Relocating to Germany as a Family
Did you know that expats recently ranked Germany 49th in a survey of 53 countries when considering their happiness abroad? The report claims “Expats are the among the loneliest and unhappiest worldwide”.
Yikes!
But you’ve decided to move to Germany. Now what?
The challenges of moving abroad are not only the logistics of “what should I pack?” and booking your flights.
Things to consider include:
Administrative Challenges
Visas, dealing with local authorities, health insurance, the education system. It’s a long list of things to manage.
Cultural Challenges
Language barriers and cultural differences can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness or even frustration and anger.
Family Challenges
Each member of the family will experience the relocation differently and require differing levels of support to manage feelings of homesickness, loss, grief and navigating their new life abroad.
Having someone by your side with local knowledge, language skills and personal experience as an expat in Germany ensures that your relocation to Germany is seamless. Let’s ensure you’re not one of the “loneliest and unhappiest” expats in Germany!
Top Benefits of Personalized Relocation Services to Germany
Every relocation experience is unique. The success of a relocation depends on many factors, including:
- Personal motivations for the relocation,
- Individual expectations of a new life in the new city,
- Previous experience/s relocating
- Family dynamics between partners and children,
- Individual flexibility, sense of adventure and coping strategies
- Willingness to learn
- Acceptance and comfort with cultural differences.
Here are the top three benefits of personalized relocation services for your family’s relocation to Germany.
1. Personalized Advice and Emotional Support
You’re the expert in your situation. Only you know your motivations for moving abroad and your goals for your new life.
Personalized relocation services mean your goals and priorities will become my goals and priorities.
Could you do all of the packing, list-making and appointment setting yourself? Of course you can! But why make the To-Do lists, the research and the leg-work when I can do it for you? Besides, I’ve already done it before.
2. Saves You Time
With so many competing priorities for you and your family, where do you start? Do you start with the easiest task or the most important? Will you begin with the logistics or the bureaucracy?
Using relocation services for expats in Germany will save you time. No more hours spent staring at your screen, switching tabs or flicking through that pile of paper.
Personalized relocation services to Germany is your short-cut to understanding exactly what needs to happen and when. You can ask me questions anytime and know that the answer will be tailored to your unique circumstances.
No more time wasted scrolling through Facebook Groups or Reddit threads.
3. No Language Barrier
Unless you already speak German, the language barrier is real.
Bureaucrats here are only allowed to work with people in Germany. That makes it tough for new arrivals without local language skills or a trusted local who can act as an interpreter.
I know what you’re thinking. “I’ll just use Google Translate!”.
The trouble is that many words, particularly in German bureaucracy, cannot be properly translated. Specific processes, documents and permissions only exist in Germany.
A key resource in your personalised relocation support to Germany is quick reference guides to these terms.
Common Challenges When Moving to Germany
Here are some of the most common challenges families face when they relocate to Germany.
Administrative Challenges
In this survey, one of expats’ biggest challenges is managing everyday tasks and bureaucracy with 56% of respondents naming the local bureaucracy as a key challenge to their settlement in Germany.
Not only is there a lot of bureaucracy to manage, it’s all paper-based and often can only be completed in person.
Examples of administrative challenges include:
- Finding an Apartment in Germany,
- Managing your visa through the Ausläderbehörde,
- How to register your address with the Bürgeramt,
- Applying for Health Insurance for expats in Germany,
- Meeting your obligations to the Steuer Amt,
- Finding work,
- Accessing the childcare and education system,
- Driving in Germany
Having a familiar voice in Germany to talk you through these processes takes the pressure off you, so you can focus on supporting your family through the settlement period.
Read my post to prepare for success with German Bureaucracy.
Cultural Challenges
Experiencing homesickness, social isolation due to cultural differences or discrimination and language barriers are very real challenges for expat families who have relocated to Germany.
50% of survey respondents found life in Germany difficult without German language skills, compared to the global average of 32%.
Aside from the challenges of learning German, other cultural challenges for expats in Germany might include:
- Social interactions. For example, there is no small talk with strangers.
- Workplace cultures. Germans are often very private, maintaining a strong separation between personal and professional spheres.
- Always being a foreigner. Around 15% of the German population are immigrants (more data and explanation here), though this number is much lower in parts of the country. In Saxony where I live, less than 10% of the population are foreign-born. These figures are striking if you’re from a country like Canada (20% immigrant population) or Australia (30% immigrant population).
While every new expat in Germany will have to navigate these challenges, I can help prepare you for them before you arrive and counsel you through them as you experience them in real life.
Family Challenges
The dynamics of your family will play a central role in everyone’s smooth relocation and settlement experience in Germany.
Some common challenges experienced by expats when they arrive in Germany are:
- Changes in your romantic relationship. Due to experiencing stress or a dramatic shift in your dynamic (maybe only one partner is working instead of both?). This challenge can be proactively planned for to avoid the worst.
- Emotional changes in your kids. A relocation is huge for kids and they will need your ongoing support and understanding as they adjust. Your children might display emotional changes (needing extra cuddles or time alone) or behavioural changes (perhaps they’re more introverted than before or having trouble sleeping). While most of these changes will be temporary, it’s good to understand what might happen before you arrive.
- Making Friends. Creating a Social Network is one of the most important steps to a successful settlement experience. However, without German language skills or local contacts, this can be very difficult to achieve. Indeed, 55% of respondents reported finding it difficult to make friends in Germany, compared with the global average of 36%.
Personalised relocation services to Germany can prepare you and your family for these challenges, by providing education on these topics before your big move and by offering practical strategies and local support services once you’re in Germany.
Conclusion
Relocating to Germany with your family is a huge step. Every family has their own motivations for this change and brings unique perspectives to the challenges that they may experience.
Despite it’s bad press, I’ve built a thriving life in with my family in Germany and I know you can too. With the right support before, during and after your move, you and your family will never look back with regret.
Relocating to Germany? Let’s tackle your top three concerns together. Book a free 20-minute consultation today—limited slots available!
