germany relocation guide
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1
RELOC ATION GUIDE
GERMANY
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
2
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
4
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
2
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
3
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
4
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)
5
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
6
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
7
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
Information provided by
8
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
9
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
10
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
Information provided by
11
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
12
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
13
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
Information provided by
14
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
• 30%ofthepupilsareGerman
• 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
• 40%ofthepupilsareGerman
• 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.
17
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
Steffen.Goerres@bryancave.com
BEATE THIERAUF
Swift
Relocation Services, Munich
beate.thierauf@swift-relocation.de
INGRID HENKE
ARRIVA
Relocation Services, Berlin
i.henke@arriva-berlin.de
KATALIN GEIS
KaleidosGlobe Relocation Services, Hamburg
k.Geis@kaleidosglobe.de
ALISTAIR HUNT
AGS Worldwide Movers
International Co-ordination and Logistics
alistair.hunt@agsmovers.com
31
Phaidon International provides the central structure that supports 8 specialist recruitment firms. Our brands are united by
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Founded by CEO Adam Buck in 2004, our Group has enjoyed a compound annual growth rate of over 34%, year on year,
achievinganaverageof25.3%EBITDA.Thishasbeenachievedthroughaclearvisionfromtheoutset.
Since inception our business rationale has been to anticipate and then serve the industry sectors which depend upon and
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Today we are proud to deliver excellence to clients across 44 countries through 8 niche brands who have won over 33
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