She’s into martial arts, Asian languages and making people laugh. Meet Sophie, one of five talented young linguaphiles spending some time with Red Tape Translation while completing vocational training in Berlin.
Category Archive: Life in Germany
Heart and Soul – Meet Paula
Paula is fierce and endlessly passionate about whatever she’s doing. She wants to see the world and immerse herself in languages along the way. We’re looking forward to spending the summer showing Paula the ropes and hope that her experience as a Red Tape Translation intern solidifies her ambition!
“Love attracted me to the German language” – Meet Yadhu
“Love attracted me to the German language.” We were on the edge of our seats listening to Yadhu talk about his life. He is clearly a master of words, in whichever languages he chooses to communicate. We are thrilled to have him on the team for the summer!
German Bureaucracy: Changes to Expect in 2021
The year 2020 kept us on our toes, so we can only hope that 2021 is not quite so unpredictable. While we anticipate life beyond our firework-free Silvester evening, let’s outline the bureaucratic changes likely to affect expats living in Germany in 2021.
A New Project for Brits in Germany: Converting your UK Driving Licence
The Brexit transition period ends on 31st December 2020. If you’ve decided to stay in Germany, now is a really good time to think about converting your UK driver’s license to a German one, but you’d really need to get into gear to manage it by the New Year!
All I Want for Brexit is an Aufenthaltsdokument-GB
In 2020, time stands still in so many ways, and yet some wheels keep on turning. Like that big ol’ steamboat chugging past on its way to Brexit, terminus. The 31st December 2020 will not only mark the end of a very turbulent year but also the end of an era, quite literally. So, what will 2021 look like for UK citizens living in Berlin? … Read More
ALGI vs. ALGII vs. Job Center vs. Job agency vs. dole vs. welfare
When you lose your job, you visit the Job Center, right? Seems logical. Except that when you get there, you’ll often get told to visit the job agency instead (Agentur für Arbeit). And when you get THERE, they tell you to visit the job agency on the other side of town! What the bloody hell is going on here? … Read More
ALGII and Einstiegsgeld – a government grant to start your business
ALGII recipients, you can get extra financial support from the JobCenter to start a business or take up a part-time job. That’s on top of the payments you’re already getting. The programme is called “Einstiegsgeld”.… Read More
Can I really register my address in Berlin by post now?
Word on the street is that the Bürgerämter are suddenly accepting postal registrations of address (Anmeldungen). Whoa! This is a big step forward, right? Well, sort of. If you’re new in Berlin, it won’t apply to you. Here’s why.
Residence permit holders can get ALGII until the end of 2020 in Berlin
If you’re receiving ALGII benefits and you have a residence permit, you might have been feeling on edge lately as the deadline given by the Berlin foreigner’s office edges closer. You’ll be pleased to read that you can now receive social welfare at leastuntil the end of 2020.
What to do when your German employer is insolvent
If you relocate to Germany to start a shiny new job and discover that your company can’t pay your wages, you’re bound to be pretty miffed. Luckily, there’s a bureaucratic process for that in Germany. Of course there is! Read on to find out what you have to do as an employee to make sure you see your missing paychecks.
Help! The Job Center has scheduled a phone call in German to discuss my situation
If you’ve recently applied for ALGII, you’re probably getting lots of letters from the JobCenter. Under normal circumstances, they’d invite you to an in-person interview to discuss your work situation, and it would be compulsory to attend. But these are not normal times.