Germany has many tech vacancies in English, especially in Berlin, Munich and Hamburg. The official portal for people coming to work is Make it in Germany.
When you arrive
- Address registration (Anmeldung): mandatory at the city's citizens' office (Bürgeramt) within two weeks of moving into a home. You need a confirmation from the landlord (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). Without it, opening a bank account, getting paid or getting internet is hard.
- Tax ID (Steuer-ID): arrives by post after you register. Your employer needs it to run payroll.
- Health insurance: mandatory. Most employees are in the public system (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung); above a certain salary you can choose private insurance.
Tax and pay
- German income tax depends on the tax class (Steuerklasse), which reflects marital status. A single person is usually in class I.
- Members of a registered church pay church tax (Kirchensteuer); you can declare that you are not a member.
- Each household pays a broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag).
Housing and language
- Finding a home in large cities is hard: start early and be wary of listings that ask for money before a viewing.
- Tech teams often work in English, but German helps a lot day to day and with paperwork.