country is well connected through air and land, as well as with the rest of the world.
05 April 2024Exploring the surroundings and culture of Germany will undoubtedly be a motive for starting your expat project in Germany. Rightfully so, the country has a lot to offer regarding leisure activities, natural beauty, and a variety of landscapes for fun getaways. If excursions and long weekends are something you enjoy, you will definitely be able to do a lot of those during your free time in Germany. Whether you wish to explore the country's cultural and historical wealth, countryside and forests, or you prefer more thrilling leisure activities such as amusement parks, Germany will not disappoint you.
04 April 2024If you have always dreamt of visiting Germany while taking your time and also getting a little job to help you pay for the trip, the WHV (work holiday visa) program might be just what you need. In this article, we will give you all the information you need to apply for the program.
04 April 2024Germany's labor market is very attractive to expat talent. Thanks to one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world and a continuously thriving economy, Germany is one of the leading entrepreneurship and career development destinations in Europe. Professional expats are keen on establishing their careers in a country with an ever-growing industrial production, significant exports worldwide, and quality working conditions. Major German cities such as Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt gather most economic activities, including a large part of the industry and services.
04 April 2024Expats who plan to stay in Germany for more than 3 months would benefit from opening a bank account with a German bank. It is not necessary to have a German bank account for your day-to-day transactions. However, it is practical to have a local account to conduct recurring payments such as rent and bills (e.g., the internet, electricity, heating, etc.).
03 April 2024Germany is a promising place for young expatriates looking to obtain work experience in a wealthy European country. It offers a high standard of living and many job opportunities for skilled workers and talented job seekers in the visual arts, architecture, and music industries (among many others).
03 April 2024The German government is very open to foreign investment. European citizens do not need special work permits or work visas to establish a business in Germany. However, different conditions may apply to non-European Union and EEA nationals according to their country of origin.
03 April 2024Traveling with a pet from one country to another can be costly and requires good organization on the basis of detailed knowledge of the regulations and procedures. In this article, you will find information about traveling with your pet to Germany, a country that complies with the EU requirements regarding pets' entry.
03 April 2024Germany has a well-established preventive maternal healthcare system based on medical check-ups for pregnant women and early recognition and, therefore, close observation of women undergoing high-risk pregnancies (Risikoschwangerschaft). Statutory health insurance, which is the state's health insurance covering most German citizens, is adequate to support the healthcare needs of mothers-to-be and covers the services of doctors, nurses, and midwives. In addition, women and men have access to free counseling services meant for questions about pregnancy and family planning.
03 April 2024If you intend to settle in Germany with your children, their care, education, and adaptation to the environment will definitely be among your primary concerns, especially if there is no stay-at-home parent in the household. Germany offers various childcare services for toddlers and preschoolers, such as nurseries, kindergartens, and childminding facilities.
03 April 2024If you are planning to relocate to Germany, there are several things you should consider organizing well in advance to avoid finding yourself in a stressful situation just a few days before your relocation. Firstly, you should decide whether you want to undertake the relocation task yourself, and possibly with the help of family and friends, or you wish to hire international movers, experienced in moving large volumes and covering long distances.
03 April 2024Studying in Germany has so many benefits for international students. What makes the experience even better is that students can combine their higher education with fulfilling student life. In other words, you will be studying in a highly regarded institution and preparing yourself for the international labor market while enjoying the fun aspects of the German lifestyle and culture and meeting new people from all walks of life.
03 April 2024Thanks to instant messaging services such as Skype, WhatsApp, Messenger, Viber, and Telegram, calling landlines and mobile phone numbers is mainly done for work or to reach a public or private service. In any case, telecommunications prevail in all aspects of our lives, and the mobile phone is the ultimate demonstration of our connectivity with the world.
03 April 2024Staying connected in Germany is easy thanks to its advanced telecommunications network and the widely available access to the internet. Nevertheless, Germany ranks 44th in the world, with the median broadband download speed at 83.69 Mbps, which can be interpreted as slow, considering that Monaco's is 319.59 Mbps — the fastest in the world. In addition to the slow internet, most public WiFi networks are under strong regulations, so we would advise you not to rely on free internet access but secure internet on your personal mobile device via a 4G or 5G provider.
02 April 2024When you begin to earn money in Germany, your income is subject to different kinds of deductions (i.e., retirement and unemployment insurance, health insurance, nursing care insurance), including income tax based on your tax bracket. These deductions will lead to your net income, which understandably is less than the gross salary stated on your contract.
02 April 2024Certain professions in Germany are regulated and can only be practiced after the qualifications obtained abroad have been recognized in Germany to ensure that a certain standard of knowledge and experience is maintained.
02 April 2024The summer season in Germany begins in June and lasts until the end of August. These three months of the year offer an opportunity for various summer jobs in different sectors (e.g., hospitality, agriculture, education, etc.). However, seasonal jobs can be competitive due to the high demand, especially among students and young adults, flexibility for employees, and their short-term nature.
02 April 2024Stuttgart is one of the best cities to study or work in Germany due to the diversified labor job market. Stuttgart is the capital city of Baden-Württemberg and one of the main cities of Southern Germany. It has more than 636,000 residents within a metropolitan area of over five million inhabitants.
02 April 2024Munich is the capital city of the state of Bavaria (Bayern), which is Germany's largest state with the second-largest population (13M) after North Rhine-Westphalia. Munich's population is just over one and a half million, making it the country's third-largest city after Berlin and Hamburg. Besides bordering four other German states, Bavaria borders the Czech Republic to the east and Austria to the south.
02 April 2024Hanover provides many work opportunities in different fields. This means that finding a job in Hanover is relatively straightforward. At the same, the work-life balance in the city is exceptional thanks to the many green spaces dotted around the city, including Europe's largest city forest, Eilenriede, and family-friendly leisure activities on offer.
01 April 2024Located in Northern Germany, near the mouth of the Elbe River, Hamburg is the country's second-largest city after Berlin. Stretching over some 755 km², Hamburg's population amounts to approximately 1.8 million inhabitants within a metropolitan area of about 5.4 million people.
01 April 2024Germany is one of Europe's best countries to develop your career and gain international work experience. On the one hand, Germany's unemployment rate is among the lowest in Europe (3.2% in 2024). On the other hand, certain German companies are short of highly qualified workers, meaning that there are opportunities for international talent to enter the German labor market in specific regions of the country.
01 April 2024As the capital city of North Rhine-Westphalia state (which borders Belgium and the Netherlands to the West), Düsseldorf is one of Germany's major cities. Düsseldorf's population amounts to around 640,000 people in an urban area of over one million residents. Apart from being an important international financial and business hub, Düsseldorf is also world-famous for its commercial fashion industry, for which it has gained the nickname "Little Paris".
01 April 2024Dresden, also known as the Florence of Germany due to its location along the banks of river Elbe, is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen) in eastern Germany. Widely known for its historical importance as a major transport hub for Nazi Germany and the destruction it suffered after the bombings of World War II by the US and Britain, modern Dresden is Germany's scientific center. Hence, scientists, researchers, and scholars stand great chances of being absorbed by the city's large job market in the sectors of science, engineering, and medicine.
01 April 2024Cologne is one of Germany's leading destinations for professional expats after Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Munich. That is because the city offers the convenience of the large cities, but the coziness and access to nature of a town — making it an ideal place for work–life balance.
01 April 2024The German healthcare system is neither homogenous nor static. On the contrary, it has various actors (i.e., medical and administrative staff, health insurers, the Federal Ministry of Health, regulatory bodies, etc.) and continuously progresses with the country's needs and technological advancements. In practice, the German healthcare system is divided into three sections: outpatient care, inpatient (hospital) care, and rehabilitation, which may take place in different facilities.
01 April 2024Non-German citizens can get married in Germany, whether to a German citizen or another foreign national. However, beyond being a cultural and symbolic union, marriage is also a legally binding contract, requiring specific formalities and inevitable bureaucracy to be performed. Depending on your nationality, spouse's nationality, and immigration status (e.g., permanent resident, visitor, etc.), other documentation may be required. In this article, we will explore the different cases, and we will guide you through the steps to what we wish for you to be a happy marriage!
29 March 2024