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LIVING IN GERMANY

Property, salaries and Bahncards: Six essential articles for life in Germany

From the cost of long-haul flights and travel changes to property prospects and what you can expect to earn in large cities, we've compiled some must-reads so you can prepare for the coming season.

Published: 9 September 2024 13:22 CEST
Apartments in Berlin
View of apartments in the Schöneberg district of Berlin. Apartments first rented after Oct. 1, 2014 are not subject to Germany's rent price brake. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Monika Skolimowska

It’s been a turbulent few years on the German property market that have led to a downturn in people buying homes. But there are signs that this is changing.

We look at what potential buyers or sellers in Germany can expect for the rest of 2024 and examine whether it’s a good time to buy a home.

Whether you’re thinking about a new job or want to see what kind of salaries are considered high in Germany, this comparison article gives an insight into two German cities that are popular with internationals. By the way, we’ve also recently published one for Frankfurt, which you can find here.

Many people dream of travelling across Germany extensive train network, taking in the stunning scenery. But the cost of train tickets can be a factor holding people back. 

For those who do travel a lot (or plan to) within Germany, a Bahncard could be a good option. It entitles you to a discount on trips booked with Deutsche Bahn over a period of time – typically one year – for a flat fee.

Prices for long-haul flights in Germany have gone down compared to 2023. If you are planning to book a trip home or a dream holiday, this article outlines where you’re likely to get the best deal and some of the destinations in the lower price range.

We’re sticking with the travel theme. Whether you’re flying or taking the train, we’ve rounded up a few changes you can expect this autumn.

They include the introduction of an EU-wide entry and exit system for travellers, new rules for liquids at airports and possible rail service disruption.

The tax return deadline passed on September 2nd. Freelancers and self-employed people in Germany will soon receive their tax bills. What happens if you can’t meet the payment deadline? Our article breaks down what you need to know. 

Lastly, don’t forget to check out our regular rundown of monthly changes in Germany. Here’s our latest article on September 2024.

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BERLIN

Anmeldung: Berlin to re-launch online housing registration in October

Finding an appointment at the Bürgeramt to register an address has long been an unwanted chore for new arrivals in Berlin - but from October, this gruelling ritual will be a thing of the past.

Published: 19 September 2024 13:51 CEST
Anmeldung: Berlin to re-launch online housing registration in October

Every foreigner who’s lived in the German capital has experienced the stress of trying to find an appointment at the Bürgeramt, or citizens’ office. 

In order to register an address – a process known as the Anmeldung in German – residents generally have to scour a list of available appointments, sometimes waiting weeks for a spot or travelling to a far-flung part of the city to complete the process. 

From mid-October, however, the city has announced that people will be able to register and deregister their place of residence online. The Local has contacted officials to ask for the specific date in October that this is happening and will update this story when we receive the information. 

According to the Senate, the move will free up around 500,000 appointments that would ordinarily have been taken by the hundreds of thousands who move into and around the city each year.

Berlin had briefly offered online registrations during the Covid-19 pandemic, but removed the service once social restrictions were lifted. 

How will the new system work?

The online registration system is apparently based on Hamburg’s system, which was developed under the so-called ‘one-for-all’ (EfA) principle. This means that other states around Germany can adopt the same software as part of their digitalisation efforts.

People who want to register address will need to fill in an online form, provide proof of their new residence and also identify themselves using their electronic ID, which will either be an electronic residence permit or a German or EU ID card. 

READ ALSO: What is Germany’s electronic ID card and how do you use it?

After the process has been completed, a sticker for the ID card will be sent out via post.

Aufenthaltstitel

A German residence permit or ‘Aufenthaltstitel’ with an electronic ID function. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Daniel Karmann

This can then be used to update the information on a residents’ eID card and access the registration confirmation digitally.

Those who don’t have access to a validated electronic ID will need to either activate their eID function at the immigration office or Bürgeramt or register their address in person.  

In 2024, the service will only be available for single residents, but online registration for families is also in the pipeline.

Is Berlin making progress with digitalisation?

It certainly seems like it. This latest move is part of a larger push to complete digitalise Berlin’s creaking services and move to a faster, more efficient online system.

At the start of the year, the capital centralised its naturalisation office in the Landesamt für Einwanderung (LEA) and moved all citizenship applications online. 

Since then, citizenship applications have been completed around ten times faster than previously – though tens of thousands of applicants are still waiting for a response on their paper applications.

More recently, the LEA also announced that it had moved to a new appointment-booking system designed to end the predatory practice of appointment touting, or selling appointments for a fee.

Under the new system, many residents permits – including EU Blue Cards – can be directly applied for online, with in-person appointments reserved for collecting the new (or renewed) permit.

READ ALSO: What to know about the new appointments system at Berlin immigration office

Meanwhile, those who can’t apply online yet can access appointments by filling in the contact form, with the LEA hoping that this will deter people from booking appointments with the intention to sell them on. 

In another move to speed up bureaucracy, Berlin also opened a new Bürgeramt in the district of Spandau this September, with the governing CDU announcing on X that more new offices would follow in the near future. 

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