If you’ve moved to Germany from abroad, you will probably want to keep in touch with your family and friends back home and all over the world. The pages in this section will make sure you get set up and connected as soon as possible so that you can easily stay in contact with your loved ones.
If you want to get a mobile phone in Germany, you generally have the choice between taking out a phone contract or getting a prepaid SIM card. While having a contract requires minimum effort and provides peace of mind, for many expats the flexibility of a pay-as-you-go plan is more attractive.
Germany’s mobile telephony market is highly competitive, with multiple mobile phone providers all vying for your custom. Our guide to mobile phone providers in Germany walks you through the pros and cons of different types of mobile phone plans and provides links to some recommended network providers.
Many expats choose to have a fixed phone line, as it can be a cheaper way to make international calls. Providers in Germany often offer value packages that combine broadband with a phone line. Although normally it is possible to take over the landline from the previous tenant, if you are moving into a new house, you may have to set up your fixed phone line yourself.
Wondering how you write and dial German phone numbers? Learn about the format of phone numbers in Germany and everything else you need to make a call with our guide.
It would be impossible to stay in touch without internet! Get yourself connected as soon as possible, learn how to swap companies and why expats should avoid minimum contract periods in our guide to finding an internet provider in Germany.
It may be known as “snail mail”, but postal services in Germany are anything but behind the times! Germany’s biggest service, Deutsche Post, is rapidly modernising its services, providing round-the-clock post offices and post boxes, postage stamps you can buy online, and a useful package collection system.