Germany Relocation Guide

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RELOC ATION GUIDE

GERMANY

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

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Welcome to Phaidon International's Relocation Report focused

on essential relocation information for professionals relocating to

Germany. Phaidon International regularly produces specialist market

reports and Industry Insights to provide our clients and candidates

with niche market intelligence and supports them throughout the

recruitment process.

We hope you find this report useful and informative. If you have any

feedback or comments about this report or require any information

on recruitment and careers please do not hesitate to contact us.

Adam Buck

CEO Phaidon International

INTRODUCTION

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Visa Process.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................2

Temporary Residence.................................................................................................................................................................................2

Visa Fees.............................................................................................................................................................................................................3

Work Permit....................................................................................................................................................................................................2

Spouse/ Children............................................................................................................................................................................................3

Registration of your residence................................................................................................................................................................3

Visa Application...............................................................................................................................................................................................3

Work Permits for non EU Citizens......................................................................................................................................................4

Requirements for Residence Permit...................................................................................................................................................4

Finding a House or Flat.................................................................................................................................................................................................6

Renting.................................................................................................................................................................................................................6

Property Descriptions.................................................................................................................................................................................6

Applying for a Property ...........................................................................................................................................................................6

Tenancy Agreement......................................................................................................................................................................................6

Cost of Renting...............................................................................................................................................................................................7

Housing: Buying..................................................................................................................................................................................................................8

Buying a Property...........................................................................................................................................................................................8

Legal Requirements......................................................................................................................................................................................8

Deposits and Mortgages...........................................................................................................................................................................9

Types of Mortgages......................................................................................................................................................................................9

Moving Process...............................................................................................................................................................................................................10

Top 10 Moving Tips....................................................................................................................................................................................10

Methods of Moving....................................................................................................................................................................................10

Vehicle Shipping...........................................................................................................................................................................................10

Storage..............................................................................................................................................................................................................10

Moving Pets....................................................................................................................................................................................................11

EU Pet Passport .........................................................................................................................................................................................11

Integrating into Germany..........................................................................................................................................................................................12

Settling In.........................................................................................................................................................................................................12

Telephone and Internet...........................................................................................................................................................................13

Internet Solutions.......................................................................................................................................................................................13

Additional Information.............................................................................................................................................................................13

Schools................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14

Introduction....................................................................................................................................................................................................14

Stages of the School System ...............................................................................................................................................................14

British Schools...............................................................................................................................................................................................14

CONTENTS

1

Employment Law...........................................................................................................................................................................................................16

Legal Climate...............................................................................................................................................................................................16

Recruiting & Hiring...................................................................................................................................................................................16

Compensation and Remuneration..................................................................................................................................................16

Maximum Working Hours...................................................................................................................................................................16

The Employment Contract..................................................................................................................................................................17

Sick Pay............................................................................................................................................................................................................17

Holiday and Statutory Holidays.........................................................................................................................................................18

Maternity and Parental Leave.............................................................................................................................................................18

Garden Leave, Payment in Lieu.........................................................................................................................................................18

Data Protection..........................................................................................................................................................................................18

Discrimination..............................................................................................................................................................................................19

Termination of Employment................................................................................................................................................................20

Unfair Dismissal Protection..................................................................................................................................................................20

Collective Redundancies........................................................................................................................................................................20

Restrictive Covenants – General Requirements......................................................................................................................20

Collective Representation – Trade Unions..................................................................................................................................21

Transfer of Business...................................................................................................................................................................................21

Business Etiquette.........................................................................................................................................................................................................22

Hierarchy.........................................................................................................................................................................................................22

Strategy.............................................................................................................................................................................................................22

Meetings...........................................................................................................................................................................................................22

Negotiations..................................................................................................................................................................................................22

Decisions.........................................................................................................................................................................................................22

Appointments .............................................................................................................................................................................................22

Meeting and Greeting..............................................................................................................................................................................23

Dress Code ..................................................................................................................................................................................................23

Wining and Dining ...................................................................................................................................................................................23

Business Cards ............................................................................................................................................................................................23

Culture................................................................................................................................................................................................................................24

Health Care...................................................................................................................................................................................................24

Living Costs....................................................................................................................................................................................................24

Public Transport...........................................................................................................................................................................................24

Driving .............................................................................................................................................................................................................26

Tourism.............................................................................................................................................................................................................27

Things to do with Children...................................................................................................................................................................29

Contributors....................................................................................................................................................................................................................30

About Phaidon International...................................................................................................................................................................................31

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V ISA PROCESS

You DO NOT need a visa for short stays in Germany if you are:

• Citizen of the EU/EEA/EFTA

• Spouse (married/ civil partnership) or child of an EU/ EEA/ EFTA national

• Holder of a Diplomatic, Service or Special Passport from Chad, Ghana, Philippines and Turkey

• Holder of a Diplomatic, Service, Special or Official Passport from Thailand

• Holder of a Diplomatic Passport from Albania, Algeria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Armenia, Georgia, Ecuador,

India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Macedonia, Malawi, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia,

Pakistan, Peru, Russian Federation, Serbia, South Africa, Tunisia, Ukraine and United Arab Emirates, Vietnam

• Citizen of a country listed below on the German Embassy site

http://www.london.diplo.de/Vertretung/london/en/07/03__Visa/011__Need__Visa.html

Citizens wishing to apply for visas to visit Germany must apply in person and are required to make an appointment

in advance. Only passports that have been issued (not extended) during the past ten years can be endorsed with

a visa. If your passport was issued longer than 10 years ago, please apply for a new passport at your Embassy.

To apply for a Schengen visa please follow these steps:

• Book an appointment: http://www.vfsglobal.com/germany/uk/

• Visit the VFS visa application centre

• You must bring your passport (with two blank pages), the completed application form, a confirmed

return airline/ ferry/ train ticket, travel health insurance covering at least £20,000

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE

FEES

All types of visa: £60.00 (payable in British £ only). Exceptions are:

• Childrenundersixyearsofage,SpousesofEUnationalsareexemptfromthevisafeesregardlessof

their nationality

• Thevisafeeis£35forcitizensofAlbania,BosniaandHercegovina,Georgia,Macedonia,Moldova,

Montenegro, Russia, Serbia or Ukraine

• Thefeeforchildrenbetween6and12yearsofageisalso£35

If you are a European Union citizen and you wish to do paid or self-employed work in Germany, you do

not need a visa or work-permit, in accordance with European Union Regulations. You will need a current

passport (British “European Community” passport) to register in Germany.

WORK PERMIT

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SPOUSE/ CHILDREN

REGISTRATION OF YOUR RESIDENCE

You can be accompanied by your spouse and children under 21 years of age. If you wish members of

your family who are not EU citizens to join you, you have to apply for the necessary visas.

For this registration please contact the local Einwohnermeldeamt (Residence Registration Office) within

a week of finding permanent accommodation. To register you need to present your passport, a copy of

the lease or rental agreement and a completed registration form, which is usually available at the registry

office.

V ISA APPLIC ATION

Depending on the law of the Länder the application will be processed either by the Einwohnermeldeamt

(Residence Registration Office) or the Ausländerbehörde (Foreign National’s Authority) in your place

of residence. This certificate is solely declaratory and not constitutive. As a UK / EU citizen you have the

right of residence already by EU-Law. Nonetheless you are obliged to apply for this certificate within the

first three months. When applying for a certificate regarding your residence status you must produce

the following:

• ValidIdentitycardorpassport

• 2passportphotos

• Proofofemploymentorofferofemployment;

• Citizenssettingupinaself-employedcapacitymustprovideevidenceoftheirstatus,suchas

membership of a professional or trade body, a VAT number or registration on a trade register

• Studentsmustproduceproofoftheirregistrationatuniversity

• Non-workingresidentshavetoprovesufficienthealthinsurancecoverageandevidenceof

their financial situation

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V ISA PROCESS

Following the introduction of a new immigration law for the Federal Republic of Germany there are three

categories of residence permit for employment purposes.

1. General employment

2. Specialist professional

3. Self-employed

• IfyouareacitizenofIceland,LiechtensteinandNorwayyouhavethesamefreedomofmovementas

EU nationals.

• IfyouareacitizenofAustralia,Canada,Israel,Korea(Republic),Japan,NewZealandortheUnited

States of America, you can apply for your residence and work permit after arriving in Germany.

Please note that until the work permit has been issued you will not be able to work

yet. If you want to start work immediately after your arrival in Germany, you should apply from abroad.

Please apply as soon as possible and be aware that you have to book an appointment at the Embassy for a

“residence permit” through the Automatic Booking System. The processing time will be approximately 2-3 weeks

(6-10 weeks for self-employment). You will be informed automatically when the residence permit has been

authorised. After your arrival in Germany you must register as soon as possible with the Immigration Office

(‘Ausländerbehörde’) of your place of residence.

WORKPERMITSFORNONEUCITIZENS

REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENCE PERMIT

GENERAL EMPLOYMENT

Acceptance of foreign nationals in the general employment category is based on the economic needs of the

Federal Republic of Germany. The two basic conditions are a vocational qualification and a concrete offer of a

contract of employment

You will need the following documentation:

• Completedapplicationformforaresidencepermitinduplicate

• Twopassportsizecolourphotos

• Originalofyourpassportplus2copies

• Twocopiesofyourvocationalqualification

• LetterofintentorcontractofferedtoyoubyacompanyinGermanycontainingadetaileddescription

of the employment (2 copies)

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SPECIALIST PROFESSIONAL

The Federal Republic of Germany is interested in attracting specialist professionals to work and live in Germany.

This applies particularly to:

• Graduateswithspecialprofessionalknowledgeandexperience

• Universityteacherswithoutstandingcareerprofiles

• Experiencedmanagerswithanofferofajobcarryingasalaryofnotlessthan86,400eurosperyear

You will need the following documentation:

• Completedapplicationformforaresidencepermitinduplicate

• Twopassportsizecolourphotos

• Originalofyourpassportplus2copies

• Documentationofyourprofessionalknowledgeandexperience(2copies).

• Letter of intent or contract offered to you by a German employer, including a detailed description of

the employment (2 copies).

SELF-EMPLOYED

To work on a self-employed basis your proposed business must:

• FulfiltheneedsoftheFederalRepublicofGermanyorspecificregionalorlocalneeds

• Haveabeneficialeconomicimpact

• Befullycoveredbyyourowncapitalorbankloanforwhichthereisawrittenconfirmation

• Requirements1and2willgenerallybefulfilledifyourinvestmentisworth1millioneurosormoreand

creates 10 new jobs. To ensure the sustainability of your business project, the following criteria will also

be taken into consideration:

• Viabilityofyourbusinessplan

• Yourrelevantbusinessexperience

• AmounttobeinvestedinGermany

• Impactofyourbusinessprojectonemploymentandskills

INFORMATION

Find everything you need on the German Embassy site -

http://www.london.diplo.de/Ver tretung/london/en/07/03__Visa/__

Visabestimmungen.html

Information provided by

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HOUSING: RENTING

RENTINGEstate agents are available for support, however their fees tend to be up to three months rent plus VAT. Most

properties are represented by an agent, therefore you are usually liable to pay a fee.

There are also options available for flat share which tend to be significantly cheaper than living alone. These tend

to be arranged informally and can be found through flat-sharing websites as well as forums. However please note

that your rights as a tenant will be negotiated without a contract.

Property descriptions in Germany state their size in square meters of living space and indicate the number of

bedrooms and bathrooms. Most sites list the number of rooms, the energy rating and the construction year. The

majority of German properties are let unfurnished and often without curtains, light fittings and appliances.

PROPERTY DESCRIPTIONS

APPLYING FOR A PROPERTY

TENANCY AGREEMENT

Documentationrequired;

• Anapplicationform(handedoutattheviewing)

• PhotoID

• Proofofincome(wageslipsforthelastthreemonths)

• Acertificatefromyourpreviouslandlordillustratingyouhavenooutstandingrent

• Yourcreditreport

Minimum tenancies are typically two years. It is essential to ensure the rental agreement includes all the relevant

details and conditions for breaking the agreement. The landlord can only end the contract by evicting the tenant

through the courts or giving three months’ notice. This notice can be contested by the tenant, and will usually only

be accepted where the landlord has a good reason for the notice being given.

F INDING A HOUSE OR FLAT

RENT OR BUY?

House prices and rents have risen dramatically in Germany - 20% increase between 2008–2013

Buying can be an attractive investment as there are no restrictions for expats who are looking to purchase

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COST OF RENTING

The cost of a property to rent varies by region and city.

Rent and purchase prices tend to be cheaper in rural areas,

expensive cities include Munich, Frankfurt/Main, Stuttgart,

Hamburg but Berlin prices are still quite reasonable.

For example in Berlin the average cold rent per sqm* in a

good location with reasonable good standard is between 9 to

13 euros plus additional costs around 2 to 4 per sqm. 1 sqm

is about 10.8 sqft. As an orientation an overview of average

rents - “ Mietspiegel“ - is available for most cities. But don´t be

surprised if the rent you are asked for is higher, as prices go up.

MOVING IN/OUT

An inventory and inspection will be carried out when moving in and out which is where the landlord

accurately describes the contents of the property and the condition. Landlords usually allow tenants to

decorate but they are expected to return the property to a neutral state and remove any additional items

before moving out.

KEY FACTS

• Germany’spropertiesareindemandandrentsarerisingacrosstheboard

• Legislationpreventsrentalincreasesforexistingtenants,howeverrentscanoftenincreasewhenanew

lease is arranged

• Tenantsarerequiredtopayadeposittothelandlord,whichistypicallyequaltothreemonths’rent

• Utility costs are not typically included in the rent

• Mostapartmentsarerentedunfurnished,sometimesevenwithoutafittedkitchenorwardrobesand

often even without light fittings

- This is commonly known as “Kaltmiete “ – “cold“ basic rent without additional charges

- “Nettokaltmiete“ – does not include additional costs like heating, water, garbage removal

- ”Bruttokaltmiete“ does not include heating costs, but additonal costs like water, garbage removal

- “Warmmiete“ – basic rent, heating, water garbage removal - all additional costs included

- Electricity for the apartment, telephone, internet is not included in the rent


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HOUSING: BUYING

Properties can be sold privately or through an estate agent. Estate agents are usually paid by the seller, their fees

are around 3% – 7% of the purchase price. Therefore it is important to check who is paying them.

The houses available to buy will be advertised in newspapers and online. Properties for sale rarely have a sign in

the window or notice board in the garden advertising their status.

BUYING A PROPERTY

Germans typically expect to buy a property and live in it for an extended period of time. Therefore turnover

in sought after areas is relatively low, this means that it is best to give yourself a year to buy a property.

Houses purchased in Germany must meet a minimum requirement regarding roofing, windows and heating.

Structural surveys do not tend to be a standard part of the process, however it is recommended to hire a

architect or a surveyor to carry out a thorough survey.

TypicalSteps;

1. Investigate mortgages and organise an offer

2. Find a property

3. Make an offer

4. Contract drawn up

5. Finalisethemortgage

6. Sign the contract

7. Notary registers the sale

8. Pay the property sale tax after 4 weeks

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

The buyer is legally required to use a public notary to complete the sale of a property. Their role is to check the

records to ensure that there is no reason why the sale cannot go ahead and ensure paperwork is completed

correctly. It is worth noting they will not inspect the property or obtain information on its condition. The British

embassy has a list of English-speaking lawyers and translators to support you in the process.

HOUSING: BUYING

USEFUL HOUSING WEBSITES

Immobilienscout24

Immowelt.de

Immobilo

Immobilien Scout 24

Immowelt

Wohnungsbörse

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A minimum deposit of 20% is required, however generally expats are asked by lenders for deposits of up to 40%

due to a higher risk being associated with them.

Most of the banks offer an online section where you can work through the mortgage paperwork to apply in

yourowntime,whichisfollowedupwithameetingbeforeagreeingtoamortgage.Mortgageslastaround25

or30years,withinterestratesfixedfor5years.Variableinterestratesandotherloanperiodsareavailable,but

Germany does not have some of the riskier mortgages.

DEPOSITS AND MORTGAGES

Please see the key characteristics of different types of mortgages below:

FIXED INTEREST LOANS

• MostcommontypeofmortgageinGermany

• Astheloanisrepaidtheinterestportiondecreasesandtheloanrepaymentportionincreases

• Candecideonthepercentagefortheannuityaswellastherepaymentperiod

• Canmakeadditionaldownpaymentsoftheloan

• Iftheremainingloanisnotrepaidontimefollow-up-financingisrequired

INTEREST ONLY LOANS

• Theinterestportionoftheloanisrepaidoverafixedterm

• Repaymentsarerelativelylow

• Theloancapitalhastoberepaidattheendoftheterm

• SuitableforinvestorswhoareGermantaxpayerssincetheinterestpaymentscanbetaxdeductible

• Othersavings/assetsarerequiredtocovertheoutstandingloan

BUILDING SOCIETY LOAN

• Thepaymentsaretransferredintothesavingsprogrammewhichareusedtopayoffthemortgage

• Thisloanisusuallyconnectedwithnumerousotherfees

VARIABLE RATE LOAN

• Theinterestratefollowstheappropriatebaserateandisadjustedaccordinglyeverythreemonths

• InGermanytherateistheEuribor(EuroInterbankOfferedRate)i.e.whentheEuriborincreases,the

interest increases and vice versa

• ThiskindofmortgageshouldbechosenwhentheEuriborisatalowrate

• Apartialrepaymentoftheloancanbemadeeverythreemonths

TYPES OF MORTGAGES

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MOVING PROCESSMOVING PROCESS

AGS TOP 10 MOVING TIPS

• Prepare your home for sale

• Ensure visas are in place before moving

• Book a removal company early

• Prepare for the packing day

• Arrange temporary accommodation before moving

• Research exchange rates

• Use your contacts to find a job for your spouse

• Keep the school year in mind

• Research destination for you and your family

• Investigate living costs

METHODS OF MOVING• Airfreight

• Seafreight-(FCL)fullcontainerload,20ftor40ft

• Seafreight-(LCL)lessthancontainerload

• Seafreight-groupage

• Roadfreight

• RoadfreightCE

VEHICLE SHIPPING

STORAGE

• Containerisedshipping

• Rollonrolloff(RORO)

• Roadfreight

• 2LogistichubsinBerlinandKoblenz

• ContainerstorefacilitiesineverymajorGermancity


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European Union pet owners are required to have pet passports when travelling with their animals. The passports,

which are required before allowing an animal entry into an EU member state, are to include the pet’s microchip or

tattoo number for identification, as well as other data such as records of all vaccinations and clinical examinations.

When travelling, the pet owner must ensure that the rabies vaccination in the passport is valid or else renew the

pet’s vaccination.

Pets are granted access into Germany, however there are strict rules relating to bringing pets into the country

and also their behaviour and control while they are in the country.

AIRLINE REQUIREMENTS

• Youmustacquireaspecialtravellingcontainerfortheanimalthatisventilated

• Youmustlabelyourpet’skennelcarefully

• Therulesregardingapprovedtypesofcontainerscanbefoundhere:

(http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/cargo/live_animals/Pages/pets.aspx)

VACCINATIONS

• IfyouaretakingananimalintoGermanyyoushouldorganisevaccinationsearlyduetothevolumeof

paperwork required

• Ifthedocumentationisnotcompletedtheanimalcouldbequarantined

• Youmustvaccinateyourpetforrabiesbeforedeparting

• Bringproofthatyouranimalhasbeenvaccinatedatleast30daysbeforethetrip,butnomorethan12

months before your arrival

• YouranimalwillalsoneedanidentificationmicrochiptotraveltoGermany

• Younganimalsthatareunabletobevaccinatedmaybeallowedtotravelundercertainconditionsas

defined by the EU: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/nat_rules_dogscatferret_en.htm

MOVING PETS

EU PETS PASSPORTS

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SETTLING IN

A period of orientation and settling-in follows when you move into the house or apartment. Depending on the

specificneedsandrequirementsyoushouldconsider ;

• Openingabankaccount

• Shoppingfacilities

• Languagetraining

• Publictransport

• Socialsecuritysystemincludingstatutoryhealthinsurance

• Privateinsurances,suchashealthinsurance,carinsurance,household-andliabilityinsurance,

• Bilingualdoctorsanddentists

• Hospitalsandemergencyambulance

• Informationonchurchesandotherreligiouscommunities

• EmbassiesandConsulates

• Craftsmen/handymen

• Babysitter,Au-Pair,Kindergarten

• Germanandinternationalschools

• Vets,kennels

• Clubsandorganizationsforexpatriates

• Culturalofferings

• Leisureandsportsactivities

• Emergencyphonenumbers

• TelephoneandInternet

• TV and public television/ radio tax

INTEGRATING INTO GERMANY

BILLS

These are the key energy suppliers in Germany- visit their

websites to see their latest tariffs;

• E.ON

• RWE

• EnBW

• Vattenfall

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TELEPHONE AND INTERNET

INTERNET SOLUTIONS

There are a wide variety of phone and internet options in Germany with many providers available, there are now

over 200 providers in the country. A full list is available here (http://www.telefonanbieter.com/dsl-anbieter.html).

The largest telephone providers are T-Home, TKS, Tiscali and Freenet.

The easiest way to have a telephone line installed or connected is to visit a T-Home shop, called a T-Punkt which

are located in city centres. You will need the following documents to open up an account:

• Identification

• Proofofaddress

• Bankdetails

BROADBAND

There are several high-speed DSL plans widely available, with download speeds of between 1Mbs and 6Mbs

being the most common and readily available.

DIALL-UP

This type of Internet connectivity is still sometimes available. Although extremely slow and inefficient, it may be

a viable solution for very light or infrequent users.

INTERNET ON THE GO

Internet access does not have to be restricted to your home. Germany has Internet cafes and thousands of

wireless Internet “hotspots” many of them free-of-charge.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION• The country code for Germany when dialling from another country is +49 i.e. 0049

• TheemergencytelephonenumbersinGermanyare110forpoliceand112forambulanceandfirebrigade

• Outgoingcallratesarelowandincomingcallsarefree.Manypeoplechosetoonlyhaveacellphone

and have steered away from traditional land-line telephone service


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Education in Germany is provided by the government and policies are established through the Ministry of

Education. Decisions regarding private schools are also managed by these ministries. Nurseries/ Kindergartens are

incorporated into the public school system. However, virtually all German Kindergardens are public - run by the

government and are financed by taxes.

STAGES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEMThe first stage of Germany’s education system is primary school which is for the1st to 4th grade or, in Berlin/

Brandenburg, 1st to 6th grade.

After Primary School there are four secondary school choices:

• Hauptschuleuntil9thor,inBerlinandNorthRhine-Westphaliauntil10thgrade

• Realschuleuntil10thgrade

• Gymnasium(highschool)until12thgradeor13thgrade

• Gesamtschule(comprehensiveschool)

BERLIN BRITISH SCHOOL

The Berlin British School was established in 1994, as members of the expat community (including staff at the

British Embassy) sought a British international institution to serve Germany’s capital city. Key facts include:

• Theschoolcatersfor400pupils

• EnglishnationalcurriculumandinternationalGCSEsiscentral

• 45%ofthepupilsareGerman

• 10%-20%ofthepupilsareBritish

• Theschoolachievesverygoodresults;theschool’saverageIBscorewas34.2lastyear

• AtGCSE,87%ofentrieswereatA*-C,with35%atA*orA

• Fees:Thereisaone-offadmissionchargeof£2,600.Tuitionfeesrangefrom£3,685to£14,083.Exam

feesarechargedat£1,575forasetofGCSEsand£2,625fortheInternationalBaccalaureateDiploma

BRITISH SCHOOLS

INTRODUCTION

SCHOOLS

15

MUNICH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

The Munich International School is set on a 26-acre site near

a lake 20km to the south of Munich, it was set up in 1966 and

a castle is among the buildings used for teaching. Key facts

include;

• Theschoolcatersfor1,220pupils


• 15%-20%ofthepupilsarefromtheUKandUS

• Facilitiesincludethreelargeplayingfields,outdoor

tennis courts, three gymnasiums, a performing arts

centre and a new arts, humanities and languages

block

• Results:AtIBDiplomalevel,theschoolscored33.1

points last year (average is 29.6)

TOP 10 UNIVERSITIES

1 University of Freiburg

2 Technical University of Berlin

3 Free University of Berlin

4 University of Munich

5 Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

6 University of Hamburg

7 Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische

Hochschule

8 University of Leipzig

9 University of Cologne

10 University of Heidelberg

• Fees:Entrancefeesupto£5,500,aregistrationfee

£1,500followedbyare-registrationfeeof£750peryear,technologyfeesof£350-£650annuallyand

yearlycoretuitionfeessetat£12,150-15,250

BERLIN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

The Berlin International School is housed in two historic buildings in the city’s verdant south-western suburb of

Dahlem. The school, established in 1998, is geared towards the local Berlin curriculum. Key facts include:

• Theschoolcatersfor810pupils

• 5%ofthepupilsareBritish


• Facilitiesincludetwosportshalls,whiletheschoolalsorentsanotherlargesportshalloff-site

• Results:IBscoreswerewellabovetheglobalaveragelastyear,at33pointsacrosstheschool

• Fees: tuition charges range from €10,320 to €11,220 with a one-off registration fee of €800

16

EMPLOYMENT LAW

LEGAL CLIMATE• There are significant Pro-Employee Protections.

• There is no “at will” employment.

• The system is focused on protecting employment relationships rather than damaging relationships

• The legal situation is very much influenced by court decisions, although there is a statutory law system

in Germany.

RECRUITING & HIRING• Written references from prior employers are important.

• Background checks are restricted, usually to the extent of the employee’s consent.

• Avoiding discrimination during the hiring process is important.

COMPENSATION AND REMUNERATION• There is currently no statutory minimum wage, however this will be implemented within the next few

years as a project of the new German government.

• The minimum wage system is based on tariff agreements where such agreements apply.

• A Christmas bonus is very common.

• Contributions to health insurance, nursing insurance, state pension insurance and unemployment

insurance is mandatory.

• Contributions to mandatory social security insurance is jointly funded by the employer and the employee.

The employer‘s contributions are in addition to gross salary.

MAXIMUM WORKING HOURS• There is complex statutory differentiation between working time, resting time, on-call duty, working

breaks, times of travel etc.

• The maximum daily working time is 8 hours. An extension to 10 hours is possible, however average

working time within 24 weeks must not exceed 8 hours daily.

• The minimum “resting period”, (continued period without working, between the end of a working day

and the start of a new working day) is 11 hours.

• Employeeshavearighttoa30-minutes-breakfora6-9hourworkday,and45minutesminimumbreak

for workday exceeding 9 hours.

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SICK PAY

It is the employer’s obligation to continuous full payment of the contractual salary from the first day of

illness to a maximum of six weeks in cases where the employment relationship has existed for a mini-

mum of four weeks. Employees are entitled to receive (reduced) payment from health insurance after

this six week period.

THE EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

FORMATION OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS:

• Employment contracts may or may not be put in writing. Oral or implied conclusions are possible.

Offer letters are not common and not advisable.

• Written statement of conditions of employment must be provided by the employer no later than one

month from the start of employment.

• The same applies to the changes in the conditions of employment.

• There is high risk of legal uncertainty concerning use of contract templates or standard forms due to

general terms and conditions review provided by the German Civil Code.

• Provisions deemed vague, potentially unlimited or containing inappropriate disadvantages are void – no

blue pencilling is allowed.

• Legal hazards regarding standardized employment contracts include: bonus provisions, contractual

penalties, overtime provisions and transfer clauses.

FIXED-TERM CONTRACT:

• Without any special reason, the conclusion of a contract is permissible for up to 2 years, if no previous

employment contract with the employer is apparent. Fixed-term contracts may be renewed thrice, if 2-year

period is not exceeded in total.

• With an objective reason, contractual limitations and time limits are not bound by the 2-year period (e.g.

special requirements for additional staff in seasonal businesses is an objective reasonable need for fixed-

term employment).

• Fixed-termcontractsarecommonforManagingDirectorswithatimeframeof3or5years.

PART-TIME CONTRACT:

• Part-time contracts are very common in Germany.

• Thereisanentitlementtothereductionofcontractualworkingtimeinfirmswithmorethan15regular

employees.

• For more information, view the “Part-time and Fixed-Term Employment Act”.

18

EMPLOYMENT LAW

HOLIDAY AND STATUTORY HOLIDAYS• The statutory minimum holiday entitlement is 20 working days based on a 5 day working week

(respectively 24 days for a 6-day-working week).

• However,itismoreusualtograntbetween25-30holidaydays.

• During the holidays the contractual salary must be paid continuously.

• Registereddisabledpersonshaveanadditionalentitlementof5days.

• There is state-to-state variation of public holidays as additional entitlement to the normal holiday

entitlement.Thisisbetween8-15publicholidaydaysdependingontheplaceofwork.

MATERNITY AND PARENTAL LEAVE• Maternity leave: 14 weeks in total (6 weeks before expected date of birth and 8 weeks after the birth).

Employees are entitled to remuneration.

• Parental leave is available up until the child’s 3rd birthday and is very common for mothers rather than

fathers. With consent of their employer, employees have the possibility of carrying forward a leave of up

to 12 months of the 3 year total until child is 8 years old. This leave is generally unpaid but there is a

system of state benefits.

GARDEN LEAVE, PAYMENT IN L IEU• Employees have a general right to work.

• Garden leave is only based on prior agreement - even after serving notice.

• In practice, use of garden leave is common after serving notice for high ranking employees.

• Payment in lieu is not permitted unless the employee agrees.

DATA PROTECTION

• The key concept is that personal data belongs to an individual employee.

• An objective business need for use/ transfer of data is always required.

• Free consent of the individual is not accepted as valid (because employees

are deemed not to have free will).

• Transferring and using data outside the EU requires the recipient to have a

“safe-harbour” certification, contract under EU data protection regime and

have clearance by the EU.

• HR processes are to be as privacy-conscious as possible.

19

DISCRIMINATION• Employers must act in compliance with the General Equal Treatment Act.

• Employees have further protection against harassment, instructions to discriminate as well as victimization

on grounds of race, ethnic origin, religion, belief, age and sexual identity.

• Most legal issues that arise are concerned with hiring e.g. discriminatory job advertisement or selection

process.

• Due to sufficient pro-employee regulations, discrimination plays only a small litigative role.

• There is no recognition of punitive damages in German Employment Law.

• There is traditionally little compensation for immaterial damages awarded by the courts.

Employers have the duty to:

• Not advertise jobs in a discriminatory manner

• Take necessary measures to protect employees from discrimination

• Inform employees in an appropriate manner of the unlawfulness of discrimination (Appropriate employee

training on equal opportunities will also be deemed a fulfillment of the duty to take necessary measures

to protect employees)

• Take necessary and appropriate measures against any employees who discriminate e.g. disciplinary action

• Take necessary and appropriate measures to protect employees who have been discriminated against in

the course of their employment by third parties

• Inform employees of the Act and of the time limits within which claims can be brought

TIPS

1. Respect cultural differences

2. Always acclimatize yourself to

local law and practice

3. Avoid dangerous assumptions,

such as:

- “Europe is one place”

- “Californian law applies there”

4. Every employee starts with an

employment contract, either

written (preferred) or implied by

labor court

5. Employment-at-will does not exist

Consequences:

• Discriminatory agreements are void.

• Affected employees have a right to complain -

employers should provide an appropriate contact

within the company to receive internal complaints.

• Employees who have suffered harassment can

refuse to work without losing their entitlement to

pay if it is necessary for their protection.

• Damage claims for financial loss – provided the

employer acted intentionally or negligently either by

itself or through vicarious liability – for pain and

suffering (no fault liability).

• Works councils and trade unions can apply for

injunctions against discriminatory measures.

20

EMPLOYMENT LAW

TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT• Termination by serving notice must be given in writing (original signature required), and it is the employer’s

responsibility to prove delivery. There are different applicable notice periods with regard to duration of

the employment – there is variation between 1-7 months to the end of the calendar month after 20

years of employment.

• Termination without notice can be issued for certain important reasons eg. gross misconduct, allowing

termination with immediate effect.

UNFAIR DISMISSAL PROTECTION• Size threshold: more than 10 employees

• Qualifying period: more than 6 months of service

• Personal scope: employees only - not applicable to the Managing Director

• Notice to be justified based on (i) personal reasons (e.g. illness), (ii) the employee’s conduct (such as

fraud) or (iii) business related reasons resulting in a loss of employment opportunities (redundancy)

COLLECTIVE REDUNDANCIES• In general at least 10% of the staff must be served notice within a 30 day period.

• It is the employer’s duty to inform the employment agency in case of a “mass dismissal” (formal notification

required).

• In the case of collective redundancies dismissal without prior notification of the agency is invalid.

• If mass dismissal leads to a change of operations, there is need for reconciliation of interests and a social

plan in case of a mass dismissal.

RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS In order to be valid and binding, restrictive covenants must comply with the following very strict framework of

conditions:

• The contract must be in written form.

• There must be justification by a legitimate interest of the employer with regard to the temporal,

geographical and factual scope within a post contractual non-compete agreement.

• The simple desire to prohibit an employee from competing with the employer for a certain period after

the end of the employment contract is not sufficient.

• A restricted period of up to two years is permissible.

• The employer has an obligation to pay compensation for the duration of the restrictive covenant in the

21

Employment Law Information provided by

agreement(atleast50%ofthelastcontractualremunerationandbenefits).Thecompensationcalculations

include the fixed salary as well as bonus payments, company cars and further elements of the employee’s

remuneration.

• Note: Incorrect clauses can be either unenforceable for the employer or even null and void.

COLLECTIVE REPRESENTATION & TRADE UNIONS:• Trade unions are industry associations of employees.

• Employees have the right to strike.

• Trade unions act as associations of employees to win collective bargaining agreements e.g. regulation of

remuneration for different groups of employees, claims for vacation exceeding the statutory provisions

etc.

• A “Works Council” acts as a formal staff representative body in the employer‘s business units. It provides

representation of employees vis-à-vis employer on the level of establishment and very strong participation

rights(e.g.priortorestructuring).Businesseswith1,000+employeesand150+employeesineachof

two or more EU States, are permitted to establish a “European Works Council” in addition to national

workscouncils.Preconditionsforimplementation:5employeesoftheageof18+andeligibletovote

and 3 employees eligible as candidates (age of 18 + and 6 months + length of service).

• It is highly important to comply with procedural process in relation to works council participation rights.

Works Council must be consulted, although no consent is required.

TRANSFER OF BUSINESS• Transfer of business refers to a classic sale and purchase of a business or change of service contract

provider.

• A share sale and purchase does not constitute a transfer of business.

• Employment relationships must be transferred from the old employer to transferee with all rights and

obligations.

• Information of affected employees is required in writing.

• Works council participation rights might be triggered.

• Breach of information and/or participation rights might lead to delays, injunctions, void dismissals,

compensation and more.

• Employees have right to object and any attempt to contract out is void.

22

HIERARCHY

• The business climate is very formal and conservative and companies are structured in a traditional

vertical manner

• Overall decisions are taken at the top of the organisation. In most organisations employees have little

responsibility, although this differs from one company to another

STRATEGY

• Generally, the management of an organisation is at large responsible for planning. Most companies

use detailed planning with a tight schedule, although organisations in the French and Italian areas may

have a more laid-back approach to strategy

MEETINGS

• Meetings are generally impersonal, brisk, orderly, planned and task-oriented. It is important to prepare

yourself in advance of a business meeting

• The German tend to get right down to business after a few minutes of general discussion. Be aware of

the fact that non-verbal communication, such as body language is very important

• Note that organisation, procedure and planning lie at the heart of German business success, therfore

clear systems are important

• Meetings always have a detailed agenda that is followed to the letter

• Punctuality for business and social meetings is taken seriously

NEGOTIATIONS

• During negotiations, patience is required, discussions are very precise and cautious

• Decision-making is slow and methodical considered hard but fair bargainers

• Business is regarded with the utmost seriousness and humour has no place in negotiations

DECISIONS

• German business culture has a rigid, deeply entrenched hierarchy. Only the highest individuals in

authority make the final decision

• Although everyone involved or affected must be in agreement, the final decision will pass unquestioned

once it is reached

APPOINTMENTS

• Appointments should always be made some time in advance. Do not be late to appointments and

avoid rescheduling

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

23

MEETING AND GREETING

• When meeting people, you shake hands with everyone

• Use last names until specifically invited by your colleagues or business partners to use their first names;

especially when there is a great difference in rank or age, first names are not used

• First names are generally reserved for very close friends and family

DRESS CODE

• Your appearance should always be clean and neat

• In a business setting, dress should be conservative and formal

• During official meetings, men should wear dark suits and ties; women should wear suits or dresses.

WINING AND DINING

• Business and private life are strictly separated, therefore do not call a business person at home

• Business entertainment is almost always done in a restaurant and spouses are generally included in

business dinners

• Business breakfasts are not very common

BUSINESS CARDS

• Hand your business card to the receptionist upon arrival

• Business cards should mention academic title and job title. However, your rank within the corporate

hierarchy is even more important

TOP TIP- Time Perception

Punctuality for business and social meetings is taken very seriously

Only if you have a very good reason you are excused when being late

Typical office hours are Monday to Friday, from 08.00 to 17.30

24

Germany offers high quality healthcare, the government spends

11% of its GDP on healthcare, from primary care through to high-

tech hospitals and good provision for chronic disease and old age.

They have a health care system with two main types of health

insurance: law-enforced health insurance and private.

Compulsory insurance applies to those below an outlined income

level and is provided through private non-profit “sickness funds”

and is paid with joint employer-employee contributions. This

provides a wide range of issues and nobody can be discriminated

on an actuarial basis. Small numbers of persons are covered by

tax-funded government employee insurance or social welfare

insurance.

People with incomes above the compulsory insurance level may

opt into the system outlined above, which the majority do. When

looking for private health schemes it is essential that you shop

around to weigh the premium against benefits.

CULTURE

HEALTH C ARE

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

January 1: New Year’s Day

January 6: Epiphany

March 29: Good Friday

April 1: Easter Monday

May 1: Labour Day

May 9: Ascension Day

May 20: Whit Monday

May 30: Corpus Christi

August 15: Assumption Day

October 3: Day of German Unity

October 31: Reformation Day

November 1: All Saints’ Day

November 20: Day of Repentance

December 25: Christmas Day

December 26: Boxing Day

LIVING COSTSUse this “Cost of Living” calculator to compare your current regional outgoings and that in Germany

http://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living

PUBLIC TRANSPORTBUS

Nearly every town and many rural areas have a scheduled local bus service. Where a local rail service is offered,

buses compliment those services. The regularity varies depending on the location and most large cities also offer

a night bus service.

TRAM

Most medium to large cities have a tram system. Service is frequent, usually at 20-30 minute intervals during off-

peak periods.

25

LIGHT RAIL

Some cities (Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Hannover, Cologne) have light rail systems. This systems functions very much like

an underground system with wide-gauge tracks, longer trains, and high platforms. However, while it usually runs

in tunnel networks, it runs mostly overground outside of the city.

SUBWAY

A few of Germany’s largest cities have a subway system (U-Bahn) which is located underground but can run

onelevatedtracksoratgroundlevel.Thesesystemsservethecentralcityandrunevery5to15minutes.These

stations are marked with the standard “U” sign.

SUBURBAN COMMUTER RAIL

The main metropolitan areas (Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt-Mainz-Wiesbaden, Stuttgart, Cologne-

Düsseldorf-Ruhr District, Nuremburg, Dresden, Leipzig-Halle, Mannheim-Heidelberg-Karlsruhe, Magdeburg, and

Rostock) have a suburban train system called the S-Bahn. These are express trains running from the central city

into the suburbs. Service is relatively frequent around every 20-30 minutes and marked with an “S” followed by

a number.

MAPS

The transit maps for the largest cities are quite complex, most cities use color-coded schematic plans to make the

system easier to decipher. They can be obtained for from tourist offices and are usually included in guidebooks.

Oberbaum Bridge in Berlin

26

CULTURE

DRIVING LICENSE

If you are a citizen of an EEA member country (EU

plus Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein), you do not

need to obtain a separate German license if you

already hold a license for your home country.

Other foreigners permanently residing in Germany

may use an international driving license initially, but

should apply for a German driving license within

DRIVING

SPEED LIMITS

Speed limits are 50 km per hour in cities and towns

100kph outside cities/towns

30kph in built up areas where schools are located

6 months of arriving in the country. For some countries you may have to sit a written exam and/or a driving test,

while for others the process is a fairly simple by submitting documents highlighted below;

• Identity card or passport

• Certificate of registration from the Residents’ Registration Office

• Recent photograph

• Original driver’s license

• Certificate of good conduct

*If you have held your driver’s license for less than 2 years you will be considered a probationary driver

FINES AND OFFENCES

Relatively minor offences incur fines of up to 4 points while more serious offences will attract between 5 – 7

points. Fines are often based on your income, for example 120 days’ worth of pay.

Fines for speeding start at €15 for exceeding the speed limit by up to 10kph in an urban area. Fines for speeding

over 25kph will mean you get one point and a €80 fine on your license. If you drive over 70kph, you will receive

around a €700 fine, get 4 points on your points and lose your license for 3 months.

PARKING

Parking can be difficult in the city centre, particularly during busy times such as the weekend. People rely on street

parking and neighbourhoods use metered parking. The cost varies considerably depending on the location but

it starts at around €1 per hour. Residents are able to obtain parking permits from the council. Parking fines are

typically between €5 – €40.

27

NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE

Neuschwanstein is one of the most famous and popular

palaces in Europe. 1.4 million people visit “the castle of

the fairy-tale king” which is known all over the world as a

symbol of idealised romantic architecture. In 1886, seven

weeks after the death of King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein

was opened to the public. Further information is available

here www.neuschwanstein.de

TOURISM

COLOGNE CATHEDRAL

There have been churches on the site of Cologne

Cathedral since the 4th century. However, it was not until

1248 that this city on the Rhine became home to one

of the foremost cathedrals in the Christian world – a

masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Further information

is available here http://www.koelner-dom.de/

BRANDENBURG GATE

One of the most famous monuments in the world, the

Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was built in 1789 planned by

C. G. Langhans on Pariser Platz in the heart of the city.

Further information is available here http://www.berlin.

de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/brandenburger-tor/

BERLIN MUSEUM ISLAND

Berlin’s Museum Island is a hugely popular attraction

both with locals and international tourists. One of the

world’s most important museum complexes, it is home

to priceless cultural treasures. Further information is

available here http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/896

28

CULTURE

HEIDELBERG CASTLE

Heidelberg Castle is a famous ruin landmark in Germany.

The castle has been partially rebuilt since its demolition in

the 18th century. It is located 80 metres up the northern

part of the Königstuhl hillside. It is served by the station

on the Heidelberger Bergbahn funicular railway that

runs from Heidelberg’s Kornmarkt to Königstuhl. Further

information available here www.schloss-heidelberg.de/

TOP 10 RESTAURANTS

1. Spindler & Klatt - Berlin

2. Restaurant Francais Im Steigenberger - Frankfurt

3. East Restaurant - Hamburg

4. Gunnewig Rheinturm Restaurant Top 180 - Dusseldorf

5. Brecht’s- Berlin

6. Oktogon Fusion Restaurant - Berlin

7. Alt Helgolander Fischerstube - Hamburg

8. Marktwirt - Munich

9. Albatros Im Lindner Hotel Airport - Dusseldorf

10. Der Pschorr - Munich

BLACK FOREST

“Use it or lose it” is the motto of the Black Forest’s

nature parks. With a total area of 7,450km², they are

the two largest nature reserves in Germany, and there

are so many different ways to discover the scenery and

landscape. Further information is available here http://

www.roughguides.com/destinations/europe/germany/

the-black-forest/

TOURISM

29

THINGS TO DO WITH CHILDREN

TROPICAL ISLANDS

Germany is home to the largest indoor water park in

the world. Tropical Islands near Berlin is housed in dome

that was originally built as an airship hangar. Further

information is available here http://www.tropical-islands.

de/en/attractions/tropical-world/

EUROPA-PARK

Located in south-west Germany, Europa-Park is the biggest

theme park in the German-speaking countries. It has eleven

roller coast high capacity rollercoasters meaning the park

can accommodate up to 50,000 guests per day. Further

information is available here http://www.europapark.de/

lang-en/Home/c1174.html?langchange=true

DEUTSCHES MUSEUM

Deutsches museum is one of the largest science and

technology museums in the world. The museum offers

a large range of interactive exhibits for busy hands, and

there is a whole section dedicated to curious children.

Further information is available here http://www.

deutsches-museum.de/en

CAR FACTORY TOUR

Take your children behind the scenes of Germany’s most

famous exports and show them how German cars are

made. Many factories offer a look on how their products

are made from start to finish. VW Voltswagon and BMW

are the most recommended tours. Further information is

available here http://www.bremen-tourism.de/mercedes-

benz-factory-tour-bremen

30

CONTRIBUTORS

DR. STEFFEN GÖRRES

Bryan Cave,

International Law Firm, Hamburg

[email protected]

BEATE THIERAUF

Swift

Relocation Services, Munich

[email protected]

INGRID HENKE

ARRIVA

Relocation Services, Berlin

[email protected]

KATALIN GEIS

KaleidosGlobe Relocation Services, Hamburg

[email protected]

ALISTAIR HUNT

AGS Worldwide Movers

International Co-ordination and Logistics

[email protected]

31

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Germany Relocation Guide