Menu
Expat.com

EU citizens living in Germany

Last activity 13 March 2024 by brigid92

Post new topic

brigid92

Hi! I was wondering if any EU citizens have info on what it's like to be an ex-pat in Germany! How simple/difficult is the process for moving there with an EU passport. Do you still have to register yourself? And if so, how soon? Also what is the health care situation?

beppi

The legal situation for EU-citizens is basically the same as for any German citizen living here:

  • You have to register your residential address with the authorities (at the local town hall or "Bürgerbüro") within a week of moving in.
  • German health insurance is compulsory for all residents. You have three months time to join an insurer of your choice (but will be charged retroactively, so there is no motivation to procrastinate).

brigid92

Thank you, beppi. Can I ask more about the health insurance? What kind of info do you need to join? How much does it cost? Thanks again

beppi

We have discussed the German health insurance system in detil in other threads on this forum (and more information is available by searching the Internet). Please read those first and come back with more detailed concerns, as your general question above is not easily answerable (especially the cost aspect).

brigid92

Thanks! I was just interested from the perspective of someone who is also a EU citizen and what their experiences were. I appreciate the help!

Articles to help you in your expat project in Germany

  • The German healthcare system
    The German healthcare system

    The German healthcare system is neither homogenous nor static. On the contrary, it has various actors (i.e., ...

  • Elderly care in Germany
    Elderly care in Germany

    Germany may not have the sunshine and beaches of the Mediterranean or Southeast Asia, but it is among Europe's ...

  • Citizens Relief Act
    Citizens Relief Act

    There's been a lovely new German word since January 2010: das Bürgerentlastungsgesetz! I´ve ...

  • Emergency in Germany
    Emergency in Germany

    One of the biggest worries expats have to deal with when arriving in a new country is what to do in case of an ...

  • legality of your health insurance?
    legality of your health insurance?

    Hi everyone!I´ve just discovered this site but am not 100% PC-literate (know the word "blog" but am still ...

  • Health insurance update
    Health insurance update

    Since my last blog, the noose has tightened even further as far as freelance/self-employed expats in Germany ...

  • Summer jobs in Germany
    Summer jobs in Germany

    The summer season in Germany begins in June and lasts until the end of August. These three months of the year ...

  • Buying property in Frankfurt
    Buying property in Frankfurt

    Frankfurt has a very lively real estate market, and buying a house there is, without a doubt, a worthy long-term ...

All of Germany's guide articles