Information about Germany
The Federal Republic of Germany (commonly known
as Germany), which is found in Central Europe, is one
of the world's most popular expat destinations. Over
the years, it has attracted thousands of young
students, professionals, as well as retirees due to its
economic prosperity as well as for its rich historical
and cultural heritage. Moreover, its cities offer a
pleasant atmosphere and lifestyle. You will have no
trouble in adapting there, especially if you come from
a European Union country and know some German
which is the country's official language.
Geography and demography
Stretching over some 357.021 km2, Germany is bordered by the
North Sea and the Baltic Sea in the North and surrounded by Poland,
Denmark, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Luxembourg, Austria and the Czech Republic. Germany has the
largest population in the European Union and is deemed to be the
most densely populated country, with more than 80.6 million
inhabitants as of early 2017. Berlin, its capital city, has more than 3.5
million inhabitants. Other main cities
are Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf and D
resden.
Compared to other European countries, Germany is fairly
decentralised and big cities can be reached easily by the well-
maintained motorway or public transport system. Germany is also
very green and has many forests, the Black Forest being the most
famous.
Good to know:
Munich is known as Germany’s most expensive city. Hamburg is
popular for its tolerant and easygoing people, despite the rainy
weather. Berlin counts as an alternative, hip, and trendy start-up
capital, whereas the Stuttgart area holds most job opportunities.
Düsseldorf is in the middle of the Rhurpott (Ruhr valley), the
industrial belt and most populated area in Germany.
German language
Although German is the country's official language, every region
speaks its own dialect such as Bavarian or Low German, which may
be a little tricky to understand initially. Some regions show strong
identity and pride in the use of their dialects.
Minority languages such as Danish, Frisian, Romany or Sorbian are
also spoken; some of them blending in with the local dialect. The
largest ethnic group of non-German origin is Turkish, which makes
Turkish the second most spoken language in Germany.
Although most of the younger crowd is very keen on speaking
English, you’ll most likely have to learn German in order to find work.
Of course, there are exceptions such as teaching English but Germany
can still be fairly conservative. You’ll definitely enjoy more freedom,
choice and the benefits of a German salary when speaking the local
language.
Expatriation
Most German cities have a high concentration of expatriates from
around the world, but mainly from neighbouring countries. Among
them, you are likely to find French, British but also Americans, Polish
and increasing expats from Eastern European countries. Over the last
few years, Germany has also hosted many refugees from recent areas
of conflict.
Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Düsseldorf are popular expat cities.
Note that many foreign companies have also set up subsidiaries in the
country.
Germany has a supportive social security system, which helps make it
a very safe country with fewer differences between the rich and poor
than in other European countries. This goes along with a relatively
high tax rate of around 45% of your income.
German economy
Germany is considered to be the world's fourth biggest and most
powerful economy after the US, Japan and China. It is also deemed to
be the European Union's largest economy, followed by the UK and
France. Moreover, the German Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was
worth 3.36 billion US$ in 2015 according to Trading Economics
figures. These have also estimated continuous economic growth due
to efforts made by various national mechanisms.
The German economy is based on several pillars such as trade
through industry. In fact, the automotive, mechanical, electrical,
chemical industry, trade, finance, information and communication
technology fields are the country's main job creators and income
generators. Tourism, agriculture, hospitality, catering, etc., also make
a significant contribution to the country's economy. Germany hosts
many world-famous companies such as Siemens, Volkswagen, Bosch,
Bayer, Audi, BMW and Porsche, amongst others.
Politics
Germany is a federal republic, which consists of 16 “Bundesländer” or
regions. Berlin is the country's federal capital city, hosting the German
Parliament's headquarters. The Constitutional Court is located in
Karlsruhe. The German parliament consists of two chambers: the
Bundestag, which is elected every four years in a mixed system, and
the Bundesrat that is the Federal Council. The Bundesrat has a total
of 69 votes of regional government representatives.
The President of the Federal Republic is elected for a five-year period,
which is renewable once. The Chancellor, meanwhile, is elected for a
four-year period and serves as the Head of the Government.
Good to know:
Over the past few years, Germany reinforced environmentally friendly
politics. Nearly a third of Germany is powered by renewable energy
and plans are to complete its nuclear power phase-out by 2022.
Recycling plays an important role, too.
The climate in Germany
Germany enjoys a temperate continental climate with warm summers
and cold winters due to its geographical position. It is, in fact, in the
Northern hemisphere's temperate zone and has a 4-season climate.
Summer usually lasts from May to October with rather high
temperatures up to 35 degrees in the North and South. In winter, you
are likely to experience cold airflows from Siberia, mist in the South
and humidity in the North. However long periods of snow or frost are
rare. Meanwhile, spring accelerates the melting of snow.
Useful links:
Germany - Germany Tourism Portal www.germany.travel
Web portal by the Federal Foreign Office Berlin and Societäts-Media
GmbH www.deutschland.de
The Federal Foreign Office official website www.auswaertiges-amt.de
The Federal Republic of Germany official
website www.bundesregierung.de
Visas for Germany
Nationals of the EU or EEA can travel to Germany without
restrictions with a national identity card or a valid passport.
Residence permits for EU-EEA nationals are no longer
necessary. For citizens of over a hundred countries, only a
valid passport is required to enter Germany for a stay up to
90 days. The list of visa exempt countries for entering
Germany is available on the Federal Foreign Office website.
For nationals of other countries, a tourist visa is necessary for
entering Germany.
Schengen visa (short term)
You can opt for a Schengen visa allowing you to travel within the
European Union Schengen travel zone for a period of up to 90 days.
For more Information about the Schengen visa, visit the Schengen
Visa Info website. Other short-term visas are available. Check out
with the German embassy or consulate in your home country.
In order to apply for a Schengen visa at the German embassy or
consulate in your country, it is necessary to provide the following
information / documents:
purpose of your stay, for example tourism, business or family visit
financial statements covering the expenses of your stay
health insurance certificate covering your healthcare expenses during
your stay in Germany.
If you are unable to provide such statements, a sponsor living in
Germany can vouch for you. This statement of support must be filed
at the city hall of your sponsor's city of residence in Germany.
If you are in possession of a Schengen visa issued by another EU
member state, you can enter Germany without further formality for a
period not exceeding 3 months.
For more information about the Schengen visa, visit the Federal Office
for Migration and Refugees website.
National visa (long term)
Depending on the purpose of your trip, you may be eligible to apply
for other visas to study or work. Nationals of the United States of
America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and
Israel can apply for a work permit after having entered Germany.
Applicants with recognised university degrees or highly skilled workers
may find it easier to get sponsored by a German company. For more
information, contact the German embassy or consulate in your
country.
Useful links:
Auswärtiges Amt - Federal Foreign Office www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Schengen Visa www.visa-schengen.info
Federal Office for Migration and Refugees www.bamf.de
