Hello friends and supporters, welcome to the new year in Germany. Enjoy the occasional thick and fluffy snow and when things get a bit slippery and scary on the icy streets, grab yourselves a pair of Yaktrax traction cleats – you won’t regret it. I spent some time abroad in the southern hemisphere facilitating valuable synergies (ie. visiting the fam in Australia). There, I received my yearly fix of Vitamin D, which is important for getting through February in Berlin.
Category Archive: Moving to Berlin
I Want to Stay in Germany and I Don’t Care How
Every now and then, you fall in love with Germany. Or maybe it’s person who just happens to live in Germany. Whichever it is, time is running out and you want a way to stay as long as you can. You don’t even really care how, as long as it’s legal. Or perhaps you just need to buy some time between your Schengen Visa running out and you figuring out what happens next. I know the feeling very well, so this post is for you.
Why I Love the German Way of Living
Cold beer, warm lunches, coffee, cake, socks and sandals. Naturally, there is no one German way of living, but there are some trends that I’ve come to recognize fondly as “German”. Here are a few I think are neat.
Does an Appointment at the Ausländerbehörde Extend My Schengen Visa?
The question on everyone’s lips in Berlin is: does having an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde Berlin extend my Schengen Visa? It certainly seems to be one of the biggest causes for confusion. If it’s true, why isn’t everyone just perpetually booking themselves appointments at the Ausländerbehörde? Red Tape Translation takes you through the myths and the realities of the current situation for tourists from the United States, Australia, Canada etc.
How to Visit the Ausländerbehörde Berlin Without an Appointment
The Ausländerbehörde in Berlin is a special place. Among other special nicknames, it has been described as “the most miserable place in Berlin”, “the place of shattered dreams” and “inefficient government bureaucracy at its finest”. Above all, though, getting acquainted with its tightly-closed-up windows, flashing neon boards and slightly-off key announcement bells is inevitable. So embrace it and do it right. Here’s how to save time, avoid stress and leave with a shiny new visa or permit.
What’s the Deal with Kirchensteuer/Church Tax?!
You moved to Berlin, landed a job and just received your first pay cheque. You notice a deduction called “Kirchensteuer” in the small print and wonder what it could possibly be…
What is Kirchensteuer?
Kirchensteuer (church tax) is a tax imposed on members of some religious congregations in Germany.
Tips for Booking Appointments Online in Berlin
Great news from the Bürgeramt! 2017 has brought with it a wave of days marked in blue on the online calendar – that means you can even get same-day appointments at registration offices across Berlin! Get clicking!
Getting the Gründungszuschuss to Start Your Own Business
Getting out of Unemployment with Self-Employment: The Gründungszuschuss
If you are facing unemployment in Germany or are right in the middle of it, you might be interested to know about a grant that the Agentur für Arbeit offers to job seekers on ALG1 unemployment benefits if they want to start a business in Germany. The idea of this “new business grant” (Gründungszuschuss) is to get people out of unemployment (ALG I) by encouraging them to become self-employed or to start a company. Naturally, this won’t suit everyone, so the Agentur für Arbeit is really interested in making sure that you’re the entrepreneurial type and that you have a viable idea before they approve your application.
It is difficult to find information about the Gründungszuschuss in English. Here are the basics.
Buying Property in Berlin: What to Expect
A magical summer in Berlin has convinced you that you want to stay here forever. You’ve found the perfect apartment to buy at the right price and talked to your bank about financing. Here’s what you can expect when buying property in Berlin, from making an offer through to getting the keys.
Converting Your Driver’s Licence in Germany
Chances are, at some point after your arrival, you’d love to get behind the wheel again! The rules can be a little complicated here: some driving licenses are easy to exchange without bureaucracy, others require you to start from scratch. If you already have a valid driver’s license from your home country and you’d like to get a German driving license, read on.
New, second location for the Ausländerbehörde Berlin!
Cue the streamers, roll out the red carpet and soak up the applause! Anyone know a marching band? On Monday 4th July 2016, the Ausländerbehörde opened a second office in Berlin, handily located directly next to U-Bahnhof Mierendorffplatz in Charlottenburg. We can only hope that the opening of the second office will help reduce waiting times throughout Berlin. We can dream, right?
How Do I Register My Whole Family in Berlin?
You already know that registering your address in Berlin is step one on the list of things to do. But when you try to book online, there’s only space for one name when making an appointment. How are you supposed to register the whole crew?
Red Tape Translation often gets asked how to go about registering a whole family or household (you, your spouse / de facto partner / flatmate, plus any children).