Germany is of course not only a neighbouring country, but it is also popular among many for holidays. In recent years, the Dutch have also been living en masse in Germany. This is of course not without reason and has to do with a number of things. When you move to Germany, you still remain close to the Netherlands. This means that you always have your friends and family from the Netherlands nearby. This is a very important factor when people move to Germany. emigrate to Germany, because the threshold is simply a lot lower. Furthermore, Germany has one of the largest economies in the world, which is why many people emigrate to Germany. It is nice that you are moving abroad, but please do not forget to arrange your affairs properly. For tips on this, you can read this article.
Emigrate to Germany
Perhaps you have been on holiday in Germany before, so you know that the country has its affairs in order. Furthermore, it is of course just a beautiful country with lots of unspoilt nature and a rich history. However, it is wise to get to know the country and the German culture in advance. Do not forget the German language. Try to ensure that you have a basic knowledge of the German language in advance so that you can easily have a conversation with, for example, your German employer.
Prepare yourself well for emigration
Not only do you need to have your affairs in order because you are going to live in Germany, but you should of course always try to have your affairs in order. Wherever you are. Of course there are exceptions and there may be certain things that you have not been able to solve due to personal circumstances. This of course does not matter, but make sure that you make good arrangements for this before you officially start everything for the move. Think for example of your rent in the Netherlands, outstanding bills or your taxes.
Which documents are necessary?
If you want to live in Germany, it is important to have your paperwork in the Netherlands properly arranged. Therefore, check all the documents you need for your move. For example, check carefully until when the necessary documents are valid. Think of your passport/ID card or your Dutch driving license. Will these soon no longer be valid? Then renew them immediately, because you will need them especially at the beginning of your emigration. It is also wise to make copies of these documents in case of theft, loss or damage.
When you are going to live in Germany, it is also useful to make sure that you have any diplomas at hand. You can easily request these online from DUO. However, it is true that a Dutch diploma abroad must have a diploma description. You can have this done by NUFFICYou may think that you don't need any diplomas, but it is common for a German employer to ask for your diplomas.
Legalizing documents
Living abroad also means that other documents sometimes need to be translated. Documents also often need to be legalized. This means that they are then provided with a special stamp or sticker. Sometimes it is even necessary to translate a document before you can legalize it. For more information about this, it is best to contact the embassy/consulate of GermanyThis way you know exactly which documents must meet which requirements.
Helpful tips
Cancel your rent in the Netherlands on time, because you often have to deal with a notice period. You can find your notice period in your rental contract. Make sure you arrange this properly, because if you do not do this on time, you will have to pay extra rent in the Netherlands while you have already finished your move to Germany. Do not forget to cancel any subscriptions. Gas and electricity providers, TV and internet must also be cancelled. It is also important that you look carefully at the contracts.
Moving companies
When you move from one Dutch municipality to a new municipality, things can be a bit more complicated than usual, let alone when you move to a German municipality. When you move to another country, you naturally also want to move your belongings. When moving abroad, it is extra important to do thorough research into moving companies. Make sure you choose a moving company that already has a lot of experience with moving abroad. When you choose experienced movers, your move will go a lot easier.
Costs for hiring a moving company
The costs for hiring a moving company mainly depend on your wishes. Do you have a large household? Are many movers needed? Do you want a packing and unpacking service? As you can see, there are various factors that determine the price. We understand that you do not have time to call multiple moving companies to request quotes, which is why we would like to help you with this. At Moova you can request quotes from different moving companies at once. This is completely without obligation. This way you can view the free quotes at your leisure and choose the company that appeals to you the most.
Unsubscribe from the Netherlands
When you move, it is of course important to deregister with the municipality where you live. You are legally obliged to do this when you emigrate. You can deregister up to 5 days before your departure. In some municipalities, you also have to go to the town hall, so check carefully what applies to you. Also make sure that you receive proof of deregistration.
Health insurance
You also need to cancel your Dutch health insurance. In Germany you can then use the Health insuranceWhen you are going to emigrate, you can ask your health insurance company for a special form to cancel your health insurance.
The Dutch tax authorities
Make sure that your tax affairs in the Netherlands are well arranged. You can contact the tax authorities for this. They will then send you a special form regarding your emigration. You fill this in so that you can later receive additional information regarding emigrating to Germany. You will then automatically receive a message about this.
Benefits and pension
Check with your own pension fund what you are entitled to. If necessary, contact them to ask things. It is also wise to indicate that you are going to emigrate so that they can help you properly.
If you receive benefits and are going to emigrate, it is wise to first contact the UWV or the relevant municipality. It is namely the case that you cannot always take benefits abroad. Arrange this properly, because you do not want to be without an income later.
Registration with the German municipality
Just like in the Netherlands, you need to register yourself in Germany with the municipality where you are going to live. This is called 'anmeldung' and you can do this at the 'einwohnermeldeamt'. It is difficult to find this, because depending on the region it can also be called 'bürgerbüro' or 'meldewesen'. You need to register with the German municipality within a week. For this you need the following documents:
- Proof of deregistration from the municipality in the Netherlands
- Valid passport/ID card
- Some municipalities also want an extract from the birth register
After registering with the new municipality, you will often receive an 'anmeldebestätigung'. This is proof of your registration. If you do not receive this automatically, ask for it yourself, because you will probably need it later when arranging other matters.
Studying in Germany
To study in Germany, you will of course need to enroll at a German university. This is called 'immatrikulation' in German. You will also often need to take a German or English language test after you have been admitted. If you have passed this, you can officially enroll at the university. You will need to arrange the necessary paperwork for this. Therefore, bring your original high school diploma and proof of your health insurance.
Finally
As you have read, there are a few things you need to arrange when you move abroad. Are you still curious about our other articles? Then feel free to look around our website.
